Ever since the new Harry Potter series was announced, one particular casting choice has courted controversy. HBO’s decision to cast Paapa Essiedu as Snape has received significant backlash from some fans. In that context, new stills have surfaced online featuring certain cast members, including Essiedu, who has garnered widespread attention.
New look shows Snape inside Hogwarts for upcoming Harry Potter series
In the source material, Snape is described as “pale” and thin and was portrayed by the late Alan Rickman in the original franchise, with whom fans have developed a deep emotional connection. However, in HBO’s reimagination of HP, Snape is portrayed by a Black actor, which made a section of the fans react negatively to the casting.
Notably, some fan reactions have gone way too far, hurling racist abuse towards Essiedu and even death threats. HBO and the production team have stood by the casting, and certain set photos from the upcoming season might have leaked out.
The stills feature Paapa Essiedu in costume as Professor Snape, characterized by a long black cloak and dreadlocks. The scenes take place in familiar Wizarding World environments, including a large dining hall (likely the Great Hall). In one of the pictures, Snape can be seen keeping a strict vigil in his class, where students are gathered, possibly for their Potions lesson. In another, Essiedu as Snape is shown standing in the Great Hall, wearing a black cloak.
There is also a picture of Snape seated at the High Table in the Great Hall next to another professor, possibly Minerva McGonagall, played by Janet McTeer, with various wizarding world foods like a stack of donuts in the foreground. Furthermore, a close-up of Essiedu in character emphasizes his distinct look, which includes dreadlocks. Although these photos are circulating online, the authenticity of the images cannot be independently verified.
The backlash has been so severe that the casting choice even became a topic of debate on an SNL skit. During the Weekend Update segment, Kam Patterson played a version of Severus Snape and satirized the casting backlash and racial undertones in both the fandom and the story itself.
Controversy aside, there is huge anticipation for HBO’s Harry Potter series, and the creators better hope that the gamble with Severus Snape’s character pays off, as the weight of Rickman’s legacy weighs heavily on the franchise.
