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.
5. Richard E. Grant - 4/1
It's a remarkable fact that British acting royalty Richard E. Grant didn't appear in any of the original Harry Potter films. Giving him one of the biggest roles in the television series would make up for that. He's a 4/1 shot. | Getty Images for BFI
6. Willem Dafoe - 4/1
Willem Dafoe has a proud history of playing iconic baddies - from Bobby Peru in 'Wild at Heart' to the Green Goblin in Spider-Man. He's another actor who is priced at 4/1 to play Voldermort. | Getty Images for FLC
7. Kristin Scott Thomas - 5/1
Completing our list is 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' star Kristin Scott Thomas. The English actress has recently been seen on the small screen playing spy Diana Taverner in 'Slow Horses' opposite Gary Oldman - who could tell her a thing or two about Harry Potter, having played Sirius Black in the film series. She's 5/1 to step into the role. | Getty Images