Here’s what the internet has to say about Essiedu’s casting as Severus Snape in HBO’s new Harry Potter TV series adaptation.
The announcement that Paapa Essiedu will portray Severus Snape in HBO’s forthcoming Harry Potter series has ignited conversation across social media, with fans drawing comparisons to other casting decisions that challenged traditional character portrayals.
Essiedu, known for roles in I May Destroy You and The Lazarus Project, joins a high-profile cast including John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, and Nick Frost as Hagrid. The new adaptation, which HBO has described as a „faithful“ retelling of J.K. Rowling’s original books, is expected to span a decade-long run but according to Deadline, Max, formerly HBO Max, has not disclosed the duration or structure of each season in relation to the individual books.
While the series aims to refresh the franchise for a new generation, Essiedu’s casting has brought renewed attention to racial representation in legacy media properties.
Essiedu’s casting follows a recent trend of diversifying historically white characters in mainstream adaptations. Similar discourse followed Halle Bailey being cast as Ariel in Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid, and Zendaya’s turn as MJ in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Bailey, speaking to Glamour in 2023, said she sobbed „uncontrollably“ after watching young Black girls react to the trailer for The Little Mermaid.
„I was uncontrollably sobbing because it really pulled on something in my heart. The fact that these babies are looking at me and feeling the emotions that they’re feeling is really humbling and beautiful thing“, she said.
Zendaya faced racial backlash for her casting as MJ, prompting her to address the criticism directly.
„Of course there’s going to be outrage over that because for some reason some people just aren’t ready“, she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2016. „I’m like, ‚I don’t know what America you live in, but from what I see when I walk outside my streets of New York right now, I see lots of diversity and I see the real world and it’s beautiful, and that’s what should be reflected and that’s what is reflected so you’re just going to have to get over it.'“
According to Deadline, HBO’s new Harry Potter series will feature an ensemble of veteran actors taking on the roles of the adult characters.
