According to various sources, an actor has been approached to portray Severus Snape in HBO’s reboot of the Harry Potter TV series.
Since HBO initiated an open casting call in September to select new actors for Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, fans of the series have been eagerly anticipating news about the casting choices for this fresh adaptation of the famous franchise.
The purported choice for the role of Professor Severus Snape has been circulating since then.
The late Alan Rickman originally played the Hogwarts potions professor in all eight Warner Bros. films.
With a compelling storyline and an unexpected twist, the character of Snape is one of the most intriguing in the series, setting high expectations for anyone stepping into the role previously held by such a distinguished actor.
Although no one can truly match Rickman’s portrayal, the potential new Snape has built a reputation through intense roles and notable performances in British television.
Though HBO has not officially confirmed the casting, The Hollywood Reporter has indicated that 34-year-old British actor Paapa Essiedu has been offered the role of Snape.
Essiedu is recognized for standout performances in gripping dramas like BBC’s The Capture and the critically acclaimed I May Destroy You by Michaela Coel. He also appeared in 2023’s Genie and has a role in The Outrun (2024), in addition to featuring in an episode titled ‘Demon 79’ from the dystopian Netflix series Black Mirror.
Essiedu began his career on stage, with recent performances in the poignant play The Effect at the National Theatre alongside Taylor Russell from Bones and All.
It remains unclear if Essiedu has accepted the offer, and there is no public information regarding the commencement of negotiations.
A spokesperson for HBO has provided a comment.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, an HBO representative said, “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.”
The HBO adaptation of Harry Potter is described as a “faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter book series by author and executive producer J.K. Rowling. The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years.”
The statement also mentioned, “Each season will bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and cherished films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.”