The Harry Potter series may bring about a shocking change to the character of Voldemort as we know him. According to insider Daniel Richtman, the series is currently auditioning both men and women for the role of the Dark Lord. If it sways in favor of a female villain for the series, J.K. Rowling may not be too happy about it.
They’re auditioning both men and women for Voldemort so it’s possible we could see a female Voldemort in the Harry Potter series! pic.twitter.com/3Wbr7DsrWY
The books showed how a young Tom Riddle becomes the inhuman dark wizard Voldemort, whose name people feared to say out loud. Ralph Fiennes played the character in the movies and etched in our minds a visual of the Dark Lord. Fans who grew up with these versions of the villain might find it hard to accept a completely different depiction.
While Rowling wasn’t creatively involved with the movies, the HBO series got her on board as one of the executive producers. It is believed that Rowling wanted a story more closely aligned with the books to be told in the series. However, she might not be too fond of the major changes brought about by the casting.
The series earlier cast Paapa Essiedu in the role of Severus Snape, which was earlier played by Alan Rickman. Fans weren’t happy about this change at all, as the casting received major backlash. A female Voldemort on top of that will not sit well with these fans at all.
Meanwhile, Rowling is so far happy with the written episodes of the Harry Potter series. She took to X to share that she “worked closely with the extremely talented writers”
J.K. Rowling on Paapa Essiedu’s Casting as Severus Snape
J.K. Rowling praised the casting of Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout, but made no comments on Paapa Essiedu’s casting initially. Severus Snape is very crucial to the entire plot of the series, but the race swap may pose some major problems to the storyline.
Snape is described as having “marble white” skin in the books. Some fans have raised genuine concerns about casting Essiedu in the role. They noted that Essiedu was far more attractive than how Snape was described in the role. More importantly, fans believe that James Potter bullying a young Black kid in the ’70s is certainly not a great look for Harry’s father.
The controversial author of the series had to make a statement on Essiedu’s casting after fans speculated that she would get him fired over his political beliefs. Essiedu signed an open letter opposing the recent U.K. Supreme Court ruling, which essentially stated that trans women aren’t legally women. While Rowling spoke out against the open letter, she made it clear that she had no intention to get Essiedu fired. She shared:
I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did. I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine. pic.twitter.com/nKcAl3gcvO
Some fans further believe that Rowling would’ve probably given her blessing to the changes made by the series. They pointed out an earlier instance when Rowling backed Black actress Noma Dumezweni to play Hermione in the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Essiedu’s breakthrough came with his role in I May Destroy You, which earned him Emmy and BAFTA nominations. He was also part of the sci-fi series The Lazarus Project. He made his film debut in Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express.
Cillian Murphy Shut Down Rumors of His Casting as Voldemort in the Harry Potter Series
Cillian Murphy was one of the most popular fan-castings for the role of Voldemort. His recent fame and powerful performances had convinced fans that he had what it took to bring the dark wizard to the TV screens. However, the Oppenheimer actor shut down these rumors recently.
When Josh Horowitz of the Happy Sad Confused podcast asked him if there was any truth to the rumors, Murphy clarified that he knew nothing about it. He replied, “No. I mean, no. Genuinely.” He further added, “My kids show me on occasions, but like, no. I don’t know anything about that.”
He also shared that it was really hard to fill the shoes of Ralph Fiennes. Murphy shared during the podcast:
I mean, also, it’s just really hard to follow anything Ralph Fiennes does. The man is an absolute acting legend, so good luck to whoever is gonna fill those shoes.
However, Fiennes thought that Murphy was “a wonderful suggestion” for the role of Voldemort (via Watch What Happens Live). He went on to call Murphy “a fantastic actor.” Murphy also got the stamp of approval from Chris Columbus, who shared with PEOPLE that he would be an “amazing” choice.
What do you think of the new update on Voldemort in the Harry Potter series? Let us know in the comments below!
