Cillian Murphy has publicly dismissed rumours that he is set to play Voldemort in the forthcoming Harry Potter television series.

Speculation around the Peaky Blinders actor intensified after fans widely shared casting suggestions online. Chris Columbus, who directed the first two Harry Potter films, previously endorsed the idea, stating, “Cillian is one of my favourite actors, so that would be amazing.”

However, Murphy moved to shut down the claims in an interview with The Times. Addressing the reports directly, he said, “I’m categorically not”, before adding, “Can you make that the headline?”

The role of Voldemort was portrayed by Ralph Fiennes in the original film franchise. Producers of the new series have yet to confirm casting details, fuelling continued online speculation.

Murphy also reflected on concluding his role as Tommy Shelby while attending the world premiere of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man in Birmingham. Asked about developing the character from the aftermath of the First World War to 1940, he said, “Oh my God, I don’t know if I can give you that in a soundbite. You’d need to watch the 36 hours of TV. It’s kind of very, very complex, you know.”

“I’m immensely proud of the work, I’m immensely proud of the show, I’m immensely proud of the fans,” he added.

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man will be released in select cinemas on 6 March before arriving on Netflix on March 20.