Latest news with #Voldemort
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Who will play Voldemort in the new Harry Potter series?
HBO have reportedly found who will play Voldemort in the upcoming Harry Potter series. The newest adaptation of the wizard book series recently showed off photos of Dominic McLoughlin on set as Harry, and Nick Frost playing Hagrid on set. But despite the cast pretty much confirmed for all roles, one name is yet to be attached to the most important character in the series — Voldemort. While HBO reportedly have cast the Dark Lord, they want to keep him a secret — but hasn't stopped the rumour mill, with several names being floated as to who could play him; including one of our own. Once again, Cillian Murphy is being floated to play a villain. Pic: Brian McEvoy When you win an Oscar, you immediately become a hot commodity — with Cillian being a hot favourite to take over the role. Fans of the series are already on board with Cillian potentially being Voldemort, including the film series' villain Ralph Fiennes, who gave his seal of approval on the Corkonian taking on the role. 'Cillian is a fantastic actor,' Ralph said. 'That's a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favour of Cillian. Yeah.' The Welsh actor has played villains before, with some reckoning that he'd be a perfect fit for Voldemort. Pic: Matt Baron/REX/Shutterstock Whether Batman or Bateman, Christian Bale is able to play heroes and villains well — and why not play one of the most well known villains in the world? Christian has played villains in his most recent films, including Gorr the God butcher in Thor: Love and Thunder, and is set to play Frankenstein's Monster in The Bride!, the most recent adaptation of Bride of Frankenstein. So surely he can make room to play another bad guy! Matt has played villains before, with people wondering if he'd be the actor to take on the role. Pic: Eyepix Group / MilestoneMedia/PA Images Having a history with HBO in playing Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon, Matt Smith has also been a name that could play Tom Riddle that's been floating about in Internet circles. And again, why not? While he may be best known as The Doctor, Matt has had no issue playing a villain — perhaps he could be on board to take on the role of He Who Shall Not Be Named. And yet, some are clamouring for the original Voldemort himself, Ralph Fiennes, to reprise his role. Pic: Brian McEvoy And yet, despite all that, some people would like the original Voldemort to reprise his role. Playing the role of Voldemort from 2005 to 2011 across four films, many associate the villain role with Ralph. However, he has kept mum on if he'd reprise the role; but gave good advice to whomever will take on the role of the evil wizard. 'Make sure you can handle the long flowing robes and don't trip over them,' Ralph said. 'Practice your long flowing robe walk.' Fair enough.
Pink Villa
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Harry Potter TV Series: Cillian Murphy or Matt Smith? Fans Guess Voldemort Casting as HBO Locks Actor But Keeps it Hidden
The Harry Potter TV series has kept the fans intrigued over the casting of Voldemort. According to media reports, HBO has locked in an actor to play the villainous character, but the makers will not reveal the identity ahead of time. While the show based on J.K. Rowling 's novels is highly anticipated, fans wonder if Cillian Murphy or Matt Smith will play the role of the main antagonist. As the guessing game continues over the actor playing Voldemort, it is clear that Ralph Fiennes, who portrayed the character in the Harry Potter movies, will not reprise his role in the TV show. Who will play Voldemort in the Harry Potter TV series? Amid the secrecy around the star playing the role of Voldemort, media reports claim that it is deliberate strategy of the makers. The decision echoes the character's 'He Who Must Not Be Named' tagline, reinforcing the aura of mystery and fear surrounding Voldemort's identity. Meanwhile, the rumors circulating on the internet have provided two names, who could be the perfect fit for the role. The character could be convincingly portrayed by either Matt Smith or Cillian Murphy, according to fans. The Oscar-winning star was particularly the pick between the two, which even Fiennes approved. Previously, it was reported that Murphy was roped in for the character of Professor Quirrell. Though no confirmation was given by the Warner Bros. Studios, the CEO, Channing Dungey, said, 'We're still weighing a couple of different options there, so we're not quite ready there yet. That's an important role to get right.' Later, it was confirmed that the role went to Luke Thallon. What is the Harry Potter TV series about? The Harry Potter TV series was announced first in 2023, and since then, the fans have been excited over the wizard story returning to the screens. Earlier this month, HBO released the first looks of Harry Potter and Rubeus Hagrid, portrayed by Dominic McLaughlin and Nick Frost, respectively. The storyline of the show will be based on the novels by the popular author, Rowling. Each of the seven books will be adapted into a separate season. The show will be debuted on the TV screens in 2027.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
HBO's Harry Potter reboot reportedly casts Voldemort in secret
Recent reports suggest that Lord Voldemort has been cast for HBO's upcoming Harry Potter television reboot, though the actor's identity has not been officially disclosed. Filming began in July 2025 at Leavesden Studios, where the original film series was also shot. The speculation began after an anonymous social media post claimed that the role of Voldemort had already been filled but that the studio plans to keep the casting secret until the show premieres. Fan accounts have since circulated similar claims, indicating that the Dark Lord will appear earlier than expected possibly across multiple episodes in season one. A rumor originating from the fan account MovieMagick added fuel, stating that while the casting is reportedly confirmed, the reveal will be withheld. It also named Cillian Murphy and Matt Smith as rumored front-runners for the role, though neither actor nor the studio has confirmed or commented publicly. Major outlets covering the series have noted that HBO is still finalizing key details around the character's inclusion and timeline. While initial expectations were that Voldemort might not appear until later seasons, the new speculation suggests his arc could begin far sooner. No official statements have been made by HBO or Warner Bros. The series is slated to premiere in 2027, with the first two seasons expected to consist of six episodes each. Casting for Harry, Hermione, and Ron has already been officially announced.
