Paul Bettany Reportedly Eyed To Play Lord Voldemort in HBO’s HARRY POTTER Series

The hunt for the next Dark Lord might finally have a frontrunner. A new report claims HBO has zeroed in on a familiar face to bring Lord Voldemort to life in its upcoming Harry PotterTV series, and it’s a name that’s sure to get fans talking.

Ever since HBO announced its reboot of Harry Potter, based on the beloved novels by J.K. Rowling, speculation has been nonstop over who would step into the pale, snake-like shoes of Voldemort.

For a while, fans were convinced that Cillian Murphywould be the perfect choice. That dream, however, fizzled out when Murphy shut it down himself, saying he was “categorically not” playing the villainous character.

Another fan favorite, Matt Smith, also seemed hesitant about taking on the role. He previously acknowledged how difficult it would be to follow Ralph Fiennes, who portrayed Voldemort in the original Harry Potter film franchise and was “so good” in the role.

Fiennes’ performance left a lasting mark, so whoever takes over will have some serious expectations to meet.

Now, according to scooper Daniel Richtman in his latest Patreon post, Paul Bettanyhas emerged as HBO’s top choice to play the Dark Lord in the new series.

Bettany is best known to genre fans as J.A.R.V.I.S. and Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’s appeared in nine MCU films and shows since 2008, with his tenth outing set for VisionQuest, which is scheduled to debut on Disney+ later this year.

Outside of Marvel, Bettany has built an impressive résumé with roles in A Knight’s Tale, A Beautiful Mind, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Dogville, The Da Vinci Code, The Tourist, Legend, and Solo: A Star Wars Story.

He’s got the range, the intensity, and that commanding presence that could translate into a chilling version of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. If this casting rumor turns out to be true, it would be an interesting role for him to take on.

The new Harry Potter series is being headlined by Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, alongside Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. The supporting cast includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.

Behind the scenes, Francesca Gardiner is serving as head writer and showrunner, with Mark Mylod set as the series’ main director. Season 1 will consist of eight episodes and adapt Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Production officially began in July 2025.

HBO is aiming for an early 2027 premiere, which means we’ve still got a long road ahead before we see how this new wizarding world shapes up. If Bettany does land the role of Voldemort, it would be one of the most talked-about casting moves in the series.

What do you think? Can Paul Bettany pull off the cold menace of the Dark Lord?