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Paapa Essiedu Cast as Snape in HBO’s Harry Potter Series, Fans React Strongly
HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter web series has officially revealed its first list of cast members — and one casting choice has sparked intense online debate. Actor Paapa Essiedu will take on the role of Severus Snape, a character that fans have long associated with the late Alan Rickman, who played him in the original film franchise.
The news has ignited a wave of reactions across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and Instagram.
Fans Divided on the New Snape
Paapa Essiedu’s casting has prompted mixed responses, with some fans appreciating the fresh take, while others criticized the move, mainly because of the racial difference from the original depiction.
“This is the ONLY way to give a new life to Snape. Alan Rickman was iconic. Let Essiedu make the role his own,” wrote one user in support.
Another fan disagreed, “Snape was white in the books. This is just unnecessary race-swapping.”
Some believe this casting may introduce new layers to Snape’s backstory, especially his experience as an outsider, while others feel it deviates from J.K. Rowling’s original character description.
Full Cast Revealed for the Harry Potter Reboot
HBO confirmed several roles in the announcement on Monday:
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John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore
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Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall
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Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid
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Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape
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Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell
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Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch
The cast for Harry, Ron, and Hermione is still under wraps, but over 30,000 auditions were reportedly received through HBO’s open casting call.
A New Chapter for the Wizarding World
The new series is being developed by Brontë Film and TV in partnership with Warner Bros. Television. It is described as a faithful adaptation of the original Harry Potter books and will span multiple seasons, each diving deep into the magical world.
The show aims to reintroduce the saga to a fresh generation while also giving loyal fans new perspectives and storytelling layers. Filming is expected to begin soon.
