Paapa Essiedu, who has been cast as Professor Snape in HBO Max’s upcoming Harry Potter series, has revealed that he has received race-fuelled death threats since the casting announcement, including messages warning him to quit the role or face murder.
“I've been told, 'Quit or I'll murder you,’” Essiedu told The Sunday Times of London. “If I look at Instagram, I’ll see someone saying, 'I'm going to come to your house and kill you.' While I’m confident I won’t be harmed, no one should have to face this for simply doing their job. I’m playing a wizard in Harry Potter, and it does affect me emotionally.”
Known for his roles in Black Mirror and I May Destroy You, Essiedu is set to portray the iconic brooding potions master originally played by the late Alan Rickman. His casting sparked backlash from some fans, but Essiedu says the abuse has only strengthened his resolve.
“The abuse fuels me,” he said. “It makes me more passionate about making this character my own. I think of how I felt as a kid, imagining myself at Hogwarts. The idea that a child like me can now see themselves represented in that world motivates me to push through the negativity.”
Essiedu’s connection to the Harry Potter universe is deeply personal. Though he never saw the original films, he grew up reading J.K. Rowling’s books, which provided an escape during difficult times.
He has committed to the role for ten years, noting the significant impact it will have on his life: “I’ll be 45 by the time I finish, and my life is going to change in a big way, but I have to surrender to that. I could have children by the end of this.”
The series, launching on HBO Max in 2027, will feature an almost entirely new cast, with Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
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