Harry Potter odds: Place your bets for HBO’s Lord Voldemort
HBO’s developing Harry Potter series has been gathering pace, with no less than 18 actors cast to step into the wizarding world of magic.
Alas, there are still several key roles left to fill and ‘He Who Must Not Be Named,’ Lord Voldemort is among them.
Gambling.com's Entertainment expert, James Leyfield, has been monitoring the new Harry Potter TV series and delivered market insights to Film News Blitz on who could play the Dark Lord.
Cillian Murphy Vs Tom Hiddleston?
Cillian Murphy has been linked to the role of Voldemort for months, although it was previously thought he might be asked to portray Professor Quirrell instead.
Still, that role has gone to Luke Thallon.
Murphy is an Oscar Winner for his leading role in Oppenheimer and a household name thanks to his performances in the likes of 28 Days Later and Peaky Blinders.
Murphy's odds to portray ‘You Know Who’ have shortened slightly to 10/11, and there is another contender in town.
Tom Hiddleston (Loki, The Night Manager) is the 6/4 second favourite to land the part, while Rhys Ifans - well regarded by HBO bosses thanks to his role as Otto Hightower in House of the Dragon - is the 7/4 third favourite.
But if HBO wants to cast a major Hollywood name to portray the chilling character, they could do far worse than signing up Christian Bale (2/1), but the former Dark Knight could be a hard actor to pin down for the 10-year commitment this new Harry Potter series represents.
The outside contenders
It’s 3/1 for Ralph Fiennes to return to the role of Voldemort, but he is unlikely to retread such familiar ground, and who would blame him, given his iconic performances in the Harry Potter films.
Matt Smith, who, like Ifans, is another House of the Dragon favourite, would also be a fantastic choice.
The former Doctor Who star is 5/2, and a powerful force on the big and small screen, befitting a character of Voldemort’s stature.
Rounding out the casting favourites are Damian Lewis (Billions) and Paul Bettany (WandaVision) are priced at 4/1 and 5/1 respectively.
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