Mercury
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mercury
Vinnies caught trying to fleece muggles with dodgy book prices
An Aussie charity shop has been caught trying to pull a swifty worthy of Voldemort himself, slapping ludicrous price tags on common-as-cockroaches Harry Potter books. Two Harry Potter books spotted in a glass display cabinet at a Vinnies store in Lane Cove, Sydney, caught the eye of TikToker Mat, who runs a website teaching Aussies how to flip undervalued products found in op shops earlier this month. The books – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – were listed for $500 and $1,000, respectively. Both items were labelled as 'rare' first editions, but Mat – who shared his finding on @flipweekly – argues they're actually 'far from it'. '$500 for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and $1000 for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – are you serious?', he told followers. 'The price tag claims it's because they are first editions but here's the thing. By the time these later books came out, print runs were massive. MORE NEWS Inside Australia's haunting mall mystery Why Aldi, Costco keep snubbing this Aussie state Surprise way to make $100k from a vending machine 'Deathly Hallows alone sold over 15 million copies in the first 24 hours (of being released) and still holds the record for the largest initial print run in publishing history. 'So if you find Deathly Hallows in an op shop, odds are it's a first edition (but) that doesn't make it rare. It makes it common.' Vinnies have since admitted they'd made a mistake and banished the overpriced Potter books from the shelves – but not before copping plenty of outrage online. 'Surely there's just a decimal point missing??,' one of Mat's followers mused. Another commented: 'I'm wondering if these op shops are all part of a money laundering network.' A third wrote: 'Keep in mind this stuff is DONATED.' The backlash comes as charity shops increasingly cop flak for jacking up prices. Shoppers have reported seeing Anko, a brand exclusive to Kmart and Target, selling in charity shops for a higher price than it was originally sold for. Vinnies, however, insists they're just trying to raise dosh for those in need. A spokesperson told Yahoo News that pricing is based on 'affordability for customers as well as the quality of the goods on sale,' using a 'simple pricing guide based on research on value in the general second-hand marketplace and the quality of the garment.' Last year, they splashed out a whopping $96.4 million on vital services for the homeless, those battling mental health issues, and people with disabilities.
