Ralph Fiennes isn’t returning as Voldemort in Harry Potter, but here’s what he actually said

If you’ve seen a tweet claiming Ralph Fiennes is returning as Voldemort in HBO’s new Harry Potter series, I’m afraid I have some news for you: The internet has been lying again.

A viral post has been doing the rounds claiming Fiennes has officially been cast as Lord Voldemort in the upcoming series, with the actor supposedly set to return in Season Four for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2029.

Ralph Fiennes has been cast as Lord Voldemort in HBO’s ‘HARRY POTTER’ TV series.

He will return in Season 4 (and the Goblet of Fire) in 2029.

(Source: @Variety) pic.twitter.com/3X8BV1b3c2

— DiscussingFlow (@DiscussingFlow) August 31, 2026

Except… no. That’s not actually been confirmed, and Fiennes has not said he’s returning.

What he has said is that he would absolutely have been up for playing Harry Potter’s most terrifying enemy again, but he now thinks the opportunity has passed him by.

Fiennes, who played Voldemort throughout the original Harry Potter film franchise between 2005 and 2011, was asked about the possibility of reprising the role during an appearance on BBC’s The Claudia Winkleman Show. Apparently, there was a time when he would have jumped at the chance.

“I remember being asked the question ‘would I reprise the part?’” he explained. “This was some years ago. And I said: ‘Yes, I’d love to.’”

Sadly for anyone hoping to see him once again, nothing appears to have come of that conversation.

Fiennes said “nothing’s happened” since, before admitting he thinks “that ship has sailed”.

TOLGA AKMEN/EPA/Shutterstock

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While he hasn’t exactly slammed the door on Voldemort forever, there’s currently no evidence that he’s secretly signed up for HBO’s reboot. If you were hoping the new series might simply recycle the entire original cast, HBO boss Casey Bloys has already urged people to take casting rumours with a very large pinch of salt.

A few names have been thrown into the Voldemort casting ring, including Doctor Strange star Tilda Swinton and Peaky Blinders actor Cillian Murphy.

When asked about rumours that Swinton could be taking on the role, Bloys said fans shouldn’t believe everything they read, telling Variety: “I don’t even know who we’re casting.”

Murphy, meanwhile, has already done his best to personally murder the Voldemort rumours surrounding him.

Earlier this year, when The Times asked if he was swapping his iconic Peaky Blinders flat cap for a wand, he was extremely clear about the situation.

Via Warner Bros

“I’m categorically not. Can you make that the headline?,” Murphy told the publication.

As for Swinton, Fiennes himself seems to be much more enthusiastic about the idea. Discussing the possibility of her playing Voldemort on The Claudia Winkleman Show, he said he thinks she would be “fantastic”.

Until HBO actually announces Voldemort, maybe don’t trust that extremely confident tweet claiming he’s already been cast.

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Featured image via Warner Bros, TOLGA AKMEN/EPA/Shutterstock