Paapa Essiedu addresses backlash over his Snape casting in HBO's Harry Potter
The gist
Actor Paapa Essiedu says he took the Snape role "with open eyes" despite backlash and death threats.
His casting is the reboot's first race-swap, eight weeks before release.
How it unfolded
- 2025Paapa Essiedu's casting as Severus Snape in HBO's 'Harry Potter' series was announced; he has faced trolling and racially charged death threats since.
- Oct 29, 2026Essiedu spoke to Variety at the 2026 TIME100 Next Gala about joining the series despite the hostility around his casting.
- Oct 30, 2026Reports published on Essiedu addressing the Snape casting backlash, with eight weeks to go before the show's release.