HBO Max’s upcoming TV reboot of Harry Potter based on J.K. Rowling’s book series is fast approaching.
Earlier this week, the series finally revealed its first look at some of its main characters, including Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape.
While some Harry Potter fans can’t wait to see what the TV reboot has in store, others have criticised the actors who have signed up to take part, due to the backlash Rowling has faced over the years regarding her comments on the trans community.
The show’s first trailer also sparked a huge reaction, with uncanny comparisons made to the original Philosopher’s Stone film, and observations that this telling of the story appears to be far darker thematically from the get-go.
Last year, it was officially announced that Essiedu had been cast as Potions Master Severus Snape, and he immediately faced horrific racism for being a Black actor playing a character previously depicted as white.
Delving deeper into Snape’s backstory in Harry Potter, some fans have argued that the character being Black could deeply impact the dynamic of the story.
‘Paapa Essiedu could offer one of the most layered versions of Snape so far’
Last year, Essiedu was one of several actors confirmed to be playing professors at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter reboot.
He’ll also be joining John Lithgow as Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Head of Gryffindor House Minerva McGonagall and Nick Frost as groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid.
In the books, Snape initially comes across as cold and cruel, unfairly picking on Harry, and frequently making derogatory remarks about Harry’s dad, James Potter, with whom he attended school.
However, as the story progresses, it’s revealed that James actually bullied Snape, and that Snape loved Harry’s mother Lily deeply, as they first met as children.
This revelation makes Harry see Snape – and his own father – in a new light.
Some Harry Potter fans think that in the new TV reboot, Snape being Black could ‘offer a new lens’ to his identity.
‘Up until now, the Harry Potter universe has mainly explored discrimination through blood status—pure-bloods, half-bloods, Muggle-borns. It’s clearly an allegory for racism, but the story never really addressed race itself within the wizarding world,’ Reddit user Slow-Positive1998 wrote.
‘This version of Snape could change that. Making Snape a Black man doesn’t just change how he looks — it potentially deepens his role as an outsider. He wouldn’t just be marginalised because of his background or affiliations, but also because of his race. That opens the door to a layered kind of isolation: blood status, social standing, and racial identity all intersecting.’
They added: ‘And if the story actually leans into all of this, we could be looking at one of the most layered and compelling versions of the character so far.’
What does Metro think about Paapa Essiedu joining Harry Potter?
Our senior TV reporter Asyia Iftikhar shared her thoughts on his casting…
Some fans discussed the fact that James’ bullying of Snape could be conveyed as racist in the TV reboot.
‘If they don’t do this right it will come across as racist against Snape which obviously doesn’t even apply in the books,’ said Reddit user MembershipDistinct12.
Another user called ihavenoidea1001 expressed concern about a particular scene from the book, when James is shown making Snape levitate upside down in the air when they’re teenagers.
‘Changing Snape’s race changes the whole story from start to finish and it puts the entire Marauders backstory and all their character (as in their personalities) as nothing but racists,’ they said.
It’s clear this is a discussion that will continue in the lead-up to the release of the show, and when viewers see for themselves how the story has been adapted for the small screen.
‘A kid like me can see themselves represented in that world’
Since being confirmed to be playing Snape, Essiedu has refrained from speaking out too much, but he did give a recent interview opening up on the response he’s received, including the racist abuse.
Speaking to The Times, the 35-year-old has said: ‘The abuse fuels me. And makes me more passionate about making this character my own, because I think of how I felt as a kid.’
The I May Destroy You actor opened up about how much it meant to him that children could look up to him and see themselves represented in this world.
‘I would imagine myself at Hogwarts on broomsticks, and the idea that a kid like me can see themselves represented in that world? That’s motivation to not be intimidated by someone saying they’d rather I died instead of doing work I’m going to be really proud of,’ he said.
Alfred Enoch, who played Dean Thomas in the Harry Potter movies, really spoke on Mo Gilligan’s podcast about what it was like for him to be in the films as a young Black actor.
The How To Get Away with Murder actor revealed that he didn’t originally audition for the role, as he didn’t think he was likely to be cast in the films.
‘I was like, there’s one Black character, Lee Jordan, and he’s older, so there’s not a part for me. Already I was thinking on that kind of level,’ he said.
‘And then I remember having this thought that was like, but there’s this character Dean Thomas, and everyone else is described as having freckles or red hair or being pale, and they don’t really say anything about him. So I guess he could be Black, and that’s the character I ended up playing.’
Alfred recalled people telling him: ‘”You were there, and I saw someone who looked like me.” So that’s an amazing thing.’
How do Metro readers feel about the Harry Potter TV series?
Yesterday, HBO Max revealed the very first trailer of their Harry Potter reboot for TV.
Despite many fans complaining about the ‘drab’ modern lighting and how it looks as though the magic has ‘been stripped from the original books’, several fans appear to be hugely excited.
Commenting on Facebook, Metro readers praised the look of the new series, with Jemma in particular saying she ‘doesn’t understand the negativity around the Snape casting’.
‘Now a whole new generation will enjoy the show, like we enjoyed the movies and I enjoyed the books,’ she said.
‘When the movies came out people didn’t look how I had imagined, things were missing, but I gave them a chance and grew to love them in their own right.
‘These actors don’t deserve all the hatred. And I think its great that the magic of this universe is still spreading joy for new generations.’
Mark similarly said: ‘I can’t wait for it and don’t care what others say… as long as [Snape] has got the attitude down and voice and the cold death stare then I’m here for it.’
Harry Potter is coming to HBO Max in early 2027.
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