HBO/Warner Bros.
HBO is reportedly eyeing 34-year-old English actor Paapa Essiedu to play anti-heroic Professor Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter series that’s set to premiere in 2026. Snape was portrayed by the late, great Alan Rickman in the eight Harry Potter film and was a fan-favorite character despite his occasional menace.
Essiedu, of Ghanaian descent, is perhaps best known for his roles in the HBO series I May Destoy You and the Sky Atlantic/AMC+ series Gang of London.
The reports of HBO being reportedly interested in Paapa Essiedu follow reports from earlier this Fall that the network is eyeing Academy Award winning actor Mark Rylance to play Albus Dumbledore, the patriarchic head master of Hogwarts and the most powerful wizard (other than the villainous Voldemort) in the Harry Potter series.
Similarly, former Voldemort actor Ralph Fiennes recently backed Oscar winner Cillian Murphy as being a great fit to take over the role.
The reporting about HBO’s interested in Essiedu states that the network has offered him the role but it’s unclear if there have been formal discussions.
“Sources say the actor has been offered the part although it is not clear if negotiations have begun in earnest. If Essiedu lands the role, it will also be an example of HBO following through on its promise that the series would have a diverse cast and will presumably lead to a rather fresh take on the character.” [via The Hollywood Reporter]
“We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals,” HBO said in a statement.
Given that Essiedu is Black, unwell people on social media have already begun to spew vitriol about HBO’s reported interest in him playing Snape, who is a wizard from a fictional story that was invented entirely in one person’s mind.
Along with the rumor of HBO having Paapa Essiedu as Snape, we also got our first look at the new Harry Potter pic.twitter.com/wojw9Ht2ut
— Zeebs (@killerzeebs) December 5, 2024
“If Paapa Essiedu does end up playing Snape, we’re going to see racism straight out of the 1800s. They’re going to start making up new slurs to call him. The combination of online stan racism and the British tabloids who worship that TERF will be disastrous,” one fan worried.
Other fans are claiming their disappointment in the rumors have nothing to do with Essiedu’s race and simply believe he isn’t the right choice to play the character.
“There’s nobody being racist about this, we just want the right actor for this and Paapa Essiedu isn’t the right one,” one fan tweeted.
“Paapa Essiedu is a tremendous actor, genuinely great. He’s also the wrong choice for Snape. Two things can be true at the same time,” added another.
In addition to I May Destroy You and Gangs of London, Essiedu is also a prolific Shakespearance stage actor, having starred in adaptations of King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet. Essiedu is also known for his work in the films Murder on the Orient Express and Men, and the TV series Anne Boleyn, The Lazarus Project, and an episode of Black Mirror.