Could Andy Serkis Be HBO's Next Voldemort? Harry Potter Reboot Buzz Builds

Here we go again: more fresh developments out of the wizarding world. HBO Max and Warner Bros. are steaming ahead with their Harry Potter TV reboot, and it’s happening sooner than most people probably expected. The first season (which actually starts streaming at the end of this year, for real) will cover just the first book—and for the record, it’s actually using the original British name: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. So, if you were attached to the US title Sorcerer’s Stone, you’ll need to adjust.

As for the big casting news—yes, there finally is some. The core trio is locked in:

• Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter
• Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley
• Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger

But, of course, there’s one enormous slot in the roster that still has a giant question mark: Lord Voldemort, everyone’s favorite noseless villain. This is the casting people can’t stop talking about, and for good reason—a whole new generation of kids will decide what “He Who Must Not Be Named” actually looks and sounds like.

So, who’s going to play Evil Bald Guy Numero Uno? The rumor mill has absolutely kicked into overdrive with names. At one point, people were floating Cillian Murphy’s name around (that’s right, the Oppenheimer guy, peaky and pale enough to pull it off). Meanwhile, there’s been some heavy speculation about Paul Bettany—yes, Vision from the MCU—possibly being on the studio’s shortlist. Funny twist: when reporters asked Bettany about it as late as March 2026, he claimed he’d literally never heard of this.

Now onto the latest wild card. Andy Serkis, a.k.a. motion-capture legend, was asked about Voldemort talk when he joined the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz. Here’s what went down:

'Definitely, I’m just waiting for the call, basically, that’s a cool one.'

You can almost hear the glint in his eye. He also gave a nod to Ralph Fiennes—the original movie Voldemort, and honestly, a tough act to follow. In Serkis’s words, Fiennes has ‘big boots to follow.’

So, bottom line: three new leads are officially announced, Voldemort’s casting is still in play, and Hollywood is tossing around just about every tall, British, or vaguely creepy actor you can think of. I’ll keep you posted as this thing marches towards its debut.