(Gtres / Warner Bros. Pictures)
Speculation about the cast of the Harry Potter series continues to multiply on the internet, especially around one of the most iconic characters in the saga: Lord Voldemort. Among the names that have recently circulated on social media is Paul Bettany, who has decided to respond publicly to rumors that he could be cast as the villain. The actor was asked about the issue during an interview at the Saturn Awards and made it clear to ScreenRant that, at least for now, he is not part of the project: “I haven’t heard anything about that. I’m a big fan of the franchise and I’m also a big fan of HBO, but no one has called me about it.” With these words, the actor closes the door—at least for now—on the possibility of stepping into the shoes of the dreaded dark wizard.
The identity of the actor who will play Voldemort in the new television adaptation remains one of the biggest mysteries of the project. Since the series was announced, numerous names have circulated among fans, including Cillian Murphy, although the actor himself has also denied his participation in the series on more than one occasion. With both of them ruled out, the conversation among fans is practically back to square one. Bettany is best known for his role as Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a character he played in several films before reprising the role in the series Scarlet Witch and Vision. He will reprise the role in Vision Quest.
However, throughout his career he has also explored darker roles, such as the criminal Dryden Vos in Solo: A Star Wars Story, which explains why some fans considered him an interesting candidate to play the antagonist in Harry Potter.
More faithful adaptation
Meanwhile, the studio continues to move forward with the development of the series without yet revealing who will play He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. The new HBO production aims to reinterpret the story of the young wizard over several seasons, with each one adapting one of the books written by J.K. Rowling. The intention of the project is to offer a more extensive adaptation that is more faithful to the original material than the films released between 2001 and 2011. Actor Warwick Davis, who will return to the series as Professor Filius Flitwick, even pointed out that this new television version will allow for a more detailed exploration of elements of the story that could not be fully developed on the big screen.
For now, HBO is keeping the full cast and other key production details under wraps. What has been confirmed is that the new Harry Potter series is scheduled to premiere in 2027, at which point fans will finally discover who will take on the challenge of playing the most feared villain in the wizarding world.
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