Harry Potter fans worried about a woke takeover as HBO auditions women for Voldemort’s part

Concerns over the potential of a woke audition process found fans up in arms about who may fill the role of Harry Potter’s villain Lord Voldemort.

Production studios acting in the name of DEI have more than merely taken liberties with representation in recent years, as even historical figures have been portrayed by actors of a different race or gender from reality. Now, the trend that turned Netflix casting into a meme may have reached the Wizarding World, as HBO’s “Harry Potter” show is said to be auditioning women to take on the role of the Dark Lord.

Adding new dimension to the series’ moniker of “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named,” the team working on the reboot has remained tight-lipped on who would be picking up the wand to torment its protagonist, but a social media post from industry insider Daniel Richtman contended, “They’re auditioning both men and women for Voldemort so it’s possible we could see a female Voldemort in the Harry Potter series!”

They’re auditioning both men and women for Voldemort so it’s possible we could see a female Voldemort in the Harry Potter series! pic.twitter.com/3Wbr7DsrWY

— Daniel Richtman (@DanielRPK) September 21, 2025

While auditions don’t equate to a casting decision, the possibility of a gender-bending portrayal of the villain whose name was revealed to be an anagram for Tom Marvolo Riddle comes amid rumors that Meryl Streep was set to voice Aslan in the Netflix version of C.S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia” and as many fans were already upset that the HBO series had cast a black actor in the role of Severus Snape.

Famously portrayed by Alan Rickman in the Harry Potter films, the series tapped a fellow alum of the Royal Shakespeare Company in Paapa Essiedu to carry out the role of teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts.

It also comes as the bestselling book series’ author, J.K. Rowling, is frequently under attack for her defiant stance against the spirit of the age in defending the rights of women and girls to have spaces free from men and boys.

In a lengthy post at the beginning of September, she responded to new opposition to her views by laying them out after stating, “As another man who once worked with me declares himself saddened by my beliefs on gender and sex, I thought it might be useful to compile a list for handy reference.”

“Which of the following do you imagine makes actors and directors who aren’t involved with the HBO reboot of Harry Potter so miserable?” Rowling asked before listing positions like opposing men in women’s sports and women’s prisons, while also supporting freedom of speech and belief as “essential to a pluralistic democratic society.”

As another man who once worked with me declares himself saddened by my beliefs on gender and sex, I thought it might be useful to compile a list for handy reference. Which of the following do you imagine makes actors and directors who aren’t involved with the HBO reboot of Harry…

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 1, 2025

While the author had previously given her seal of approval to the first couple of episodes of the series, she described the “SO, SO, SO GOOD!” reactions to the possibility of a female Voldemort as challenging the promise that the show would be accurate to the books, and expressed her intention to skip the program altogether. At the same time, those who supported anything that advanced the cause of those flying the rainbow standard appeared giddy at the prospect.

Book accuracy my ass

— Sam (@sam_isthere) September 21, 2025

Yeap…well, if Snape’s casting didn’t do it, then this should. The final nail in the coffin

— SJT (@Kyrios_90) September 21, 2025

“They Who Must Not Be Named”

— The Governor (@Gov_Megatron) September 22, 2025

omg trans voldemort, JK would melt

— (@ginzvgc) September 21, 2025

and that would be the last straw for me

— Dak (@Cinemaniiac) September 21, 2025

Oh ffs
We had enough with the Snape cast
Female Aslan
Female voldemort
What’s next, female frodo?

— jared (@PolJared) September 21, 2025

@jk_rowling disavow this series please if this happens. This is inane. I stand by you JK. As an author you KNOW what the words
FAITHFUL ADAPTATION mean.

— SmokenMirror (@WolfSmoke31) September 22, 2025

Staff Writer

Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn’t researching current events and their impacts, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.

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