Topic / Subject
Cillian Murphy has shut down the Voldemort fan casting chatter, saying he is “categorically not” joining HBO’s Harry Potter series.

TL;DR
Murphy is not playing Voldemort, by his own quote. HBO still has not announced who will take the role.

Key Details
• Murphy told The Times he is not playing Voldemort, saying “I’m categorically not.”
• He also pushed for that denial to be the headline, signaling he is tired of the speculation.
• The chatter was tied to online fan casting and prior comments from Ralph Fiennes that fueled talk.
• HBO has not announced who will play Voldemort in the new series.

Breakdown
This is one of the clearest “no” quotes you can get. Murphy is not doing the coy dance, he is directly denying it.

It also shows how loud the fan casting cycle has gotten around this show. Even without official casting news, the internet keeps trying to fill every blank spot.

Now the Voldemort slot is wide open again. Until HBO makes a real announcement, the wish lists will keep coming, but Murphy is off the board.

What to Watch Next
• Any official HBO casting announcement for Voldemort.
• More “wish list” rumors as other key roles remain unfilled publicly.
• Whether other actors start issuing similar hard denials.

Sources
The Independent — report (headline not provided)
Forbes — “Cillian Murphy Gives His Final Answer on Harry Potter Voldemort Role”

Comment
Who would you actually cast as Voldemort for a long TV run, a big name star or a scary unknown?