Ralph Fiennes says ‘ship has sailed’ on return to Voldemort role in Harry Potter

The 63-year-old, who played Harry’s nemesis in five films from 2005 to 2011, said he had initially been keen to reprise the role but has heard nothing from the team behind the franchise.

He told the BBC’s The Claudia Winkleman Show: “I remember being asked the question would I reprise the part? This was some years ago. And I said, ‘yes, I’d love to.’

“But then, nothing’s happened. I think that ship has sailed. But I tell you, Tilda Swinton was mentioned somewhere as being a contender, and I think she would be amazing. She would be fantastic.”

Swinton and Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy are among those rumoured to be taking on the role in the TV adaption for HBO.

The adaption will see Warwick Davis return to Hogwarts as Professor Filius Flitwick, while Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin and Alastair Stout who will play Hermione, Harry and Ron respectively.

The trio of main characters were initially played by Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Emma Watson (Hermione) and Rupert Grint (Ron) in the original film series, based on the books by JK Rowling, which spanned eight movies.

Fiennes’s comments come after actor Tom Felton reprised his role as one of the films’ other villains Draco Malfoy for the first time in 14 years for the Broadway production of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child at New York’s Lyric Theatre, which is running until May 10.

The first season of the TV version will hit screens this Christmas on HBO Max, adapted from Rowling’s first novel, Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone.

Further seasons will feature her other novels, and she is an executive producer on the show.

The Claudia Winkleman show airs at 10.40pm on Friday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.