Warner Bros/HBO
After months of casting rumors, HBO is reportedly zeroing in on two key casting decisions for its massive Harry Potter series. According to reports, Paapa Essiedu has been cast as Professor Severus Snape, while Janet McTeer will reportedly play Professor Minerva McGonagall.
Essiedu and McTeer will be joining John Lithgow, who was cast as professor Albus Dumbledore earlier this year. The highly-anticipated Harry Potter series, which is being designed to run on HBO for at least a decade, is still in the process of casting its leading trio of kid characters: the titular Harry Potter, Hermoine Granger, and Ron Weasley.
Paapa Essiedu, 34 years old, is a Shakespearean actor who has appeared in British stage productions of The Merry Wives of Windsor, King Lear, Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet. In recent years, he’s had breakout roles in films such as Murder on the Orient Express and Men, and TV series such as Gangs of London, I May Destroy You, Black Mirror, and Black Doves.
As for McTeer, 63, she’s a Tony and Academy Award-winning actress known for films such as Tumbleweeds, Albert Nobbs, Wuthering Heights, Carrington, Velvet Goldmine, Songcatcher, and As You Like It. American audiences will likely recognize her from Ozark and The Menu.
“HBO declined to comment. ‘We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation,’ the network said in a statement. ‘As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.’” [via Deadline]
In the beloved film franchise, Snape was played by Alan Rickman, while McGonagall was played by Maggie Smith, both of whom have since passed away.
At this time, the Harry Potter series is expected to begin production later this year and premiere on HBO sometime in 2026, likely in the back half of the year. With key casting moves now being made, however, that’s a sign that production could begin in the coming months.
Content shared from brobible.com.