It’s claimed that the Harry Potter TV series is eyeing Paapa Essiedu to play Severus Snape, the fan-favorite character from the books and movies.
Severus Snape was played by the late Alan Rickman in the popular films.
The info comes from THR that adds if Paapa Essiedu gets the role, “it will also be an example of HBO following through on its promise that the series would have a diverse cast.” The site points out that the Harry Potter movies “have been criticized for having an entirely white core cast” and the casting “will presumably lead to a rather fresh take on the character.”
HBO wouldn’t confirm the casting and only commented on the rumor: “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.”
Paapa Essiedu is known for I May Destroy You, The Lazurus Project, Gangs of London, and The Capture.
THR also says Mark Rylance is up to play Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, and that Cillian Murphy playing Voldemort isn’t happening. Deadline also says Mark Strong is in contention to play Dumbledore.
“The series will be a faithful adaptation”
The Harry Potter TV series is in development at Warner Bros. for HBO and the Max streaming service.
The official announcement for the series from back in 2023 said, “The series will be a faithful adaptation of the beloved ‘Harry Potter’ book series by author and executive producer, J.K. Rowling. From Warner Bros. Television, the new Max Original series will be available on Max in (US) and globally once produced. The stories from each of Rowling’s Harry Potter books will become a decade-long series produced with the same epic craft, love and care this global franchise is known for. The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail, much loved characters and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over twenty-five years. Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.”
