Paapa Essiedu Says He Will Continue as Snape

Paapa Essiedu says he will continue playing Severus Snape in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series despite racist abuse and pressure directed at him over the casting. Speaking at the TIME100 Next Gala on October 29, the actor said his priority was the work and that he understood the range of reactions to the adaptation. Essiedu told Variety he would not have taken the role if he could not handle the response. He said the production team had supported him and that he had also been encouraged by fans’ well-wishes and excitement. The remarks were made during an interview about the series and his portrayal of Snape. The actor said he was proud of what he had seen of the show and that audiences could now engage with what the cast and crew had made. He described Snape as rewarding to portray. Essiedu also discussed the character’s appearance, saying it conveys who Snape is and how he wants others to see him, and credited collaboration with the costume department. Essiedu’s casting was confirmed in April 2025. Some viewers objected to a Black actor playing Snape, a character described in J.K. Rowling’s books as pale and sallow. The response intensified after HBO released a first-look...