Harry Potter HBO Reboot Eyeing Black Actor Paapa Essiedu for One of the ‘Whitest’ Characters Is Pure Blasphemy

Harry Potter is easily one of the biggest franchises in Hollywood, and it is now getting a reboot series, which is in development at HBO. As the production of the series continues, new announcements and rumors keep pouring and this time around, it is about the casting of one of the most important characters in the show.

It has been recently reported that Paapa Essiedu, widely known for his work in theater and the show Black Mirror, is being considered for the role of Severus Snape. There is no doubt that Essiedu is an excellent actor, but the fact that he is Black might turn out to be a problem in this case since the character is written as White in the books.

Paapa Essiedu Is in Talks for Being Cast as Severus Snape in the Upcoming Harry Potter Show

Initially wanting to become a doctor, Paapa Essiedu began pursuing acting when his A-level drama teacher encouraged him to do so. He began his professional acting career when he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in 2012 to play Fenton in the production of The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Essiedu also went on to play the titular role in the RSC productions of Hamlet and as the antagonist Edmund in King Lear, that too in the same year. Recently, The Hollywood Reporter reported that he is being eyed for the role of Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter show. If he accepts the offer, it will mark his reunion with HBO since they previously worked together in the black comedy-drama series, I May Destroy You.

However, what needs to be noted here is that although talented, Essiedu is a Black actor and Professor Snape is a character that is known to be White in author J.K. Rowling’s books. Moreover, the Professor was brilliantly played by late actor Alan Rickman across all eight movies, which makes it even more hard for fans to imagine a Black actor as the character.

For those unversed, Snape is the wickedly smart and effortlessly ruthless potions teacher at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. For the longest time, he is considered the antagonist of the story. He is at odds with the titular protagonist, Harry Potter at all times because Harry’s father, James Potter bullied him when they were classmates. To make matters more complicated, Snape was also in unrequited love with Harry’s mother, Lily.

HBO Has Responded to the News About Paapa Essiedu’s Casting in the Show

Earlier, Variety reported that the lead characters of the show, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, will most likely be new child actors as Warner Bros. launched an open casting call for kids aged 9 to 11 this fall. There was also some buzz around Mark Rylance signing on the dotted line for the role of Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts. However, nothing has been confirmed about the cast of this show yet.

Upon being reached for a comment about the reports of Paapa Essiedu being cast as Snape, HBO responded:

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.

So, fans will have to hold tight until those deals are finalized. That said, if this deal between The Outrun actor and HBO goes through, it might cause a mass outrage among fans because this is not the first time a big studio has tried to force inclusivity into an existing story just to appear progressive or socially conscious. Even more so if the actor does not fit the description per the books.