Film

10 Actors Who Haven’t Been Mentioned Yet

29 March 2026

Whoever is cast as Voldemort in the upcoming HBO Harry Potter TV series will have high expectations to meet. Tom Marvolo Riddle is one of the most iconic movie villains of all time, and Ralph Fiennes’ portrayal has been definitive for a generation.

With additional time to tell Voldemort’s backstory properly, nailing this casting for the ongoing series cannot be overstated. Marquee-name stars like Cillian Murphy or Paul Bettany are rumored to be in consideration for the role, but many incredible British actors would be far more interesting choices.

Jefferson Hall

Jefferson Hall is best known for playing the twins Jason and Tyland Lannister in House of the Dragon, with one twin embodying arrogance and physical dominance and the other mastering quiet, cunning intellect. This range demonstrates Hall’s ability to inhabit both overtly threatening characters and those who manipulate from the shadows, a skill set that would translate seamlessly to Voldemort.

Hall could portray the Dark Lord not just as a figure of terrifying power, but as a calculating, emotionally controlled strategist, capable of commanding fear through presence, intelligence, and subtle menace. This combination of intensity and precision would make his Voldemort both chilling and believable.

Tom Burke

Tom Burke is an under-the-radar actor who consistently delivers layered, psychologically rich performances. Burk played Orson Welles in Fincher’s Mank as confident, magnetic, and intimidating, showing he can embody larger-than-life figures. As Praetorian Jack in Furiosa, Tom Burke was menacingly calm and impeccably controlled, a quietly dangerous presence who could intimidate without raising his voice.

Burke naturally conveys intelligence, which is crucial for Voldemort as a calculating strategist and ideologue. Additionally, he can attract followers believably, not just instill fear. Tom Burke wouldn’t play Voldemort as a monster first. He’d portray him as a man whose intellect and ego crystallize into something terrifying: a cerebral, chilling Dark Lord that dominates the Harry Potter TV series.

Nick Mohammed

Nick Mohammed’s roles notably include the controversial Nathan Shelley in Ted Lasso, a character who betrays Ted out of jealousy. While often seen as a lovable underdog, Mohammed has already demonstrated a capacity for darker, more morally complex turns within that role, making him a stealthy and intriguing choice for Tom Riddle.

This is the kind of casting people might doubt at first, until it clicks. Mohammed fully understands duality, repression, and emotional fracture. Casting him would also complement the choice of Severus Snape, complicating Slytherin’s legacy beyond simple racism while adding depth to the series’ interpretation of Voldemort’s world.

Rafe Spall

Rafe Spall is a versatile British actor known for a mix of film, TV, and voice work, often playing slightly neurotic, intense, or morally complex characters. He’s recognized for his combination of charisma, intelligence, and subtly off-kilter energy, which makes him compelling in both dramatic and genre roles.

From his lead role in the horror thriller The Ritual to his morally ambiguous work in Hustle and his memorable turn in the Black Mirror episode “White Christmas,” Spall has proven he can inhabit characters who are charming, calculating, and quietly menacing.

These qualities make him a compelling, under-the-radar choice for Voldemort. Spall is able to bring both cerebral control and unpredictable intensity to the Dark Lord, redefining the character as both intelligent and chillingly human without relying on overt theatrics.

Sophie Okonedo

Sophie Okonedo is a British actress known for her commanding screen presence, emotional depth, and versatility across drama, thriller, and historical roles. She has a natural ability to project intelligence, authority, and subtle menace, all qualities that would translate perfectly to Voldemort.

Her work as Dr. Robyn Sampson in Criminal: UK showcases psychological manipulation and controlled intensity that mirror Tom Riddle’s strategic mind, while her role as Tatiana in Æon Flux demonstrates a calculating, ruthless presence capable of dominating a scene without theatrics. Okonedo can command attention with minimal movement, making her ideal for a cerebral, ideologically driven Dark Lord.

