While promoting his new film "In Bruges" actor Ralph Fiennes gave a new interview where he discusses his role as Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter series. Ralph says he will not be appearing in the upcoming "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," and has not yet signed for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." He discusses the fact he "particularly liked" doing "Goblet of Fire" under the direction of Mike Newell. Noting that he was never an avid reader of the Harry Potter book series he says that it wasn't until he went "to the premiere of the first one I did, I got a real sense of the extraordinary nature of it all." Quotage from the interview with Ain't it Cool is as follows:
Capone (of Aint It Cool) Are you even in THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE?
RF: The one they're shooting now, no, I'm not in it.
Capone: So it's just your nephew that's playing…
RF: My nephew is playing, I think just for a couple of scenes, the younger Voldemort [Tom Riddle]. I understand that the bulk of the bulk of the backstory of Voldemort is played by another, slightly older actor [Frank Dillane].
Capone: And have you signed on for the final film yet?
RF: I have not yet, no.
Capone: Has it been fun seeing yourself rendered serpentine for the two films your are in?
RF: Yeah, I particularly liked doing the first one. The second one, I think Voldemort is placed more as a sense in Harry's head, whereas in the first one I did with Mike Newell directing, there was that fantastic scene of his rebirth in the graveyard, which I enjoyed doing. I've enjoyed making the movies, but I was never an avid reader of the books. It just wasn't something I went towards. When I went to the premiere of the first one I did, I got a real sense of the extraordinary nature of it all.
Capone: Were there small children in the audience screaming at the site of you?
RF: Yes! The volume of people and the noise and excitement; it was a huge phenomenon, the whole thing is definitely. And I actually think that the David Yates-directed one, the last one, was particularly good. I liked the style of it; it was grown up. and had an edge to it, the way it was shot and lit. It's a franchise that could so easily have not developed, but I think just filmicly it has been developed, and the producers have been very smart to keep it alive and present and edgy.
I am sure that all the reaccuring actors and actresses from the films will be back for the last film even the newly cast people will be back Im sure. But Im not surprised either that he is not in it, it is Snapes book – I pray Alan has alot of screen time, eventhough we find out about his past it still is the book about Harry and the Half- Blood prince.
HBP is my favorite book so I’m totally looking forward to the movie. I think they COULD have used Ralph Fiennes even as Tom Riddle. He could’ve easily been in the Dumbledore interview during his transition into Voldemort. That’s what make-up is for, right? I’m REALLY nervous about DH though. One of the first things I thought after I finished reading it was: “How are they going to film this? Especially the wand-lore stuff?” Fiennes WILL return as Voldy in DH! He HAS TO!
I’m surprised and quite disappointed. I have and will always love the book, but movies are (everybody say it with me) a different medium. People who haven’t read the book will probably wonder during the film, “Hey, what happened to the snake guy? Why isn’t he possessing Harry anymore? Is the main villian not showing up in the penultimate movie? Why not?” I would love if they added some darker scenes in the movie and we got glimpses of Voldemort preparing his death eaters. Actually two scenes is really all that is needed. Two short scenes and we get a glimpse of exactly where Voldemort is and what he is doing. By the way, I’m 95% positive they won’t add in the Voldemort DADA interview. To simplify the memories means to simplify DH, which would mean it’s possible DH could be ONE film that is comprehensible for nonreaders.
Will: In all honesty, I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. It’s not as if Voldemort is going to totally vanish for the duration of the film; frankly, out of all the seven stories, I’d argue that HBP is the one that’s actually ABOUT Voldemort, both in terms of the backstory revealed about him and in terms of the way his presence permeates the whole atmosphere, even if you don;t see him directly. I really don’t think any audience members will feel like he’s missing…
I have to agree, Half Blood Prince is a film where even though the grown Voldemort may not be present I don’t think he will be missed. His acts are being carried out by others and we are finding out what happened to him as a child to create the man we see. I also think the fact that Malfoy is under his watchful eye creates a strong message. I don’t think Voldemort will be “missed” in the sense that the non reading audience will wonder what he is up to. His minions that are in and around the school will take care of that. Voldemort is much more of a delegator when it comes down to things anyways.
I must say though, after going on to read the whole interview (because I just love Ralph Fiennes and wanted to see what else he had going on) as much as I complain about the comments on this board…Man on man they are nothing like the comments on Ain’t It Cool News. I don’t think Strong Language covered it. I’m glad that people here are able to keep it at least clean if not always nice!
I am a girl and I WOULD PLAY TOM RIDDLE AHAHAHA. Anything to get into one of the films!! Warning: Theatrical prosthetics may be necessary, due to obvious reasons, in such case.
I would chop off my hair to a crop if I had to.
Anyway, I had a huge crush on the first Riddle. What a cool name…sigh. Fiennes I really hope will be back for DH, but I trust their faith in Dillane if they choose him instead for both.
It is a bit sick and twisted that I remember this – BUT I seem to remember that Robbie Coltrane and Richard Harris had to sign up for all 7 movies. The reason why it is sick and twisted that I recall this is that I do believe it was a topic that came up when R. Coltrane and R. Harris were with the three kids on the Rosie O’Donnell Show promoting the first movie!!! (I also think that Richard Harris was a little irked that he had to sign it and the kids didn’t)
It is either sick and twisted that I remember this accurately, or sick and twisted that I dreamt the whole thing.
I always pictured Fiennes in that scene in Dumbledore’s office, but yeah, maybe he is a bit too old for it.
I’m pretty sure he’ll come back for the final one. He seems to enjoy it all. I wonder if they’ll show him without the snake makeup/effects after his death. It’s not in the book of course, but it’d be a neat cinematic device.
I have to agree with Mr. Fiennes. He said he liked doing the scene in GoF. I thought he was stupendous in this role. I think personally that GoF was the best movie done yet. Yes of course there were things left out for sure, but you can’t say that it was not a great movie, (especially after the fiasco that was OotP!!!!!). Hope Mr. Fiennes is in DH though. It would be a shame to change actors in mid stride. All of the other actors have been there for all the movies, why break stride. Long live Harry Potter!!!!!!!!! Thanks JK for a wonderful series.
Maybe Ian Hart will play Voldemort. Ralph Fiennes looked more like Voldemort, but Ian Hart sounded more like how I had pictured him. Ralph Fiennes’s voice was just to calm. The high, cold, rasp was just how I had thought Voldemort sounded like: “Ha-Ry-Pot-Ter! See what I’ve become? See what I must do to survive?” And then, we met Ralph Fiennes. He looked much more like Voldemort, but the voice really irked me. The way he said “You will lose…everything…” just sounded to friendly for Voldemort. He’s evil, for Jeez sake! Maybe if they switch vocal chords, and Fiennes returns…
I am sure that all the reaccuring actors and actresses from the films will be back for the last film even the newly cast people will be back Im sure. But Im not surprised either that he is not in it, it is Snapes book – I pray Alan has alot of screen time, eventhough we find out about his past it still is the book about Harry and the Half- Blood prince.