The first big casting news about HBO's the Harry Potter movies are fairly well-regarded, they cut a decent number of smaller storylines and characters from the source material. As the TV show will revisit the Harry Potter books, it has the opportunity to tackle their story more accurately.

Of course, this also means replacing the take on the role of Professor Severus Snape, and that puts the series' casting off to a strong start.

Paapa Essiedu's Likely Snape Casting Is Great News For The Harry Potter Remake

The Actor's Previous Credits Are Promising

Paapa Essiedu as Alex Dumani in Gangs of London in a suit

Essiedu isn't yet confirmed to play Snape in the Harry Potter remake, but per The Hollywood Reporter, the actor is in talks to take on the iconic role. It's somewhat surprising that the HBO series' first casting announcement is Snape and not a member of the Golden Trio. However, due to his crucial part in the later books, getting his character right is equally important. Fortunately, Essiedu's potential casting is a great sign for the HBO show. His credits in I May Destroy You and The Lazarus Project indicate he's more than capable of delivering a winning performance.

With the Harry Potter movies having a primarily white cast, it'd be nice to see a Black man step into such a prominent role.

Essiedu is also British, suggesting that the remake will stick to the Harry Potter movies' insistence on casting British stars. Needless to say, those concerned that the TV show might diverge from that aspect of the films won't be disappointed. Essiedu's likely casting also reveals that the TV series will be more diverse than the original adaptations. With the Harry Potter movies having a primarily white cast, it'd be nice to see a Black man step into such a prominent role. It indicates that more inclusive casting choices could be on the horizon, too, which is great news.

The Harry Potter Remake's First Big Casting News Shows It's Taking The Right Approach

It Looks Like The HBO Show Will Strike The Right Balance

Harry Potter's official HBO Max logo for the remake series featuring the familiar words Harry Potter in the familiar font in front of Hogwarts Castle

The Harry Potter remake's first big casting news indicates that the show is taking the right approach to reviving the story. For one, casting a Black British man means that the TV show is leaning from both the movies' strengths and weaknesses. The creators clearly recognize that having a British cast worked in the original films' favor, adding a layer of authenticity to Harry's story. However, the fact that the show is ensuring more diversity means that it's willing to look at the Harry Potter movies' shortcomings and make improvements where necessary.

Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe in Swiss Army Man.
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Essiedu's casting is more telling than that, though, as it also reveals that the Harry Potter TV show isn't looking to snag A-listers in an attempt to draw a bigger audience. Essiedu's acting credits are impressive enough that he'll deliver a solid performance, but Harry Potter still marks his first major franchise. This is the perfect middle ground, as casting actors from other major franchises would likely be distracting and take viewers out of the story. Therefore, Harry Potter's remake appears to be striking the right balance, at least if its first potential casting is anything to judge by.

Paapa Essiedu Still Has Big Shoes To Fill After Alan Rickman's Snape Performance

The Original Harry Potter Stars Will Be Hard Acts To Follow

If Essiedu accepts the role of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter remake, it would be great news for the show. However, the actor will still have big shoes to fill, as will anyone else who s the HBO series' cast. Comparisons to the original Harry Potter stars are inevitable, and this will especially be true of those who gave iconic performances, like Alan Rickman or Maggie Smith. That's not to say that the new iterations of characters like Snape or McGonagall won't be great, but it'll definitely take some getting used to for longtime fans.

HBO's Harry Potter remake is expected to premiere in 2026.

When it comes down to it, the new Harry Potter cast's success will be determined by whether they can make their performances stand out — and whether the HBO remake's character writing proves strong. The news surrounding Essiedu inspires hope in the Harry Potter TV show, but there's still a long way to go before it becomes a reality and gets the chance to prove itself.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

HBO Harry Potter TV Show Poster
Harry Potter
Adventure
Family
Fantasy
Showrunner
Francisca Gardiner
Directors
Mark Mylod
Franchise(s)
Harry Potter

Cast

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Harry Potter is HBO's remake of the iconic Wizarding World film series that consisted of eight films between 2001 and 2011. Each season adapts a book from JK Rowling's popular series and provides more book-accurate details than the movies did.

Seasons
1
Streaming Service(s)
MAX