Black actor receives death threats for playing Professor Snape in new 'Harry Potter' movie
Mar 26, 2026
New York [US], March 26: Actor Paapa Essiedu, who plays Severus Snape, is currently filming the Harry Potter series in Watford, England, scheduled for release in 2027. HBO's project has garnered significant public attention since the announcement of the new cast portraying the iconic characters from J.K. Rowling's globally bestselling book series. These new faces inevitably face comparisons to the successful film adaptations and even intense opposition from a large segment of the audience. Paapa Essiedu is one of them. He has faced a wave of backlash from many viewers, with some even calling for the removal of the young actor from the series, arguing that he is unsuitable for the iconic role and that HBO is ruining the character of Severus Snape.