Summary
HBO’sHarry Potterseries needs to revive an older, discarded design for Lord Voldemort to make him truly terrifying and completely accurate to the books. This way, the TV reboot has the potential to be more than just nostalgia bait; it can fix long-standing issues, such as this one, that fans have had with the previous films.
Voldemort is undoubtedly one of the most iconic villains of all time, thanks to both theHarry Potterbooks and films. But some fans feel he wasn’t as terrifying as he could have been, even with Ralph Fiennes’ great performance. HBO’s series reboot of J.K. Rowling’s iconic novels is on the horizon and now is the chance to change that. Fortunately, the solution isn’t far off, and the makers just need to reopen their old design archives.
Wand
Yew with phoenix feather core (13 ½ inches)
It’s been 14 years sinceVoldemort was defeated by Harry PotterinDeathly Hallows: Part 2, the final installment of the film series. Yet, the fandom remains active in discussions about the Dark Lord’s appearance and the drastically different look he almost had. The makeup and props department had a very different vision for the character inSorcerer’s Stonewhenhe possessed Professor Quirrell. Old behind-the-scenes images of this design keep resurfacing on social media, especially with Voldemort’s impending return in HBO Max’s reboot.
The reported design of Voldemort’s face on the back of Quirrell’s head in the first film, which never made it to the final cut, looks terrifying, to say the least. This alternate version featured sharp teeth, glaring eyes, and an overall monstrous, animalistic appearance. It made him look more like a creature than a man, which was preciselythe intent behind Voldemort’s appearance. Unsurprisingly, this design was actually closer to the book’s description than what ended up in the movie.
What Is Voldemort’s Appearance In The Books?
Um, Well, He’s Not Exactly Pretty
When theHarry Potterfilm series begins, Voldemort has no physical body, thanks toThe Boy Who Lived. Because of this, he goes through different forms: a wisp, Quirrell’s head, a weak body, and finally, the most recognizable Ralph Fiennes version. In the first film, Voldemort takes on a physical form by possessing Quirrell. The book (Philosopher’s Stone) describes Harry’s reaction upon seeing him for the first time:
Where there should have been a back to Quirrell’s head, there was a face—the most terrible face Harry had ever seen. It was chalk white, with glaring red eyes and slits for nostrils, like a snake.
This version of Voldemort looked different, partly because he was played by Richard Bremmer instead ofRalph Fiennes. More importantly, the movie changed key details from the book. In the novel, He Who Must Not Be Named is described as having glaring red eyes, but in the film, his eye color is different and far less striking. The book also mentions slits for nostrils, whereas the film gives him a full nose with regular nostrils. Lastly, while his face was pale, it wasn’t as ghostly white.
Why Did They Change Voldemort’s Design?
Hint: It Involves Children And Nightmares
Voldemort’s appearance in the filmwas fairly effective at that time, though the CGI wasn’t the best. But shouldn’t “the most terrible face Harry had ever seen” have been even scarier? Perhaps the filmmakers felt the frightening design was too intense for a movie aimed at children, and could have even traumatized them. Imagine how much darker the franchise would have become if they had gone with this version. A middle ground between the final version and the unused monstrous concept could have been a better choice here.
The Harry PotterMovies Made Voldemort Too Human
The Fandom Wants A Monstrosity To Revile
Voldemort’s design wasn’t just a problem in the first film; he needed to be scarier and more accurate throughout the series.FromGoblet of Fireonwards, he looked increasingly human, which some fans feel was a mistake. While his power fluctuated with the fate of his Horcruxes, he should have remained more reptilian and monstrous.
The books describe him as tall and skeletal, with a skull-like face, long limbs, and piercing red eyes that have cat-like pupils. TheHBOHarry Potterreboothas the opportunity to incorporate these details and make them work. Audiences have evolved, and the streaming market is now more open to elements that might have once been considered too unsettling or intense.
Who Will Play Voldemort In HBO’sHarry PotterReboot?
Sorry, They Probably Cannot Afford Cillian Murphy Long-Term
At the time of writing, no actor had been officially confirmed to play Lord Voldemort in the upcoming series. Big names like Cillian Murphy have been rumored for the role, with even Ralph Fiennes giving his approval to the speculation. However, HBO has yet to make an official announcement, and some reports suggest thattheOppenheimeractormight play Quirrell instead. In a December 2024 appearance onWatch What Happens Live, Fiennes said:
Cillian is a fantastic actor. That’s a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favor of Cillian. Yeah.
So far, only a few casting choices seem likely —John Lithgow as Dumbledoreand Paapa Essiedu rumored for Snape. Every “recast” will face intense scrutiny from Potterheads, so the show needs to win them over. The best way to do that is by improving existing characters—not just with new actors, but by correcting details that were lost in translation from book to screen. That said, making Voldemort look more terrifying doesn’t automatically make him a better villain. However, his design should still be a top priority in the upcomingHarry Potterreboot.
