Harry Potter TV Series Odds: Who Will Play Voldemort, Dumbledore And Hagrid?
Speculation about the forthcoming Harry Potter TV series has increased on UK betting sites in recent weeks, with several top stars tipped for the show.
A casting call is under way to find three new actors to take on the roles of main characters Harry, Hermione and Ron in a brand-new small screen adaptation of JK Rowling's book series.
HBO confirmed this week that 32,000 children have auditioned for the lead roles.
The stars must be between the ages of nine and 11 in April 2025 and be residents of the UK or Ireland, and they are likely to be unknown actors.
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Production on the hotly-anticipated series is due to start in summer 2025 in the UK, and there have been some major players linked with the roles of Voldemort, Dumbledore, Hagrid and Snape.
However, a representative for HBO has played down such speculation, saying: "We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumour and speculation.
"As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalise deals."
Goldstein's Giant Role
Despite this, Brett Goldstein has emerged as the new 5/6 favourite on betting apps to take on the role of half-giant Hagrid in the new series.
The Ted Lasso actor - who is best known for portraying no-nonsense Roy Kent in the Apple TV+ series - has been linked with the part of the loveable character by online outlet Deadline.
However, such speculation has been met with a backlash from some Potter purists.
Harry Potter TV Series: Who Will Play Hagrid Odds:
Actor | Odds | Probability |
Brett Goldstein | 5/6 | 54.5% |
Nick Frost | 6/4 | 40% |
Ciaran Hinds | 13/8 | 38.1% |
Rory McCann | 7/4 | 36.4% |
Jack Black | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Stephen Fry | 3/1 | 25% |
Jon Favreau | 4/1 | 20% |
Zach Galifianakis | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Matthew Lewis | 7/1 | 12.5% |
Domhnall Gleeson | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Greg Draven | 10/1 | 9.1% |
One wrote on X: "Um Hagrid is supposed to be 8 feet tall and English. (sic)"
Another posted on social media: "What next? Weasleys are gonna be blonde, Malfoys ginger and Harry will wear eye contacts? (sic)"
Furthermore, Cillian Murphy was linked with the part of Harry's nemesis Lord Voldemort earlier this year - and his price has reduced in recent days.
Oppenheimer star Murphy is now into 4/7, from 10/11, to portray Voldemort after Ralph Fiennes - who portrayed the character in the wizarding film franchise - backed him to take on the iconic part.
Speaking on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, Fiennes recently said: "Cillian is a fantastic actor. That’s a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favour of Cillian. Yeah."
Harry Potter TV Series: Who Will Play Voldemort Odds:
Actor | Odds | Probability |
Cillian Murphy | 4/7 | 63.6% |
Rhys Ifans | 7/4 | 36.4% |
Christian Bale | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Matt Smith | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Ralph Fiennes | 3/1 | 25% |
Damian Lewis | 4/1 | 20% |
Paul Bettany | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Stellan Skarsgard | 11/2 | 15.4% |
David Tennant | 6/1 | 14.3% |
David Bradley | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Bill Nighy | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Benedict Cumberbatch | 12/1 | 7.7% |
From Wolf Hall To Hogwarts
Elsewhere, Sir Mark Rylance is now the 4/6 favourite to portray Albus Dumbledore in the TV series.
According to Variety, the Wolf Hall actor is "top of the casting wish list" for the show and it's thought Warner Bros have "reached out" to the star to check his availability.
The iconic part was initially portrayed by Richard Harris in the first two films of the movie series, but Sir Michael Gambon took over for the remaining six movies after the former died in 2002, aged 72.
Harry Potter TV Series: Who Will Play Dumbledore Odds:
Actor | Odds | Probability |
Mark Rylance | 4/6 | 60% |
Gary Oldman | 10/11 | 52.4% |
Jim Broadbent | Evens | 50% |
Jude Law | 11/8 | 42.1% |
Rhys Ifans | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Rupert Everett | 3/1 | 25% |
Jared Harris | 4/1 | 20% |
Peter Capaldi | 9/2 | 18.2% |
Stephen Fry | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Charles Dance | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Brian Cox | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Ciaran Hinds | 9/1 | 10% |
David Bradley | 10/1 | 9.1% |
But if Rylance isn't available then Gary Oldman - who portrayed Sirius Black in the Harry Potter film franchise - could be HBO's man.
The Slow Horses star wanted Black to have a bigger role in the movie series, and recently admitted he is expecting a "whole new cast of people" in the TV show - but he hasn't ruled out playing Dumbledore.
He told IndieWire: "Maybe in a few years, I could do Dumbledore."
Gangs Of Hogwarts
Snape was another major character in the film franchise, and Deadline recently reported Paapa Essiedu is the frontrunner for the role.
Following the speculation, he is the 8/11 favourite to take on the part, but he could face stiff competition from some of his good pals.
Essiedu's Gangs of London co-stars Joe Cole (7/4) and Sope Dirisu (4/1) could also be in with a shout of appearing as the character.
Harry Potter TV Series: Who Will Play Snape Odds:
Actor | Odds | Probability |
Paapa Essiedu | 8/11 | 57.9% |
Joe Cole | 7/4 | 36.4% |
Connor Swindells | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Jude Law | 11/8 | 42.1% |
Richard Madden | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Rege-Jean Page | 3/1 | 25% |
Sope Dirisu | 4/1 | 20% |
Daniel Kaluuya | 9/2 | 18.2% |
Aidan Turner | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Dev Patel | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Kit Harington | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Lucien Laviscount | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Should Cole sign up for the series, he would be likely to reunite with his former Peaky Blinders co-star Murphy.
What's more, Sex Education star Connor Swindells is a 2/1 chance, and Game of Thrones actors Richard Madden and Kit Harington are 5/2 and 8/1 respectively.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
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