HBO has officially announced the actor stepping into the menacing shoes of a young Tom Riddle for Season 2 of its Harry Potter series: Billy Barratt.
While Barratt is still young, his resume carries a fascinating mix of high-profile box office stumbles—including Disney’s $53 million sci-fi flop Crater and Sony’s critically panned Kraven the Hunter—and immense artistic prestige. Now, the rising British actor gets the ultimate opportunity to cement his status as a premiere talent on the massive global platform that HBO’s Wizarding World reboot provides.
Barratt was part of the core ensemble for Disney’s 2023 sci-fi feature Crater, which quietly vanished from Disney+ shortly after release despite its hefty budget. He also appeared as a younger version of Dmitri Smerdyakov (Chameleon) in Sony’s Kraven the Hunter, another project that struggled at the box office. Yet, looking past those studio misfires reveals an actor who possesses exactly the kind of unsettling, dramatic weight required to portray a 16-year-old Lord Voldemort.
Who Is Billy Barratt? (Age, Credentials, & History)
Billy Barratt may not be an immediate household name for casual moviegoers, but he is far from an inexperienced rookie. At just 13 years old, he made history by becoming the youngest person ever to win an International Emmy Award for Best Actor, following his haunting, tragic performance in the BBC drama Responsible Child (2019).
Beyond his Emmy-winning turn, Barratt has steadily built an impressive resume across prestige television, indie cinema, and stage:
Apple TV+’s Invasion: Bringing grounded emotion to a large-scale sci-fi narrative.
A24’s Bring Her Back: Tapping into psychological horror and unsettling atmosphere.
West End Stage Background: Bringing classical British theater discipline and vocal training to his performances.
His hiring reinforces a clear pattern: showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod are actively recruiting deeply talented, award-winning British actors to ensure this reboot delivers a grounded, emotionally complex adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s books.
The Importance of Tom Riddle in Season 2 (‘The Chamber of Secrets’)
Casting Tom Riddle is arguably the most crucial character decision for Season 2. In The Chamber of Secrets, Riddle isn’t merely a brief historical flashback; he is the central, manipulative force driving the entire mystery. Preserved as a memory inside the enchanted diary, Riddle psychologically manipulates young Ginny Weasley, opening the Chamber and unleashing terror across Hogwarts.
Christian Coulson gave fans an iconic, suave performance as Riddle in the 2002 film adaptation. However, Barratt’s proven ability to portray deeply troubled, emotionally intense, and unsettling characters (Responsible Child, Bring Her Back) makes him an exceptional fit to capture the darker, sociopathic charm of a teenage Voldemort. He can play the brilliant, polite Star Pupil on the surface while hiding a cold, calculated dark wizard underneath.
The Expanding Season 2 Cast
Barratt joins an increasingly impressive roster of talent locked in for Season 2:
Kit Harington as the handsome, narcissistic Gilderoy Lockhart (stepping in following Nicholas Hoult’s scheduling exit).
Lenny Rush (BAFTA winner for Am I Being Unreasonable?) providing the motion-capture and voice performance for Dobby the House-Elf.
HBO isn’t relying on complete unknowns or pure stunt casting for its secondary roles. Instead, they are assembling a powerhouse ensemble of trained British actors who can elevate every scene.
The Verdict
While his early studio blockbusters didn’t break box office records, Billy Barratt’s underlying dramatic talent is undeniable. His casting as Tom Riddle signals that HBO is fully committed to embracing the darker, psychological turns of The Chamber of Secrets. If Barratt brings his signature Emmy-winning intensity to the halls of Hogwarts, Season 2 will deliver a truly chilling villain.
Do you think Billy Barratt can match the chilling charm of Christian Coulson’s original 2002 portrayal of Tom Riddle? Or are you excited to see a darker, more intense take on a young Lord Voldemort? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
