It’s now been nearly 15 years since the eighth and final part of the Harry Potter film series hit cinema screens – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 was released in 2011.
And it’s a remarkable 25 years since the first film in the series was released, introducing the world to the then little-known acting trio of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.
Since then three parts of the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ series, starring Eddie Redmayne, have been added to the Potterverse.
But now fans of the boy wizard have something new to look forward to, with a Harry Potter television series now filming and expected to arrive on our screens this Christmas.
Streaming service HBO Max, who recently launched their service in the UK, are making it and recruited the main child parts in open auditions, with relative unknowns Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton playing Harry, Ron and Hermione respectively.
And they have been joined in the cast by a string of big names, including John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy and Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick.
But there has been complete silence about who will play one of the series’ most important roles, that of the Dark Lord himself.
Oppenheimer actor Cillian Murphy had been the red hot favourite for the part but recently counted himself out.
Here are the 7 actors now in the frame to success Ralph Fiennes (including Ralph himself) according to the experts at OLBG.
1. Paul Bettany - 1/2
Famous for playing J.A.R.V.I.S. and Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Paul Bettany is now the 1/2 favourite to be cast as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in arguably the world's second biggest franchaise. | Getty Images
2. Alexander Skarsgård - 6/4
Alexander Skarsgård is no stranger to playing bad guys having famously played the role of vampire Eric Northman in the television series 'True Blood' for six years. He won an Emmy for 'Big Little Lies' and has starred in a string of films, most recently the BAFTA-nominated 'Pillion'. He's the 6/4 second favourite to take on the role of Harry Potter's nemesis. | Getty Images
3. Cynthia Erivo - 2/1
Who said that Lord Voldermort couldn't be Lady Voldermort? If the makers are looking to break away from the Harry Potter movies then casting a woman would certainly be a talking point. Cynthia Erivo is on a commercial high at the moment following the success of the 'Wicked' films and is currently in London's West End in a one-woman version of 'Dracula'. She's a 2/1 shot to take that darkness into the Pottersphere. | Getty Images
4. Tilda Swinton - 4/1
There's nothing that Scotland-based acting legend Tilda Swinton can't do - so she'd be a bold but wonderful choice for the Dark Lord. The Oscar winner (for Michael Clayton) is famously picky about the roles she takes on and was last on the big screen in Pedro Almodóvar drama 'The Room Next Door', which earned her another Oscar nomination. She's the 4/1 joint fourth favourite for Voldermort in the new television series. | AFP via Getty Images