# ‘Harry Potter’ Actor Paapa Essiedu ‘Wouldn’t Have Taken This Job On’ If He Couldn’t Handle Snape Casting Backlash: ‘My Priority Is the Work’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/harry-potter-actor-paapa-essiedu-wouldnt-have-taken-this-job-on-if-he-couldnt-handle-snape-casting-backlash-my-priority-is-the-work/
- Published: 2026-10-30T17:03:31+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-30T17:13:21+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/harry-potter-paapa-essiedu-snape-casting-backlash-hbo-1236935300/
- Topics: Americas, World

## Key points

- Essiedu says he took the Snape role prepared for backlash.
- He has faced racially motivated death threats over the casting.
- HBO’s first season is due to debut on 25 December.

## Summary

Paapa Essiedu says he accepted the role of Severus Snape in HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” series knowing he could face backlash. He has received racially motivated death threats over the casting, but says his priority is the work and that colleagues have supported him.

Essiedu’s version of Snape has a different look from Alan Rickman’s, including shoulder-length dreadlocks, a leather jacket and a black cloak. The actor says the character’s appearance was carefully developed with the costume department. Season 1, based on “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”, is due to debut on HBO Max on 25 December.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.