Buzz Feed
20-06-2025
- Buzz Feed
12 MI6 Facts You Didn't Know But Definitely Do Now
Think MI6 is all tuxedos, fast cars, and shaken martinis? That's just the movie version. The real British intelligence service has a story that's far more surprising, and a lot less glamorous. From spy gadgets hidden in matchboxes to hacking terrorist magazines with cupcake recipes, these are the MI6 facts you probably never heard about… until now. The whole reason MI6 exists? Britain was paranoid about Germany in 1909. MI6 wasn't born out of slick spy missions or dramatic shootouts—it started with good old-fashioned paranoia. In 1909, Britain was convinced that Germany was plotting against them, so they secretly set up what would become MI6 to keep tabs on enemy activity, and let's just say… they've been watching ever since. The head of MI6 isn't called 'M' in real life, it's 'C', and they always use green ink. In the Bond universe, the boss goes by 'M.' But IRL? It's 'C.' That's short for Sir Mansfield Cumming, the very first chief of MI6, who used to sign all his notes with just the letter 'C' (in green ink, no less). The tradition stuck. Every MI6 head since has kept the title and the signature style—yes, they still write in green ink. Very on-brand for a secret agent, honestly. MI6 was a secret for decades, and wasn't officially acknowledged until 1994. MI6 has been around since 1909, but for most of its life, it was like the Voldemort of government departments—never officially named. Originally set up as the Secret Service Bureau, the agency operated entirely in the shadows. It wasn't until 1994—yes, the same year Friends premiered—that the British government publicly admitted MI6 even existed. Talk about a long game. There wasn't just MI6—at one point, there were 19 different MI departments. MI6 didn't always work alone. Back in the day, there were actually 19 different 'MI' branches doing everything from decoding messages to watching the skies. MI1 dealt with information management, MI2 focused on Russia and Scandinavia, MI4 handled aerial surveillance, and MI11 (weirdly enough) took on codebreaking. Over time, most of these departments either shut down or got folded into MI5 and MI6. So no, MI6 isn't just a spy movie thing—it's what's left after a major intelligence agency merger. MI6 HQ isn't just a building, it's basically a fortress. The MI6 headquarters in London is no ordinary office. With 25 types of glass, bombproof walls, and triple-glazed windows, it's built like a tank. Rumors say it even has a shooting range, rooms where eavesdropping is impossible, and a Faraday cage to block radio signals. James Bond could only dream. Some of the greatest spy novelists were actual spies. Yes, really. Before Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy became a classic Cold War thriller, its author, John le Carré was living the spy life for real. Born David Cornwell, he worked for MI6 but had to use a pen name—real agents weren't allowed to publish under their own identities. And le Carré wasn't alone. The Quiet American author Graham Greene was also with MI6. Meanwhile, Ian Fleming—the man behind James Bond—served in Naval Intelligence, which gave him all the material he needed to invent 007 (minus the gadgets and martinis, probably). The first MI6 chief had a wild way of testing recruits. It involved a knife and a wooden leg. Sir Mansfield Cumming, the original head of MI6, had a pretty unhinged method for screening potential agents. In the middle of an interview, he'd suddenly stab himself in the leg to see how the recruit reacted. Don't worry, it was a wooden leg. But if you flinched? You probably didn't make the cut. In 2011, MI6 swapped b*mb instructions with cupcake recipes, yes that happened. MI6 pulled off one of the sassiest cyber moves in spy history. In 2011, agents hacked into an online Al-Qaeda magazine and replaced its bomb-making instructions with… cupcake recipes. Instead of a step-by-step guide to explosives, readers found details for the best cupcakes in America. It was part sabotage, part bake sale, and 100% genius. Real MI6 gadgets existed, just don't expect exploding pens or laser watches. The spy gear wasn't all Hollywood-level madness, but it was real. While James Bond had grenade pens and magnetic watches, actual MI6 agents worked with gadgets that were a little more low-key (and way more practical). Think cameras hidden inside matchboxes, hollowed-out shaving brushes, and other everyday objects turned into tools for espionage. Less flashy, more sneaky. MI6's top spy almost lost his job because of a Facebook post. Back in 2009, the head of MI6—Sir John Sawers—nearly had his career derailed thanks to his wife's Facebook activity. She casually posted their home address, vacation photos, and even details about their kids' locations… all publicly visible. Not ideal for the UK's most secretive spy. The info was taken down eventually, but not before the headlines started flying. Women in early MI6 weren't exactly given spy gadgets; they were used as 'honey traps' or stuck taking notes. Back in the early days of MI6, women weren't sent on glamorous missions or handed briefcases full of gadgets. Instead, they were often used to seduce and compromise targets—what's known as a 'honey trap'—or assigned to secretarial work behind the scenes. It wasn't until much later that women began taking on actual intelligence roles and field assignments. And now? For the first time ever, MI6 has its female chief. Talk about a full-circle moment. MI6 helped train America's first spies, including the predecessor to the CIA. When the U.S. finally joined World War II, it didn't exactly have a seasoned spy agency ready to go. So MI6 stepped in. Britain's top-secret service helped train America's brand-new Office of Strategic Services (OSS)—aka the baby version of the CIA. That early collab laid the groundwork for one of the most enduring intelligence partnerships in the world. So the next time you watch a Bond movie, just remember, the real MI6 doesn't hand out grenade pens or jetpacks (at least not that we know of). From secret aliases and cupcake hacks to wooden leg interviews and green ink signatures, Britain's top spy agency is full of facts stranger than fiction. And now, with its first-ever female chief at the helm, MI6 is proving it knows how to keep secrets and shake things up.
