Cillian Murphy has officially put an end to speculation that he might be stepping into the role of Lord Voldemort for HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series.

Appearing on the Happy Sad Confused podcast this week, host Josh Horowitz asked Murphy about the persistent fan chatter linking him to the infamous Dark Lord. The Oscar winner was quick to shut it down. “No, my kids show me it occasionally, but no, I don’t know anything about that,” he said. “I mean, also, it’s just really hard to follow anything Ralph Fiennes does. The man is an absolute acting legend. So, good luck to whoever is going to fill those shoes.”

Ralph Fiennes famously played Voldemort in the original Harry Potter films, which launched in 2001 with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and wrapped a decade later in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

The upcoming television adaptation is slated to premiere on HBO and Max in 2027, with each season covering one of JK Rowling’s seven books. Casting for the central trio has already been revealed: Dominic McLaughlin will take on the role of Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton will portray Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout will play Ron Weasley.

As for Murphy, his schedule is already packed. He stars in Netflix’s Steve, premiering October 3, and is set to return as Tommy Shelby in the Peaky Blinders movie The Immortal Man, due in 2026. He will also appear in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, hitting theatres in January 2026.