British Actor Being Looked At For Major Role In New ‘Harry Potter,’ And Fans Aren’t Happy

British star Paapa Essiedu is reportedly being looked at to play the role of Professor Severus Snape in a new HBO adaptation of “Harry Potter,” and fans have made it clear they aren’t happy about it.

On Thursday, several sources confirmed to Variety that the 34-year-old actor could land the role of Snape in the upcoming series, a role previously held by the late Alan Rickman in the “Harry Potter” movie franchise.

There’s no word yet if Essiedu has accepted the part and HBO would only release a statement to that outlet that read, “We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.”

According to the logline, the series will be “a faithful adaptation of the beloved ‘Harry Potter’ book series by author and executive producer J.K. Rowling.”

No. Please, no. Severus Snape should follow the character described in the book.
It’ll be awry seeing a black man play Snape (and I’m black so it’s not a race thing)

These cultural swaps would become the main focus of the series instead of what it actually is@jk_rowling https://t.co/Qy6DcZgkpo

— Ogbe Precious (@ogbeprecious_) December 5, 2024

“The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters ‘Harry Potter’ fans have loved for over twenty-five years,” it added. “Each season will bring ‘Harry Potter’ and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and cherished films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.”

It was the line about a “faithful adaptation” of the book that many fans who criticized the British star’s possible part pointed out in their comments online.

“No. Please, no,” one person wrote on X. “Severus Snape should follow the character described in the book. It’ll be awry seeing a black man play Snape (and I’m black so it’s not a race thing) These cultural swaps would become the main focus of the series instead of what it actually is @jk_rowling.”

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A “Harry Potter” fan account wrote, “The creators of the show, including J.K. Rowling, said that the TV series would be a faithful adaptation of the books. Snape is described in the books as being a ‘thin man with greasy, shoulder-length black hair, a large hooked nose, sallow skin, and cold, black eyes.’”

“The drawing below was drawn by J.K. Rowling herself, which correlates with how she described Snape’s appearance in the books,” the post added. “They haven’t even started filming this TV series and they are already deviating from the books. Personally, I am disappointed…”

While a third person wrote, “Why is my timeline full with this s*** ??? Cancel the whole show I bet he’s an amazing actor but he’s NOT Severus Snape f*** this woke s***.”

The “Harry Potter” series is slated to be released on HBO in 2026.

Related: Warner Bros. Discovery Announces Release Date For ‘Harry Potter’ TV Series