JK Rowling, who disliked the casting of Daniel Radcliffe, would likely oppose HBO’s decision to cast Paapa Essiedu as Snape in the Harry Potter reboot.
Apparently, HBO’s Harry Potter TV reboot is close to casting talented African-American British actor Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape. And truth be told, JK Rowling is probably clutching her pen in horror. After all, she’s the same author who wasn’t keen on Daniel Radcliffe’s idea for Harry Potter because he wasn’t nerdy enough.
Yes, Harry was supposed to be a messy-haired nerd, not a heartthrob. So if JK Rowling had a problem with Daniel Radcliffe’s looks, imagine her reaction to a Black Snape. Considering Snape was described as a pale, evil man in the books, this casting choice is already sparking a cauldron of controversy.
HBO Is Closer to Casting Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape in Harry Potter Reboot
For months, HBO’s Harry Potter TV reboot has been the subject of casting rumors. And one name in particular has become a hot topic among fans. That name is Emmy-nominated African-American British actor Paapa Essiedu, best known for his role in “I May Destroy You,” who is making headlines for his rumored portrayal of Severus Snape.
Well, now, according to Deadline, Paapa Essiedu is reportedly close to signing on to play the grim Hogwarts professor. Yes, Snape. The potions master, the ultimate double agent, the man who made “Always” one of the most iconic words in fandom history. So, Essiedu is set to take on the role previously made iconic by Alan Rickman.
Now, while the diversity of the cast has always been welcomed by fans, this particular casting has apparently turned Potter fans off. You might be wondering why. Well, because in JK Rowling’s original books, Snape is described as a pale-skinned man with greasy black hair and a hooked nose, basically looking like he hasn’t seen the light of day in years.
So, with the casting of Paapa Essiedu, the HBO reboot would be taking a bold step in reinventing the iconic character. And guess what? This decision is bound to stir up more drama than Rita Skeeter ever could.
After JK Rowling had issues with Daniel Radcliffe’s casting, she’s now going to lose her mind
In fact, fans are already rallying against HBO’s decision to cast Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter TV reboot. So much so that Harry Potter fans are taking to social media not only to voice their concerns, but also to clarify the situation, explaining how Snape was portrayed in the books.
Amidst all this chaos, we wondered how the series’ author would react to this alleged casting. Considering that JK Rowling wasn’t keen on the idea of Daniel Radcliffe playing Harry Potter, it seems that the idea of a Black Snape could lead her to go on a killing spree alongside Lord Voldemort.
Previously, during a one-on-one interview with Daniel Radcliffe (via YouTube), JK Rowling had expressed her little problem with the choice of actor for the lead role. Referring to the way he had portrayed Harry as an awkward, disheveled nerd, Rowling had said that she was demanding of Radcliffe because she found him too attractive.
“You and Rupert and Emma are all really good looking, actually. [But] you know, the characters were a bit nerdy.”
So while JK Rowling has previously admitted that she would have preferred a less attractive actor to play Harry, imagine how she might react to a radical change in the character of Severus Snape. If she’s so particular about Daniel Radcliffe being a little too good-looking for Harry, imagine how she might feel if the entire race of a main character was changed.
For now, the author has refrained from commenting on the casting, presumably because it hasn’t been confirmed yet. But once HBO signs a deal with Paapa Essiedu, it remains to be seen how Rowling reacts.
The Harry Potter movies are currently available on Max.
