Fantasy Advent Day 4: Two casting stories for the Harry Potter series

Welcome to Day 4 of the Fantasy Advent for this year. Today we have two casting speculations to discuss for the HBO Harry Potter adaptation that has everyone talking. By everyone, I also mean a prominent former cast member. Let's dive into the news we have on that subject.

The Big Bad and the new show

Ralph FIennes has roles in which he is benevolent (Maid in Manhattan) or melancholy (The Reader), but there is a specific reason role that I thought of when I learned that he was cast as Lord Voldemort. In Schindler's List, he plays the sadistic and capricious Nazi commandant Amon Goth and I vividly remember him murdering several people and then casually threatening someone in his own house. That, I considered, was definitely the man to play the most evil wizard in the series.

According to E!News, "the original Voldemort is pondering who might be able to take over the Dark Lord. And he was all in on the suggestion that it be Cillian Murphy." When the subject was brought up on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Ralph praised Cillian as "a fantastic actor" before saying that "I actually think that's a wonderful suggestion."

Fiennes was originally hesitant to take on the role and it took the intervention of a family member to change his mind. Martha, whose son Hero Fiennes Tiffin played young Voldemort in the sixth film, reportedly called Ralph mad for not wanting to do it. After Martha described the role as "the bad buy. The one. The one." he agreed to take on the role.

Irish-born Cillian Murphy is known for many roles and won the Academy Award for his performance in Oppenheimer, but his turn as the Scarecrow in two of the Christopher Nolan Batman movies and the sinister manipulator Jackson Ripper in Red Eye are good credentials for his prospective casting as the villain.

Bat-like

Meanwhile, we hear from The Hollywood Reporter that Paapa Essiedu is being eyed for the role of Severus Snape, the constantly feared Potions Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. "Sources say the actor has been offered the part although it is not clear if negotiations have begun in earnest," says the entertainment website.

Essiedu has a varied background, but played Kamwe in I May Destroy You, another HBO project. The dark comedy featured him as the best friend of the lead female character, Arabella. Should there be concern that he is not serious enough for the role of the head of Slytherin House, we can point to his career in the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has played the title roles for Hamlet and King Lear. He was even in "Demon 79" in the anthology series Black Mirror.

HBO of course, is not confirming the rumors, but the article mentions that "if Essiedu lands the role, it will also be an example of HBO following through on its promise that the series would have a diverse cast...and will presumably lead to a rather fresh take on the character."