HBO’s new Snape Paapa Essiedu finally responds to the Harry Potter casting backlash

Here we go again with Harry Potter—it was only a matter of time before the casting for HBO's reboot started kicking up a fuss online. This time it is Paapa Essiedu stepping into the robes of Professor Severus Snape, and not everyone is thrilled about it, to put it mildly. Still, Essiedu is not shying away from the noise; in fact, he seems pretty clear-eyed about the whole thing.

Here is how Paapa Essiedu addressed the chatter in his conversation with Variety: '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 was 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's casting as Snape stirred up the expected backlash—some sections of the fanbase seemingly can't handle anyone but Alan Rickman in the role, as if time froze in 2011. In internet tradition, much of the outrage has little to say about actual acting chops or the changes to the books, and plenty to say about "staying true to the original". Even so, Essiedu points out he's seen a good deal of positive reaction as well—not that you'd notice if you only looked at the darker corners of social media.

There is not much more to analyze yet—details about the HBO production are still pretty tightly under wraps. What is clear for now: Essiedu's got his work cut out, but he seems determined to approach it with both a thick skin and an open mind.