The Harry Potter TV show is closing in on a new Severus Snape actor in the latest casting update. In April 2023, Warner Bros. made the surprise announcement that they are adapting J.K. Rowling’s beloved fantasy saga into a series for HBO, with each season devoted to adapting one of the seven books. HBO’s Harry Potter show is currently casting, with a recent report revealing that Mark Rylance is being eyed to play Hogwarts’ wise and powerful Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.

Now, HBO is closing in on an actor for another fan-favorite role. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You) is being eyed to play Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter TV show. The actor has been offered the role, though it’s unclear if serious negotiations have started. In a statement on Esseidu’s casting, HBO 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.

What Paapa Essiedu Playing Severus Snape Means For The Harry Potter Show

The HBO Series Is Committed To A Diverse Cast

Though he hasn’t officially been cast, the Harry Potter series eyeing Essiedu for Snape means they are serious about delivering on their commitment to a diverse cast. Essiedu is a British actor of Ghanaian descent who started his career at the Royal Shakespeare Company, starring in productions of King Lear, Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet. His breakthrough came in HBO’s I May Destroy You, for which he earned an Emmy nomination. He’s also starred in the TV shows Gangs of London, The Lazarus Project, Black Mirror: Demon 79, and the movies Murder on the Orient Express, Men, and The Outrun.

As of now, no actors have been officially confirmed for HBO’s Harry Potter series. However, it was previously reported that Mark Rylance is nearing a deal to play the pivotal role of Dumbledore. The show’s popularity has sparked numerous casting rumors, though the speculation about Cillian Murphy being cast as Lord Voldemort is inaccurate. Ralph Fiennes, who played Voldemort in the Harry Potter movies, recently supported the fan-casting, saying, “Cillian is a fantastic actor. That’s a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favor of Cillian.”

Our Take On Paapa Essiedu Playing Severus Snape In The Harry Potter Show

It’s Sure To Be A Controversial, But Compelling Choice

Paapa Essiedu, a Black actor, is certainly a surprising choice for Professor Severus Snape and one that is sure to cause controversy due to race-swapping. In the books, Snape is described as having pale skin and was previously played by Alan Rickman in the Harry Potter movies. However, regardless of race, Essiedu is an Emmy-nominated actor who undoubtedly has the ability to embody Snape’s brooding and morally ambiguous nature, which could result in a fresh and compelling interpretation of the iconic character in HBO’s Harry Potter show.