Who Plays Voldemort in the New Harry Potter Series?
HBO has revealed the actor playing young Tom Riddle. Casting for the adult Dark Lord is a different question.
By Hasnaat Mahmood · FindCheapStreaming
01Who has HBO actually cast as Voldemort?
Billy Barratt is the first actor officially named to play a version of Voldemort in HBO’s new Harry Potter adaptation. He has been cast as Tom Riddle, the younger identity of the wizard who becomes Lord Voldemort, in the second season.
The announcement was reported on 4 September 2026 by TheWrap and is now reflected in the official Harry Potter cast list, which specifies that Barratt joins in Season 2.
The important qualification is his particular role. The announcement says Tom Riddle, not adult Voldemort. It does not identify who will portray the resurrected villain in later seasons, nor does it name a separate actor or voice for Voldemort’s appearances in the first book’s story.
As of 3 November 2026: HBO has named a teenage Tom Riddle, but no adult Voldemort actor appears on its published cast list. An unannounced role is not proof that the production has made no private casting decision.
02Why one villain could require more than one actor
Tom Riddle and Lord Voldemort are the same person, but Harry encounters them in very different forms across the books. Understanding those appearances resolves much of the confusion around the headlines.
One character, three different appearances
Book story versus casting announcementA younger version of the future Dark Lord is central to the Chamber of Secrets storyline.
Luke Thallon plays Professor Quirrell, but that does not confirm who performs or voices Voldemort.
No actor has been publicly named for the villain’s later adult form.
Season 1: Voldemort and Professor Quirrell
The first series adapts Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. In the novel, Voldemort survives without an independent body and becomes attached to Professor Quirrell. HBO has cast Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell; that is a confirmed role, but it does not settle the identity of any separately credited Voldemort performer or voice. The official character encyclopaedia explains the connection.
Season 2: the diary version of Tom Riddle
Chamber of Secrets introduces a memory of young Tom Riddle preserved in a magical diary. This explains why Barratt can be announced ahead of an adult Voldemort casting. The diary’s role in the story is documented in the Harry Potter encyclopaedia.
The series could also make different performance choices from the films, but HBO has not publicly confirmed a single actor will portray every age and form of Voldemort. Nor has it said how the first series will handle any distinct voice performance.
03Who is Billy Barratt?
Barratt is a British actor whose work includes the horror film Bring Her Back and Apple TV+’s science-fiction series Invasion. He also starred in the BBC drama Responsible Child, for which he won the 2020 International Emmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor. The International Academy said he became its youngest winner in that acting category. See the official awards record.
That experience gives the casting some context: HBO has selected an actor with a recognised dramatic performance behind him, rather than simply a newcomer who resembles a previous Riddle. Whether the portrayal matches viewers’ expectations will have to be judged from the episodes themselves.
Billy Barratt — teenage Tom Riddle, confirmed for Season 2. The adult villain is still unnamed in HBO’s public casting.
Christian Coulson played teenage Tom Riddle in Chamber of Secrets; Ralph Fiennes portrayed the restored adult Voldemort from Goblet of Fire onwards. Those film credits do not transfer to the TV series.
04What about Cillian Murphy, Paul Bettany and Ralph Fiennes?
The online speculation has involved recognisable names, but none of the following was confirmed as adult Voldemort when the latest cast list was checked.
There has also been a false social-media claim that Daniel Radcliffe would return to play Voldemort. No official announcement supports it. A casting post should be treated as unverified unless it leads to HBO, the official franchise website or a reliable report based on an on-the-record announcement.
05When was Voldemort’s casting announced?
The difference between an executive saying a role is uncast and a later announcement about one version of the character matters here.
HBO chief Casey Bloys told Variety that Voldemort had not been cast at that point and advised scepticism towards online rumours.
The Season 2 casting news named Billy Barratt as young Tom Riddle—a specific portrayal of the character, not an announcement for the later adult role.
HBO announced additional Hogwarts cast members. The updated reporting still named Barratt as Tom Riddle and did not identify an adult Voldemort actor.
The official cast list continues to identify Barratt’s Season 2 role, with no separate adult Voldemort performer published.
The first season premieres on 25 December 2026. HBO can still announce another actor before then, after the premiere, or during a later season’s publicity. No announcement date for adult Voldemort has been confirmed. HBO’s premiere announcement.
06Questions viewers are asking
Is Billy Barratt playing Voldemort or Tom Riddle?
He is confirmed as Tom Riddle in Season 2. Tom Riddle is Voldemort’s earlier identity, but this does not make Barratt the confirmed performer of adult Voldemort.
Does Luke Thallon play Voldemort?
HBO has confirmed Thallon as Professor Quirrell in Season 1. Any separate Voldemort role or voice has not been publicly identified.
Will Ralph Fiennes return as Voldemort?
There is no confirmed return. He portrayed Voldemort in the original films and has said he believes his chance to reprise the role has passed.
Who will play adult Voldemort in the HBO reboot?
No actor has been officially named as of 3 November 2026. A later announcement may change that.
Sources and further reading
- HarryPotter.com — official HBO cast list, checked 3 November 2026.
- TheWrap — Tom Riddle casting announcement, 4 September 2026.
- Variety — updated Hogwarts casting, 31 October 2026.
- Variety — Casey Bloys on Voldemort rumours, 25 March 2026.
- Harry Potter Encyclopedia — Quirinus Quirrell and Tom Riddle’s diary.
- The Independent — Cillian Murphy’s denial, March 2026; Paul Bettany’s denial, March 2026.
- International Emmy Awards — Billy Barratt’s 2020 win.