HBO’s new Snape addresses the J.K. Rowling question — and the abuse he’s faced since being cast
Set to play Severus Snape in HBO’s Harry Potter series, Paapa Essiedu has confronted the J.K. Rowling backlash — and laid out why he joined regardless.
Right, so Paapa Essiedu is stepping into the robes of Severus Snape for the new HBO Harry Potter series, and as you might expect, it’s far from a quiet affair. There's been all sorts flying about over his casting — some cheers, a fair bit of grumbling online, and a solid helping of nasty abuse too. And yes, before you ask, all of this is happening in the rather chilly shadow of J.K. Rowling's ongoing controversies.
HBO's Harry Potter series lands on Christmas Day, 2026.
Essiedu’s jump into the Potterverse isn’t just another casting headline. He spoke to Vanity Fair about why he decided to say yes, what it’s actually been like weathering the social media storm, and what keeps him focused when the whole thing turns ugly.
Taking On Snape, With Luggage
Since landing the part, Essiedu has faced a barrage of racist comments and flat-out abuse from some corners of the internet. On the flip side, though, plenty of fans have had his back, which he says has genuinely helped him stick with the project instead of chucking it in. He’s not shying away from taking a position either — he's openly voiced his support for transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people. That drew him directly into Rowling’s orbit, and not the friendly sort.
On that particular flashpoint, he was careful to separate himself from the franchise's original creator. In the Vanity Fair interview, Essiedu put it like this:
“I’m not really here to speak about Jo’s politics or to be a mouthpiece for her. I can only be really, really clear about what I believe and be consistent with that.”
So, no, he's not here to do Rowling’s PR for her. Instead, Essiedu says he's tried to centre himself in what matters for this new version of Potter — getting back to the spirit of the books, not endlessly rehashing the author’s controversies. When he returned to the text, he focused on the story’s core themes: forgiveness, standing up to evil, actually accepting people for who they are. According to Essiedu, these bits are very much up for grabs by a fresh generation, whatever you think of the franchise's real-world baggage.
It’s not just him, either — his cast mates, including Bel Powley and John Lithgow, have said they’re not on board with Rowling’s political views, but they’re still sticking with their roles on the series.
What Happens Next
The first episode of HBO’s Harry Potter arrives 25 December 2026. Until then, expect the drama to keep rolling on — both magical and very public.