Casting a beloved role in a new adaptation is a job that begins with criticism, and any performer taking it on knows that the argument started before the announcement. The response from the actor in question focused on the work rather than the reaction, which is the only strategy that tends to hold up over time. Audiences compare, inevitably. A character played memorably by someone else carries an image that cannot be erased, so the incoming performer has to offer an interpretation confident enough to be judged on its own terms. That takes time, and no interview can accelerate it. What usually changes the conversation is footage. A single scene that shows a considered choice will do more than a dozen statements, and the production has months before that moment arrives. Until then, the useful distinction is between objection to a casting decision and objection to a performance, since only one of those can be evaluated before the show exists.
Paapa Essiedu, who will portray Severus Snape in HBO's upcomingHarry Pottertelevision series, has —speaking withTIME— actor acknowledged that fans have strong feelings about the character, and his casting, but he's desperate to do justice to the character, as he explained:
For me, I first came to this story through the books. So people have got a lot of feelings about this. Obviously, everyone's got the right to their own opinions about whatever. I concentrate on the job at hand, which is to give as much humanity, as much depth, dimensions, layers, complexity to a character that has a lot of that. That is my job, and it's a privilege, and it's an honor to do it, and I look forward to being able to do it for a long time now.
The Sorting Hat - Which Harry Potter House Would You Be In?
You lead with your heart and your gut. When something is wrong, you can’t just stand there — you have to act, even when the odds are terrible and the smart move is to walk away. You’re the person people look to in a crisis, not because you’re fearless, but because you move forward when you’re afraid. Your moral compass is loud, your loyalty is fierce, and your courage can be reckless — but the world needs people like you.
Values:Courage, chivalry, determination, standing up for what’s rightWatch out for:Recklessness, a hero complex, and leaping before you lookFamous Gryffindors:Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall
You have a vision for your life, and you’re not going to let politeness or convention stand in the way. You’re strategic, perceptive, and deeply ambitious — not necessarily for power itself, but for the freedom and influence that come with being exceptional. You read rooms, you play the long game, and you don’t waste energy on fights you can’t win. People underestimate your depth at their own risk.
Values:Ambition, resourcefulness, determination, self-preservationWatch out for:Isolation, ruthlessness, and mistaking cunning for wisdomFamous Slytherins:Severus Snape, Merlin, Regulus Black, Horace Slughorn
Your mind is your greatest asset, and you know it. You’re drawn to ideas, puzzles, and the kind of deep understanding that most people don’t have the patience for. You question everything — not to be difficult, but because accepting easy answers feels dishonest. You value originality, creativity, and intellectual independence. The library isn’t just a building to you — it’s a sanctuary.
Values:Wisdom, creativity, learning, intellectual curiosityWatch out for:Overthinking, detachment, and valuing being right over being kindFamous Ravenclaws:Luna Lovegood, Filius Flitwick, Garrick Ollivander, Cho Chang
You are the heart of every group you belong to. You don’t need to be the hero of the story — you need the people in the story to be okay. Your loyalty isn’t performative; it’s bone-deep. You show up, you do the work, and you treat people with a decency that the wizarding world desperately needs more of. You’re not soft — you’re strong in the way that actually holds everything together.
Values:Loyalty, patience, fairness, hard work, kindnessWatch out for:Being taken for granted, avoiding conflict, and forgetting your own needsFamous Hufflepuffs:Newt Scamander, Nymphadora Tonks, Cedric Diggory, Pomona Sprout
Why Is Severus Snape Such an Important 'Harry Potter' Character?
Snape is arguably one of the most complicated characters inJ.K. Rowling's original novels. Initially, a rather one-note antagonist whose loyalty to Dumbledore and the school is questioned by a highly suspicious Harry, Snape's intentions become more and more murky and difficult to comprehend. His dark history with Harry's father is the main reason for his antagonism towards Harry, but the final books reveal just how much the fate of Snape is intertwined with that of Harry.
Thenew adaptation starsDominic McLaughlinas Harry Potter,Arabella Stantonas Hermione Granger, andAlastair Stoutas Ron Weasley, alongsideJohn Lithgow(The Crown) as Albus Dumbledore,Janet McTeer(Ozark) as Minerva McGonagall,Nick Frost(Shaun of the Dead) as Rubeus Hagrid,Warwick Davis(Willow) as Filius Flitwick, andKatherine Parkinson(The IT Crowd) as Molly Weasley.
The series is written and executive produced byFrancesca Gardiner, withMark Mylod(Succession) directing multiple episodes.
HBO'sHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stoneis scheduled to premiere on December 25, 2026, with streaming available on HBO Max.
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