Harry Potter TV Series Odds: Paul Bettany Favourite For Voldemort Role
HBO's hotly anticipated Harry Potter TV series is expected to premiere early next year, but Cillian Murphy looks highly unlikely to be part of the production.
Murphy was the favourite on betting sites to take on the role of Lord Voldemort - but during his publicity run for the new Peaky Blinders movie, The Immortal Man, he's made it quite clear he won't be taking on the coveted role.
He recently told The Times newspaper: "I’m categorically not. Can you make that the headline?"
Ralph Fiennes famously played The Dark Lord in the wizarding film franchise, and described Murphy as a "very good choice" for the part.
However, Murphy has also told Variety: "No, no, no. It would be very hard to follow Ralph Fiennes."
Big Fan Bettany
Paul Bettany is another big name linked to the series, but would he be willing to take on the role?
The Avengers: Age of Ultron star is the new 5/4 frontrunner on betting apps to portray Voldemort, and he has confessed to being a huge Harry Potter fan.
Speaking to Screen Rant at the Saturn Awards on March 8, he said: "I haven’t heard anything about that [playing Voldemort].
"I’m a big fan of the [Harry Potter] HP, and I’m a big fan of HBO, but nobody has called me up about that."
Nicholas Hoult is also in contention to play He Who Must Not Be Named, at 11/8.
The former Skins star might already have a casting advantage over his rivals for the role, as he has worked with the HBO project's director, Mark Mylod, on the 2022 movie The Menu.
When asked if he would consider joining the TV series, Hoult said on the Today show last year: "I don’t know. I love Mark [Mylod] as a director, and I love those stories."
He also joked: "I think I’m a little bit too old to play Harry now, though.
"Rhys Ifans would be my choice, though. He is eerily brilliant in HBO's House of the Dragon, and would make for a dynamic Dark Lord."
"I think I can probably play 11 still. I just walk in with some glasses and a scar on my head and be like, 'Hey, what's up?' I'm ready.
"I'm ready to play Harry Potter. I'm just waiting for the phone to ring."
The roles of Harry and his pals Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley have already been cast, with young actors Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout set to portray the main trio.
Ralph's Reprisal?
Harry Potter super-fans are still eagerly anticipating the casting of Voldemort, and some even believe Fiennes could reprise the role.
It's just 7/4 that Fiennes slips back into his own Voldemort-sized shoes to take on the part again.
House of the Dragon stars Matt Smith (6/4) and Rhys Ifans (2/1) are also in contention, as is David Bradley (6/1), who played grumpy caretaker Argus Filch in the original Harry Potter movie series.
Other popular picks could see Tom Hiddleston (5/2), Christian Bale (3/1), Damian Lewis (7/2) or Stellan Skarsgard (4/1) land the role.
Harry Potter TV Series Odds: Who Will Play Voldemort?
Actor | Odds | Probability |
Paul Bettany | 5/4 | 44.4% |
Nicholas Hoult | 11/8 | 42.1% |
Matt Smith | 6/4 | 40% |
Ralph Fiennes | 7/4 | 36.4% |
Rhys Ifans | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Tom Hiddleston | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Christian Bale | 3/1 | 25% |
Damian Lewis | 7/2 | 22.2% |
Stellan Skarsgard | 4/1 | 20% |
David Tennant | 5/1 | 16.7% |
David Bradley | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Bill Nighy | 7/1 | 12.5% |
Benedict Cumberbatch | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Cillian Murphy | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Pegg Out, Lewis In
Lewis, however, looks more likely to play Arthur Weasley in the TV series.
He is Evens favourite to land the role, after former frontrunner Simon Pegg was effectively ruled out.
It comes after he signed up to voice the Weasley patriarch in Audible's new Harry Potter audiobook series.
As a result, it appears extremely unlikely Pegg will play the part in both productions.
Domhnall Gleeson (11/10) and Martin Freeman (6/4) have also been linked to playing Arthur in the TV series, as has Stephen Merchant (15/8).
Harry Potter TV Series Odds: Who Will Play Arthur Weasley?
Actor | Odds | Probability |
Damian Lewis | Evens | 50% |
Domhnall Gleeson | 11/10 | 47.6% |
Martin Freeman | 6/4 | 40% |
Stephen Merchant | 15/8 | 34.8% |
Danny Dyer | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Tom Goodman-Hill | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Jason Flemyng | 3/1 | 25% |
Julian Rhind-Tutt | 4/1 | 20% |
Arthur Darvill | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Kevin McKidd | 8/1 | 11.1% |
There is also speculation that Danny Dyer is in the frame, after his Rivals co-star, Katherine Parkinson, was recently cast as Arthur's wife, Molly Weasley.
Game of Thrones star Charles Dance was originally linked to the part of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, until John Lithgow nabbed the role.
But Dance is 11/8 favourite to voice The Sorting Hat, just ahead of his Game of Thrones co-stars Peter Dinklage (13/8) and Iain Glen (15/8).
In the film franchise, the Sorting Hat assigns new students to their Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry houses.
Harry Potter TV Series Odds: Who Will Voice The Sorting Hat?
Actor | Odds | Probability |
Charles Dance | 11/8 | 42.1% |
Peter Dinklage | 13/8 | 38.1% |
Iain Glen | 15/8 | 34.8% |
Jason Isaacs | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Benedict Cumberbatch | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Ralph Ineson | 3/1 | 25% |
Hugh Grant | 7/2 | 22.2% |
Colin Firth | 4/1 | 20% |
Stephen Fry | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Mark Strong | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Matt Berry | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Brian Blessed | 10/1 | 9.1% |
After the hat is placed on a young wizard or witch's head, the magical hat reveals whether they are in Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin.
Carry On actor Leslie Phillips, who passed away in 2022 aged 98, voiced the character in the movie series.
Jason Isaacs, who portrayed the evil Lucius Malfoy in the wizarding film franchise, is a 2/1 shot to land the part.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
Who would you like to see join the cast of the Harry Potter TV series? Let us know in the comments below!
