HBO’sHarry Potterseries may have just found the actor that will be playing one of the most iconic roles in the beloved franchise. Previously played by the late Alan Rickman, Professor Severus Snape is a Hogwarts professor that is an intricate part of Harry Potter’s journey. Starting off as an unlikable bully to the titular character, he becomes a misunderstood and absolute fan-favorite after the film series' heartbreaking finale. And now another actor will be portraying the iconic character in HBO’sHarry Potterremake.
The Hollywood Reportersays thatPaapa Essiedu, known forGangs of LondonandI May Destroy, is the network’s preferred choice to play the iconic character Severus Snape. It seems an offer has been sent over to the actor for the coveted role, but it is not clear if talks have begun between the two parties. Although no one has been officially cast inHarry Potterjust yet, Essiedu is just the latest name to make headlines surrounding the major project.Deadlineadds that Mark Strong and Mark Rylance (previously in talks to portray Dumbledore) are being eyed to play the head of Hogwarts.
Paapa Essiedu has previously appeared in other acclaimed projects, includingThe Lazarus Project,Black Mirror, and Alex Garland’sMen. He also stars in the Oscar-buzzy addiction dramaThe Outrun, which features Saoirse Ronan. The actor has a robust TV resume and could be the exact rising talent needed to give theHarry Potterremakea unique boost and original interpretation.
‘Harry Potter’ Rounds Out its Rebooted Cast
Ever since the initial announcement thatcasting had begun for the main trio of HBO’sHarry Potter, fans have been waiting for names to appear for the coveted roles. No news thus far on who will portray Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley, but audiences at least have an idea who has been top priority for the network. Both Dumbledore and Severus Snape have names attached to them already, and although nothing is finalized, it is widely expected for Mark Rylance and Paapa Essiedu to occupy those roles, respectively.
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A lot of noise has been made in the past week in regards to Cillian Murphy potentially playing Voldemort (he’s gotten the blessing from the original actor himself), but no reports indicate he is being considered. However, it does seem HBO is looking to cast the show’s most important and long-lasting characters for the seven-season production. So, fans should not be shocked to hear about more names sooner rather than later. Meanwhile, HBO themselves have not outright denied the rumors, and instead clarified that no deals have been finalized just yet. Their statement:
“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.”
Set for release in either 2026 or 2027, we expect the production to begin at some point next year. HBO’sHarry Potterhas faced a lot of criticism, from being a seemingly unnecessary reboot to J.K. Rowling’s close role in its development, but work continues to truck along on WB’s latest attempt to bank on their beloved franchise.
