HBO Harry Potter Rumours: Why Lady Voldemort Isn’t a Good Idea

Rumours have been swirling that HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter reboot might consider casting a woman as Lord Voldemort. While reimagining classic characters can sometimes offer fresh perspectives, this is one case where a gender swap would undermine the very themes that make the story resonate.

Here’s why I believe that these rumours are not only baseless, but would miss the whole point of the story.

Voldemort and Toxic Masculinity

Voldemort isn’t just a villain — he embodies toxic masculinity. His obsession with domination, his rejection of vulnerability, and his contempt for love define both his personality and his downfall. His entire identity is built on the refusal to connect emotionally, seeing love as weakness rather than power.

Harry, by contrast, succeeds not through raw strength, but through love, sacrifice, and friendship. Their conflict is not just light versus dark, but love versus lovelessness. Changing Voldemort’s gender would dilute this crucial thematic contrast.

Female Villains Already Exist

If the goal of a gender swap is to showcase female villainy, the Harry Potter universe already provides powerful examples. Bellatrix Lestrange embodies fanatical chaos; Dolores Umbridge represents cruelty wrapped in bureaucracy. Both are chilling, unforgettable, and distinctly feminine in their evil.

Turning Voldemort into “Lady Voldemort” wouldn’t break new ground — it would blur the carefully defined roles of villainy that Rowling distributed across genders.

The Psychology of Maternal Deprivation

Tom Riddle’s origins are rooted in maternal absence. He was deprived of a mother’s love from birth — and studies show maternal deprivation can impair emotional regulation, empathy, and attachment later in life.

Harry shares the pain of orphanhood, but with one crucial difference: he experienced love first. Lily Potter’s sacrifice imprinted love into him so deeply that it became his greatest strength. Voldemort, by contrast, was shaped by lovelessness.

This contrast only works if Voldemort remains male. A female Voldemort would distort the symbolism of maternal absence and weaken the stark emotional contrast between the two characters.

Young Tom Riddle’s Misogyny

Even as a boy, Tom Riddle displayed patterns of narcissism and misogyny. He admired his father and scorned his mother, whom he saw as weak. Later discovering his mother was a witch and his father a Muggle cemented his warped worldview: power was masculine, weakness feminine.

This disdain for femininity is central to Voldemort’s psychology. Casting him as a woman would erase the irony and fundamentally alter his character.

The Face of Evil Cannot Be Changed

The Harry Potter saga shows that evil can take many forms — and women can be terrifying in their villainy. But Voldemort was never meant to be a blank-slate villain. He was written as the ultimate dark foil to Harry: a man who cannot love, destroyed by a boy whose strength is love.

To gender-swap Voldemort would not be bold storytelling. It would miss the point of his character entirely.

So with all this in mind, I don’t think fans have to worry about the gender swap rumours swirling around social media.

Who Could Play Voldemort

Voldemort has been portrayed by several actors over the years. Ralph Fiennes remains the definitive portrayal, appearing from Goblet of Fire (2005) to Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011) with his icy, calculating menace. Christian Coulson and Frank Dillane played teenage Tom Riddle in Chamber of Secrets (2002) and Half-Blood Prince (2009), Hero Fiennes-Tiffin took on the role as a child in the sixth film, and Richard Bremmer portrayed the Dark Lord’s non-corporeal form in Philosopher’s Stone (2001).

The good news is that HBO has reportedly cast the role of Voldemort. The less good news is… we’ll have to wait until the show airs for the full reveal, as they’ve opted to keep the identity secret.

Here are some of the contenders who have publicly responded or been linked to the role:

Cillian Murphy

Cillian Murphy has firmly denied any involvement in the HBO series. In a recent interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he stated, “No… I don’t know anything about that,” and expressed admiration for Ralph Fiennes, the original Voldemort, calling him an “absolute acting legend.” Murphy also joked about the difficulty of following Fiennes’ portrayal, referencing Voldemort’s distinctive appearance.

Matt Smith

Matt Smith has also addressed the rumours, stating, “It’s just really hard to follow anything Ralph Fiennes does… good luck to whoever is going to fill those shoes.” He further clarified, “No… I don’t know anything about that,” effectively ruling himself out of the role.

Nicholas Hoult

Nicholas Hoult’s name has surfaced in fan discussions, with some speculating that he might be considered for the role. However, there has been no official confirmation or statement from Hoult regarding these rumours. His involvement remains speculative at this stage.

Matthew Macfadyen

Matthew Macfadyen has been cast to voice Voldemort in Audible’s new audio series adaptation of Harry Potter. While this is not directly related to the HBO series, his involvement in the franchise has led to speculation about his potential casting in the television adaptation.

Personally, I had been a supporter of Murphy, so it’s somewhat disappointing to see that looking unlikely — unless he’s pulling a convincing “Andrew Garfield”–style surprise. At the moment, I’m leaning towards Macfadyen as a compelling possibility.

Who would you like to see take on one of literature’s most popular villains? Let us know in the comments!