Apparently, despite nearly two decades of the franchise’s dominance over pop culture and especially the fantasy/adventure genres, “Harry Potter” media will continue. If a new “Potter” TV series should be made, as corporate interests believe it to be, the least that can happen is that some talented, creative people can try to elevate the material and make it their own.
That’s according to the news that actor Papa Essiedu is in talks to portray Severus Snape in HBO’s reboot of JK Rowling’s “Harry Potter” saga. According to the Hollywood ReporterThe ink is not yet dry on Essiedu’s deal, with the trade publication stating that “Sources say the actor has been offered the role, although it is unclear whether negotiations have begun in earnest.” This track, given that no actors have officially signed on to the series yet, even though Mark Rylance is considered “close to being signed” to play Albus Dumbledore. Given that the series is due to premiere on HBO in late 2026 or early 2027, it’s likely that we’ll get official casting news in the next few months, so the uproar about Rylance and now Essiedu is likely the first rumor of what’s to come. Of a fierce storm.
Of course, big questions remain: Even if Francesca Gardiner has been named the series’ writer and showrunner and Mark Mylod has been chosen as its director and producer, what will be the creative focus of this series other than simply telling the story? Rowling’s already adapted books again? Or is the IP being taken full advantage of, similar to HBO’s successful “The Last of Us” series, which delighted fans by presenting (almost) the story, characters and aesthetic found in video games? The most pressing thing is how can any actor make these characters their own when the memory of the original cast of the films is still so prevalent? To this last question, Essiedu answers little, because he is an actor whose career so far has been full of bold, courageous performances.
Actors like Essiedu could make the Harry Potter TV series worth watching
If Essiedu will indeed be playing Professor Severus Snape, a potions expert who became extremely intimidating and villainous towards Harry Potter before more information was revealed about the character, then the actor is on his way. There’s one big hurdle: Alan Rickman, who despite his reservations about the films gave Snape an indelible look and voice that has become synonymous with the character even to non-fans. It’s a big risk for any actor, but a look at Essiedu’s filmography shows that the actor is more than happy to make big changes with the roles and projects he chooses.
In addition to appearing in various BBC TV miniseries (a cast featuring dramatically trained British actors), Essiedu has starred in challenge shows such as “I May Destroy You” and “The Lazarus Project”. His feature film work is equally daring, notably his role as James in Alex Garland’s heavily polarizing folk horror film “Men.” Even his latest appearance alongside Saoirse Ronan in this year’s “The Outlaws” marks him as an actor worth watching, given his willingness to play morally ambiguous characters truthfully.
Of course, Snape is one of the most famous morally ambiguous figures in pop culture, so it’s no surprise that the “Harry Potter” series would want to make good use of Essiedu’s power with such material. Ultimately, like any project, Essiedu will be at the mercy of the script and direction of the final series, if indeed he appears in it. Let’s hope their potential casting is an indicator of where this “Potter” series is going, because then it could mean it’ll at least be worth watching.
