Harry Potter: Daniel Radcliffe charmed billions as The Boy Who Lived. Now, he could return to HBO’s TV series as You-Know-Who himself — Lord Voldemort

Daniel Radcliffe could be heading back to the Harry Potter universe — but this time as Lord Voldemort. The actor, who played Harry Potter for a decade, is reportedly close to verbally agreeing a deal with HBO to portray the adult version of the Dark Lord in the upcoming Harry Potter reboot series.

Daniel Radcliffe may be returning to the wizarding world in one of the most unexpected ways imaginable.

The actor who became globally famous as Harry Potter is reportedly in talks to play Lord Voldemort in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter television reboot. If the reported deal is finalized, Radcliffe would make a remarkable transformation from the "boy who lived" into the most feared villain in the wizarding world.


However, there is an important caveat: the casting has not been officially confirmed by HBO, and the reported deal is described as being close to a verbal agreement rather than finalized.

Is Daniel Radcliffe playing Voldemort in the HBO Harry Potter reboot?

According to a report circulating online, Daniel Radcliffe is reportedly close to verbally agreeing a deal with HBO to play adult Lord Voldemort in the new Harry Potter series.

The rumor has quickly attracted attention because of the sheer irony of the potential casting. Radcliffe spent roughly a decade portraying Harry across the original film franchise, beginning with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 2001.


Now, the same actor could potentially return to the franchise as Harry's greatest enemy.

If the deal goes through, it would create one of the most unusual full-circle moments in major fantasy franchise history: Harry Potter himself playing Voldemort.

For now, though, fans should treat the report as a rumor rather than confirmation.

Daniel Radcliffe would play adult Voldemort, not Tom Riddle

The reported casting specifically concerns the adult version of Lord Voldemort.

HBO has already announced casting for the younger version of the character, Tom Riddle. British actor Billy Barratt has been cast as young Voldemort.

Barratt is known for appearances in Bring Her Back and Invasion. He also made history at just 13 when he became the youngest winner of the International Emmy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the television film Responsible Child.

That makes Barratt the first actor officially announced to portray any version of Voldemort in HBO's new adaptation.

The actor who will eventually portray the older, iconic version of Voldemort has not been officially revealed. The possibility of Radcliffe taking the role has therefore added another layer of intrigue to the show's casting.

HBO Harry Potter reboot adds more new cast members

The Voldemort speculation comes as HBO continues to expand the cast of its ambitious Harry Potter reboot.

Among the recently announced additions is Lenny Rush, who will play Dobby, the beloved house elf. The character is expected to be brought to life using computer-generated effects, much like Dobby was in the original film series.

HBO has also announced Bonnie Hill as Ginny Weasley for the show's second season. Hill is known for The Six Triple Eight and Girl Troop versus Aliens.

Her casting follows the departure of Gracie Cochrane, who had previously been cast as Ginny and completed filming for the first season.

Cochrane's representatives said she made the difficult decision to leave the role because of unforeseen circumstances and expressed gratitude for her time working on the series.

Harry Potter reboot trailer sparks debate among fans

The Daniel Radcliffe rumor arrives at a particularly interesting moment for the reboot, with HBO having released a new full-length trailer for the first season.

The first season is officially titled 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone', returning to the beginning of J.K. Rowling's story.

The trailer features several moments that will be instantly recognizable to fans of the original movies, including the Hogwarts welcome ceremony, the Sorting Hat, the Mirror of Erised, the mandrake lesson and the troll in the dungeon.

The footage has already divided viewers.

Some fans have praised the opportunity to see Rowling's first book adapted as a television season, potentially allowing the story to explore details that the 2001 film had to leave out.

Others, however, have questioned whether the reboot looks different enough from the original movies to justify retelling the same story.

Why are some fans criticizing the Harry Potter reboot?

One of the biggest talking points surrounding the trailer is its visual similarity to the original Harry Potter movies.

Several scenes and character designs appear deliberately familiar, leading some viewers to argue that the reboot risks feeling like a remake rather than a fresh interpretation of the books.

The criticism comes alongside the continuing controversy surrounding author J.K. Rowling's public statements, which has remained a divisive issue among sections of the Harry Potter fanbase.

Some viewers have also argued that HBO could have used the television format to explore stories and characters that received less attention in the movies.

The trailer's darker and more muted visual style has generated additional discussion, particularly when compared with the warmer look of the original 2001 film.

Who is playing Harry Potter in the HBO series?

The new series features an entirely new generation of actors in the central roles.

Dominic McLaughlin plays Harry Potter, while Arabella Stanton portrays Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout plays Ron Weasley.

The adult Hogwarts cast includes some major names, with John Lithgow playing Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape.

Other announced cast members include Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom and Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy.

The scale of the cast reflects HBO's plans to build a long-running television adaptation rather than simply recreate the original movies.

What HBO's Harry Potter reboot is trying to do differently

The biggest potential advantage of HBO's Harry Potter series is its format.

Unlike the movies, which had to compress hundreds of pages of material into feature-length installments, a television series can spend considerably more time on characters, subplots and moments from the books.

That could allow the reboot to revisit familiar scenes while also providing additional context and character development.

The challenge, however, is convincing audiences that the new version offers something beyond simply seeing the same story performed by different actors.

That debate has already begun with the first trailer.

When is the Harry Potter reboot coming out?

HBO's new Harry Potter series is currently heading toward a Christmas 2026 premiere.

By then, fans will have a much clearer idea of whether the reboot can establish its own identity.

But if the Daniel Radcliffe casting report ultimately proves accurate, the show could have an extraordinary surprise waiting for viewers.

For an actor so closely associated with Harry Potter to return as Lord Voldemort would be more than a casting twist. It would turn one of the franchise's most recognizable heroes into its ultimate villain.

For now, however, Daniel Radcliffe's reported Voldemort casting remains unconfirmed. HBO's eventual announcement — and the identity of the actor playing adult Voldemort — will likely be one of the most closely watched casting reveals surrounding the reboot.