HBO has confirmed that Severus Snape will be played by black star Paapa Essiedu in the TV adaptation of Harry Potter.
The character is described in JK Rowling’s book series as having “marble white” skin which is “sallow” and like “sour milk”.
The potions professor was played in the film adaptations by the late Alan Rickman.
Rising British star Essiedu, 34, will now take up the role of Snape in the upcoming TV series which is set to premiere in 2026.
The confirmation of the casting comes after a promise by Warner Bros, the parent company of HBO, that the series would be “authentic to the original books”.
Rowling supports diversity in Harry Potter universe
Rowling, who is acting as an executive producer on the series, has previously supported making the characters in her fictional universe more diverse.
In 2015, she backed Noma Dumezweni to play the role of Hermione Granger – played by Emma Watson in the film series – in the stage work Harry Potter and the Cursed child.
Essiedu had been widely rumoured to be the favoured candidate to play Snape, prompting some Harry Potter fans to share their concerns online.
Some have argued that because Snape is at one stage motivated by feelings of racial purity, altering the ethnicity of the character might undermine this element of the plot.
Snape is an outsider despised by most pupils, shown in his youth as a victim of bullying, and consistently denied his preferred teaching position at the wizarding school of Hogwarts.
Nick Frost will take on the role of play Rubeus Hagrid, a role held in the film series by the late actor Robbie Coltrane – Lee Malone
Janet McTeer has been case as Minerva McGonagall, previously played by the late Dame Maggie Smith – Andrew Crowley
Fans, including vloggers with hundreds of thousands of followers, have raised concerns that these aspects of his character may be given new meaning by the decision to cast Essiedu.
Other fans have simply noted that the actor is simply more attractive than Snape is intended to be.
The British star will join John Lithgow, who has been cast as the headmaster Albus Dumbledore, played in the films by Richard Harris and Sir Michael John Gambon.
Janet McTeer has been chosen to play Minerva McGonagall, previously played by the late Dame Maggie Smith, and Nick Frost will play Rubeus Hagrid, a role held in the film series by Robbie Coltrane.
Paul Whitehouse will play the cantankerous caretaker Argus Filch.
‘A new generation of fandom’
Rowling’s fellow producers, Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod, said: “We’re delighted to have such extraordinary talent onboard, and we can’t wait to see them bring these beloved characters to new life.”
The Harry Potter TV series will be created over the course of a decade, with each series based on one of the seven books in the sequence of novels.
When the series was first announced in 2023, Warner Bros stated in a press release: “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.”