Her performances convey subtle intelligence, making manipulations believable and fear compelling. She could portray Slytherin’s heir as either a malevolent strategist or a charismatic cult leader, giving HBO the flexibility to reinvent the character while retaining his chilling authority.

Richard E. Grant

Richard E. Grant is a British actor celebrated for his commanding presence, distinctive voice, and versatility across film, TV, and stage. He is known for portraying characters who are eloquent, commanding, slightly eccentric, and capable of both charm and menace, making him a natural fit for a reimagined Voldemort.

His role as General Pryde in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker showcased his ability to play villainous, authoritative, and intimidating figures, while appearances as Izembaro, the leader of the mummers in Game of Thrones, Classic Loki in Loki, and a cameo in Doctor Who highlight his comfort with sophisticated, eccentric, or menacing roles.

Grant’s Academy Award–nominated performance as Jack Hock in Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) further demonstrates his skill at blending charisma with subtle moral ambiguity. At 68, age is a consideration for a long-running series, but his presence, intellect, and gravitas could make him a chilling, cerebral, and unforgettable Dark Lord for HBO’s Harry Potter adaptation.

Kristin Scott Thomas

If HBO wants to redefine Voldemort, Kristin Scott Thomas (Gosford Park, The English Patient) is the pick. Best known recently for her work as Diana Taverner in Slow Horses, she embodies ice‑cold authority and aristocratic menace, the kind of presence that can make politeness feel threatening and disarming.

That “you don’t realize you’re in danger until it’s too late” energy would be perfect for a Dark Lord who dominates through intellect and control rather than theatrics. Thomas would lean into Voldemort as a terrifying ideologue who is composed, persuasive, and chillingly committed to her philosophy. She makes intelligence feel dangerous, and that’s Voldemort at his best.

Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman remains one of the most versatile actors working. Oldman’s best roles flow effortlessly from James Gordon in The Dark Knight trilogy to his Oscar-winning transformation as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, all the way back to his feral breakout as Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy.

He previously appeared in the wizarding world as Sirius Black, though the films gave him a far more limited role than the books, but this may be why he’s rarely discussed for Voldemort.

Still, when Oldman leans into heightened theatricality, sudden volatility, and absolute superiority, as seen in Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Léon: The Professional, he taps into something essential to Tom Riddle.

David Tennant

David Tennant’s best roles have already demonstrated exactly the kind of chilling, magnetic villainy required to play Lord Voldemort. Known for his warmth and wit as the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who and his grounded intensity as DI Alec Hardy in Broadchurch, Tennant flipped that persona on its head as Kilgrave in Jessica Jones.

With the ability to control minds, Kilgrave operates in a deeply Voldemortian way — bending the world to his will without regard for who he destroys in the process. Tennant’s prior role as Barty Crouch Jr. in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was brief enough that it wouldn’t be distracting to recast him.

More importantly, Tennant thrives in the space between charm and menace, making his villains as captivating as they are terrifying, an essential balance for He Who Must Not Be Named. Given Tennant’s caliber, it’s a little surprising he isn’t a part of the conversation or fan-castings.

James McAvoy

James McAvoy’s best movies balance charisma, intelligence, and intense emotional depth, making him a surprisingly strong Voldemort contender. He’s best known for playing the young Charles Xavier in the X-Men movies, a role that showcases his ability to project intellectual dominance, controlled intensity, and moral authority teetering toward ruthlessness.

Those same traits surface in McAvoy’s portrayal of Lord Asriel in His Dark Materials, where his charismatic yet uncompromising vision makes him compelling and fearsome. Of course, McAvoy’s performance in Split, where he embodied 23 distinct personalities, demonstrated his staggering range and capability for sheer psychological villainy.

Combine that versatility with his natural intensity, and it’s easy to imagine McAvoy bringing both menace and magnetism to He Who Must Not Be Named. It’s surprising that he isn’t being discussed more widely for the Harry Potter TV series, given his experience.