HBO’s Harry Potter: My Theory on How Voldemort Could Appear in Season One

In my last article, I argued that the idea of a gender-swapped Voldemort misses the entire point of his character. His identity is too tied to toxic masculinity, maternal absence, and misogyny for a “Lady Voldemort” to work without breaking the story.

I want to be very clear: I am not trying to add fuel to that rumour. Instead, I’m approaching this purely as a fan and a writer — someone who enjoys theorising about how HBO might creatively adapt elements of the books for television.

Let’s Clear Something Up: Cynthia Erivo

One of the strangest rumours to emerge online recently is that Cynthia Erivo — currently starring as Elphaba in Wicked — could be playing Voldemort in the HBO series. Let’s be blunt: there is zero credible evidence for this claim.

Erivo is a brilliant actor and singer, but there has been no report, casting leak, or interview suggesting she is connected to the Harry Potter project in any way. This is exactly the kind of wild speculation that spreads fast online without a shred of truth behind it.

So, with that rumour put to bed, let’s look at a possibility that actually fits within the story’s logic.

Voldemort After Godric’s Hollow

When Voldemort’s Killing Curse rebounds on him in Godric’s Hollow, he is left less than human. Rowling described him as “a feeble, powerless, shadow of the dark wizard he had once been.”

In this state, he cannot exist independently. He must cling to life by inhabiting animals and, later, humans. In the books and films, this stage is shown in fragments: whispers of him in the Albanian forests, his eventual possession of Quirrell at Hogwarts, and his reliance on Horcruxes to tether himself to the world.

This period offers rich storytelling opportunities for HBO to expand upon.

My Theory: Multiple Hosts, Multiple Faces

If HBO truly has auditioned male and female actors, it may not be because Voldemort’s gender is being rewritten. Instead, it could reflect his inhuman, parasitic state.

Imagine Voldemort’s presence glimpsed through different hosts — a man here, a woman there — as he clings desperately to life. Each fleeting appearance would remind us that he’s everywhere and nowhere, a lurking evil without form.

This wouldn’t be a gender swap. It would be a creative way of showing Voldemort’s lack of a body, highlighting just how unstable and desperate he is in this part of the story.

A method like this has been used successfully before in The Vampire Diaries. In the third season, Matthew Davis temporarily played Klaus before Joseph Morgan was revealed as the actor officially cast in the role. Similarly, before Silas’s true form was revealed in the season four finale, the character was portrayed through a string of different actors — James MacDonald, David Alpay, Candice Accola, Claire Holt, Joseph Morgan — before ultimately being unveiled as Paul Wesley.

This approach kept audiences guessing, maintained suspense, and made the eventual reveals all the more powerful. HBO could apply the same principle with Voldemort, using multiple actors to embody his desperate, parasitic form before the true Dark Lord is revealed.

The Big Reveal at Quirrell

As a writer, I love suspense. Holding back Voldemort’s “true” reveal until the right moment would give HBO enormous dramatic weight.

After a season of ominous glimpses, the moment the turban falls in front of the Mirror of Erised — revealing that Voldemort has been possessing the back of Quirrell’s head — could serve as the big turning point. That’s when HBO could unveil the actor officially cast in the role: the Voldemort who will carry the series going forward.

Why This Works

As a fan, I don’t want Voldemort’s identity tampered with. But as a writer, I can see the potential in leaning into his bodiless, parasitic state to raise tension and mystery.

It allows HBO to:

• Build suspense before Voldemort’s official reveal.
• Honour the canon by showing him as “less than human” after the failed curse.
• Keep audiences — both newcomers and long-time fans — guessing.

Final Thoughts

To be absolutely clear: this is just a fan theory. I’m not reporting insider knowledge, nor do I believe HBO will (or should) gender-swap Voldemort. My approach here is to think about how the show could use its format to deepen and expand on what we already know from the books.

Auditioning male and female actors could be less about changing who Voldemort is, and more about showing what he has become — a shadow, a parasite, clinging to anyone just to survive until the moment he reveals himself once again.

And that, in my opinion, would be one of the most chilling ways to bring the Dark Lord back to our screens.

What about you? Would you enjoy seeing Voldemort teased through shifting hosts before his true reveal — or would you prefer HBO stick to a more straightforward adaptation?