Warner Bros. confirmed the plans for a Harry Potter television series in April 2023. Since then, there have been several developments, and, with a production start date set for the summer, new casting news are expected to come through at any time.
So far, there have been very few details revealed about the upcoming project. The TV series will be an HBO Original, set to debut on HBO and later Max, and will have Francesca Gardiner as writer and showrunner, with Mark Mylod directing. In a new interview with Deadline to discuss current and future Warner Bros. TV projects, Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group, addressed the Voldemort casting rumors.
Considering the official announcement came two years ago, fans have been picking their favorite critically acclaimed actors for the upcoming take on Harry Potter ever since. Although it's expected for the series to cast newcomers as the child actors, the older actors are easier to pick between many critically acclaimed British and Irish stars.
When it comes to Voldemort, one of the most important figures in the Harry Potter franchise, things are more complicated. The Dark Lord appears in the flesh following the death of Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth installment of the seven-book series. However, he is present in different forms throughout the first installments, which is why his casting from the beginning of the series would be even more impactful.
So far, one of the key casting rumors has been Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy. The actor, who won his Academy Award for 2023's Oppenheimer, is at the top of the list to play He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Addressing that, as well as the rumors that he would become the new Professor Quirrell, Dungey replied, "I have no comment, no comment, no comment." While The Dark Lord is hardly Beetlejuice to require such a strong reaction, his denial to respond to the rumors is both on brand and very telling at the same time.
So far, the Warner Bros. boss teased they haven't made a decision for Voldemort: "You’re missing it in your deck, because we are still weighing a couple of different options there, so we’re not quite ready there yet. That’s an important role to get right."
Murphy hasn't received support from Potterheads alone, but the previous Voldemort, too. Ralph Fiennes, who played the villain since the fourth film, has shown his support for Murphy as Voldemort several times. "Cillian is a fantastic actor," Fiennes replied. "I actually think that’s a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favor of Cillian. Yeah."
What Other Actors Are Tied to the Harry Potter Reboot?
There have been some reports that the new Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall are Janet McTeer and Paapa Essiedu, both allegedly close to finishing their deals. Nick Frost is also allegedly close to becoming the new Hagrid, the Keeper of Keys. At the same time, Dungey also teased that the Golden Trio casting for the new Harry Potter show might take a little more time until an official announcement. "We are not yet ready to announce the kids, we’re still working our way through that process."
The Harry Potter TV show is expected to begin production this summer at Warner Bros. Studio in Leavesden, UK, the same studio where they filmed the original eight films. HBO is eyeing a late 2026 release.
Source: Deadline
.png)
0 Comments