The in-development Harry Potter reboot series has inspired impressive fan art that turns actor Benedict Cumberbatch into a frightening Lord Voldemort. Harry Potter became one of the biggest media franchises in the world after the original eight-film series grossed over $7.7 billion combined. It has since spawned a prequel film series, Fantastic Beasts, the well-received 2016 play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and the upcoming reboot series.
While there have yet to be any casting announcements for HBO Max’s Harry Potter TV show, that hasn’t stopped fans from making some strong suggestions. Instagram user Elilusionista.cl tried their hand at fan-casting with a compelling piece of art depicting Benedict Cumberbatch as Voldemort. Check out the post below:
The fan art is not only expertly crafted, but it’s also eerie in how plausible Cumberbatch looks as the Dark Lord of the Wizarding World. The post, which was shared with Elilusionista.cl’s massive 153k following, is a closeup of Voldemort and perfectly blends the well-known characteristics of Voldemort, such as his nose slits, with Cumberbatch’s equally striking facial features.
Why Benedict Cumberbatch Would Be A Great Voldemort
Cumberbatch is one of the most well-respected and talented actors of his day, having earned the respect of critics in films such as The Imitation Game and The Power of the Dog while also entertaining in blockbuster movies. The British actor would come into the Voldemort role with prior experience playing a wizard thanks to Doctor Strange. His participation in other successful genre franchises, such as his roles as Khan Noonien Singh in Star Trek Into Darkness and as Smaug the dragon in The Hobbit trilogy, also means he’s no stranger to the fantastical.
Cumberbatch is known for playing good guy protagonists, but he has taken on his fair share of villainous roles. He has voiced Smaug, the Grinch, and Shere Khan, the antagonist in Mowgli: The Legend of the Jungle. He was also impressive in playing antihero Phil Burbank in The Power of the Dog, earning an Oscar nomination. Cumberbatch’s face has some built-in mischievousness, and his deep British voice is clearly one that many filmmakers believe is a match for dark or evil characters.
Thanks to the fan art, it is clear that Cumberbatch would look great in the part, and his history of playing antagonists means that he has the capacity to provide the Harry Potter series with a worthy successor to Ralph Fiennes’ portrayal of the iconic Voldemort. While Cumberbatch certainly has the skill, resume, and look to be a great Voldemort, he has yet to be tied to the role in any way. There has also been a push to make future Harry Potter projects more diverse in their representation, so at this point, anyone could step into the role of the Wizarding World’s next Voldemort.
Source: Elilusionista.cl/Instagram
