Cillian Murphy Denies Voldemort Role in HBO Harry Potter Series

Cillian Murphy has firmly denied longstanding rumors that he would portray the iconic villain Lord Voldemort in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter television series, putting an end to months of online speculation.

The Irish actor, fresh off an Oscar win for his role in Oppenheimer and best known for leading the BBC series Peaky Blinders, addressed the chatter during a recent interview with The Times. "I'm categorically not," Murphy said, adding emphatically, "Can you make that the headline?" He revealed he was unaware his name had been linked to the part, explaining his general disinterest in celebrity gossip. "Being a personality is not what I am good at," he said. "But then existing in this world? Talking about yourself, going on fucking red carpets? It's not healthy if you start to believe this shit, and I'm really bad at it too. I'm an incredibly average person, really."

The rumors gained traction about six months ago, sparked by online scoops and amplified in January when Ralph Fiennes, who played Voldemort in the original film adaptations from 2001 to 2011, appeared to endorse Murphy during a red carpet event. When asked who should succeed him in the role, Fiennes replied, "I'm...