Photo Credit: Warner Bros.
HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series has a tall order to fill, especially when it comes to recasting legendary roles. The 10-year project adapting all seven Harry Potter books has already filled the lead trio and more. However, the Dark Lord Voldemort, the franchise’s core antagonist, has yet to be cast. Among actors vying for the villainous role, a Lord of the Rings alum stands out as the most intriguing.

Which Lord of the Rings Star wants to be the new Voldemort actor?

Andy Serkis, known for playing Gollum in The Lord of the Rings movies, recently revealed he’d love to play Voldemort in HBO’s Harry Potter reboot. There’s been much speculation about who will be playing Voldemort; his pitch stands out.

While promoting his directorial venture Animal Farm, Serkis sat down with Josh Horowitz, who suggested the actor would be a perfect fit for the Dark Lord. When asked if he would be “in” if HBO reached out, Serkis didn’t hesitate.

“Wow. Definitely [in]. I mean, yeah. I’m just waiting for the call, basically. That’s a cool one. Mind you, [Ralph Fiennes] leaves big boots to follow,” said Serkis.

Regardless of whether Serkis lands Voldemort or not, the actor is booked solid with a slew of high-profile projects, from The Batman Part 2 to the upcoming Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.

The role of Voldemort is a contentious one. Recent rumors claim HBO may be looking to cast an MCU star as the Dark Lord, though such reports have yet to be confirmed by the studio. Given that Voldemort doesn’t appear in the flesh until the end of the fourth book, and consequently, the fourth season, there’s enough time to pick the next Tom Riddle.

Former Voldemort actor Ralph Fiennes has already revealed his unusual pick for the series’ version, though we’ll likely have to wait for the first season to wrap before learning who has been officially cast as the character.

HBO’s first season of Harry Potter will air in Christmas 2026, while its second season may take longer than a year to be released.