J.K. Rowling, who disliked Daniel Radcliffe’s casting, would likely oppose HBO’s decision to hire Paapa Essiedu as Snape in the Harry Potter reboot.

HBO’s Harry Potter TV reboot is reportedly close to casting the talented Black British actor Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape. And let’s be honest, J.K. Rowling is probably clutching her quill in horror. After all, this is the same author who wasn’t thrilled about Daniel Radcliffe playing Harry Potter because he wasn’t geeky enough. 

Yep, Harry was meant to be a messy-haired geek, not a heartthrob. So if J.K. Rowling could have issues with Daniel Radcliffe’s looks, just imagine her reaction to a Black Snape. Considering Snape was described as a pale-skinned mean man in the books, this casting choice is already stirring up a cauldron of controversy.

HBO is closing in on Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter reboot 

For months now, HBO’s Harry Potter TV reboot has been brewing up with casting rumors. And it’s one particular name that has become a hot topic of conversation among fans. It’s the Emmy-nominated Black British actor Paapa Essiedu—best known for his performance in I May Destroy You—who has been making headlines for his alleged casting as Severus Snape. 

Well now, according to Deadline reports, Paapa Essiedu seems to be reportedly close to signing the deal to play the role of the brooding Hogwarts professor. Yes, Snape. The potion 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 iconized by Alan Rickman. 

Now, while cast diversity has always been welcomed by fans, this particular casting seemingly raised eyebrows among Potterheads. You might wonder why. Well because in J.K. Rowling’s original books, Snape has been described as a pale-skinned man with greasy black hair, and a hooked nose—basically looking like he hadn’t seen sunlight in years.

So, with Paapa Essiedu’s casting, the HBO reboot would be taking a bold step in reimagining the iconic character. And guess what? This decision is bound to stir up more drama than Rita Skeeter could ever do. 

After J.K. Rowling had issues with Daniel Radcliffe’s casting, she will now lose her mind 

To be fair, fans are already rallying against this decision of HBO reportedly casting Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter TV reboot. So much so that Potterheads are taking to social media to not only express their concerns but also to set the record straight by stating how Snape has been described in the books. 

Amid this chaos, it made us wonder how the author of the series might react to this alleged casting. Considering how J.K. Rowling wasn’t thrilled about Daniel Radcliffe playing Harry Potter, it seems that the idea of a Black Snape might just lead her into a killing spree alongside Lord Voldemort. 

Previously, as per her one-on-one interview with Daniel Radcliffe (via YouTube), J.K. Rowling had expressed her tiny issue with the actor’s casting in the titular role. Addressing how she portrayed Harry as an awkward, messy-haired geek, Rowling claimed to be picky about Radcliffe, because he was too good-looking. 

“To be honest, you and Rupert and Emma are all too good looking frankly. [But] you know, the characters were geeky. “

So now, while J.K. Rowling previously admitted she would’ve preferred a less conventionally attractive actor to play the role of Harry, guess how she might react to a complete change of character for Severus Snape. If she could be so picky about Daniel Radcliffe being slightly too-handsome Harry, imagine how she might feel about a major character’s entire race being changed.

As of now, the author has refrained from making any comments about the casting, possibly because it’s yet to be confirmed. But once HBO signs the deal with Paapa Essiedu, it will remain to be seen how Rowling might react to it. 

The Harry Potter films are currently available to watch on Max.