AceShowbiz - Rumors have been circulating about who will portray Lord Voldemort in HBO’s highly anticipated Harry Potter series, and Paul Bettany has finally addressed the speculation.

The upcoming HBO reboot of the beloved Harry Potter franchise has generated significant excitement and online chatter since its announcement. While several actors have been officially cast, the identity of the actor who will play the Dark Lord, previously known as Tom Riddle, remains a mystery. Fans initially speculated that Cillian Murphy might take on the villainous role, but the actor has since denied these rumors, leaving audiences guessing once again.

Following Murphy’s denial, attention shifted toward Paul Bettany, who many believed would be a fitting choice for Voldemort given his versatility and experience with complex roles. Bettany, recognized for his portrayal of Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and his darker turn as Dryden Vos in Solo: A Star Wars Story, seemed like a logical candidate to embody the iconic dark wizard.

In an interview at the Saturn Awards with ScreenRant’s Ash Crossan, Bettany clarified his involvement, stating, "I haven't heard anything about that. I mean I'm a big fan of the IP, and I'm a big fan of HBO, but nobody has called me up about it." This confirms that while he admires the franchise and the network, he will not be suiting up as Lord Voldemort.

HBO has maintained a strict silence regarding the casting of the Dark Lord since the show’s announcement. The new series aims to retell the Harry Potter saga over multiple seasons, each adapting one of J.K. Rowling’s famous novels. Notably, actor Warwick Davis, who will reprise his role as Professor Filius Flitwick, has praised the reboot for being more faithful to the original books than the film adaptations.

As of this article’s publication, HBO has not revealed a specific release date for the series but has confirmed it is slated to premiere in 2027. The production involves showrunner Francesca Gardiner, with Mark Mylod directing and writers including Gardiner and Dominic McLaughlin attached to the project.

Despite the ongoing curiosity and fan theories, the question of who will bring the infamous Lord Voldemort to life in the HBO series remains unanswered. For now, audiences will have to wait patiently until the studio discloses the casting details and more information about the reboot’s direction emerges.