Actor Paapa Essiedu has addressed the backlash surrounding his casting as Professor Severus Snape in HBO’s upcoming ‘Harry Potter’ series. The actor, who will be taking over the mantle from the late Alan Rickman, has been facing trolling and racially charged death threats, since his casting announcement last year.Speaking to Variety at the 2026 TIME100 Next Gala on Thursday, Essiedu opened up about his decision to join the highly anticipated series despite the hostility surrounding his casting. “The whole team has been so supportive of me,” he shared. “Obviously, my priority is the work. I wouldn’t take this job on [otherwise], but I walk into it with open eyes. I understand the broad spectrum of what the reaction to what we’re doing means, and I take that mantle on with an open and full heart. I’ve also been blown away by a lot of the support and well-wishes and excitement.”Essiedu also expressed pride in the project and the efforts of the people involved in bringing the beloved wizarding world to television. He said, “I’m really proud of what I’ve seen so far. There are so many people who worked so hard on this project — and who it means so much to. It’s been a long time coming. It’s been a long time that people have been saying a lot of things, and now’s the time for people to engage with what we made.”The new adaptation will revisit the story of Harry Potter’s first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, introducing a new cast to the franchise previously brought to the big screen by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Rickman, among others.‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ is scheduled to premiere on HBO Max on December 25.
