On May 28, 2025, HBO unveiled the main adult cast for its highly anticipated Harry Potter TV series, a decade-long project set to adapt J.K. Rowling’s seven iconic novels into individual seasons. The announcement, which confirmed Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, among others, sent shockwaves through the fandom—but not for the reasons HBO might have hoped. The decision to cast Essiedu, a Black actor, as Snape—referred to in fan circles as “Black Snape Stays Black!”—has reignited a firestorm of controversy, with debates erupting over diversity, fidelity to the source material, and the cultural implications of the choice. As the series prepares to begin filming this summer at Leavesden Studios, the reveal has laid bare the deep divisions within the Harry Potter fandom and the challenges of reimagining a beloved franchise in 2025.

The Harry Potter TV series, announced in 2023, is one of HBO’s most ambitious projects to date, with a reported budget exceeding $100 million per season. Each book will be adapted into a full season, offering a more detailed exploration of Rowling’s world than the original eight films, which grossed over $7.7 billion worldwide. The casting process has been closely watched, especially after the 2016 West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child cast Noma Dumezweni, a Black actress, as Hermione Granger, prompting both praise for diversity and backlash from fans who argued the character was white in the books. Rowling herself defended that choice, famously calling detractors “a bunch of racists,” and has maintained creative control as an executive producer on the HBO series, alongside David Heyman and Neil Blair.

The reveal of Essiedu as Snape, first leaked in March 2025 and officially confirmed on May 28, has dominated the conversation. Essiedu, a 34-year-old British actor of Ghanaian descent, is known for his critically acclaimed roles in I May Destroy You, Black Mirror, and The Lazarus Project. His stage experience, including a powerful performance in Hamlet at the Royal Shakespeare Company, made him a compelling choice for Snape, a character defined by his complexity—part villain, part tragic hero, whose unrequited love for Lily Potter and eventual redemption are central to the series. In the books, Snape is described as having “sallow skin,” “greasy, shoulder-length black hair,” a “large, hooked nose,” and “cold, black eyes,” traits many fans interpreted as indicative of a white character, a depiction solidified by Alan Rickman’s iconic portrayal in the films.

The confirmation of Essiedu’s casting, under the viral headline *“YOU FILTHY MUDBLOOD!” – Main ‘Harry Potter’ Cast REVEALED (Black Snape Stays Black!)”, has sparked intense backlash. The phrase “filthy mudblood,” a slur used in the wizarding world to demean Muggle-born witches and wizards, has been co-opted by some fans to express their frustration, with posts on X highlighting concerns about the racial dynamics of the casting. One user wrote, “Great. So now they’ll have a blonde/white Draco calling a little black/brown girl a ‘filthy mudblood’ and a group of four white boys brutally bullying a Black Snape. Brilliant idea.” Another pointed out, “Snape is the only confirmed Black main character, and he’s a shady villain type for the first five books. Then Hermione is mixed, and she’ll get called a mudblood as a major plot point. I’m fine with diversity, but this is a bad look.”

The backlash centers on several key issues. First, fans argue that Snape’s physical description in the books aligns with a white character, and changing his race feels like a betrayal of the source material. Second, there’s concern about the narrative implications: Snape’s backstory involves being bullied by James Potter and the Marauders, a dynamic some fear will take on unintended racial undertones with a Black Snape. A post on X warned, “In doing so, James secures Snape’s undying hatred… will HBO also include white hoods as part of TV James’ costume as he comes precariously close to lynching a Black student?” Third, some fans see the casting as a concession to “woke” culture, with one user noting, “Looks like they got the main trio casting right. I’m amazed they didn’t eliminate ginger Ron and race-swap Hermione. Black Snape is the only outlier, a concession to the Woke Mob.”

The controversy has been further complicated by the broader context of the Harry Potter franchise. J.K. Rowling’s gender-critical views have made the series a lightning rod, with trans activists calling for boycotts due to her involvement, while fans on the other side criticize the casting choices for deviating from the books. Essiedu himself became a target of this tension when, on April 30, 2025, he signed an open letter alongside Eddie Redmayne and Katie Leung calling for the U.K. entertainment industry to protect the transgender community. Some speculated that Rowling might push to remove Essiedu, but she clarified in a statement on May 6 that she neither wished to nor had the power to “sack” him, focusing instead on the creative vision of the series. Still, trans activists criticized Essiedu for not quitting the show in protest, labeling his letter as “virtue signaling.”

Not all reactions to Essiedu’s casting have been negative. Some fans and critics see potential in the choice, arguing that a Black Snape could add depth to the character’s outsider status. A writer for The Guardian suggested, “Perhaps that would make James Potter irredeemable, particularly considering the real experiences of Black people in boarding schools—or it could simply deepen the series’ depiction of vulnerability.” Others have expressed pride in seeing a Black actor in such a prominent role, with one user on X writing, “Paapa seems to be a brilliant actor… Don’t hate on him.” The casting of a mixed-race Hermione Granger, played by a yet-to-be-announced actress, has also been praised by some for continuing the franchise’s push toward diversity, though it has drawn similar criticism about fidelity to the books.

The debate over “Black Snape” reflects broader tensions in Hollywood about diversity and representation. The Harry Potter series has historically lacked racial diversity—most main characters in the books are white, with minor characters like Dean Thomas and Cho Chang providing limited representation. The original films followed suit, though the casting of Dumezweni as Hermione in Cursed Child marked a turning point. However, that decision also led to significant racist backlash, with Dumezweni facing harassment online. Some worry that Essiedu will face similar vitriol, with one user on X noting, “The show doesn’t look more progressive, you’re just putting him in the line of fire of mostly inherently hateful people.”

Critics of the backlash argue that the reaction to Essiedu’s casting is rooted in racism and an unwillingness to evolve with the times. Rowling herself has long supported diverse casting, and the wizarding world’s themes of prejudice—embodied by terms like “mudblood” and the Death Eaters’ obsession with blood purity—lend themselves to explorations of race. A Black Snape could offer a fresh perspective on these themes, highlighting the real-world parallels to systemic racism, especially in a story where Snape’s marginalization shapes his descent into darkness and eventual redemption. Yet, others argue that such a change risks overshadowing the character’s core motivations with racial allegory, with one user on X quipping, “A Black man would be perfect casting for Snape since Harry spends his entire school career going ‘I swear that guy is up to no good’ with no hard evidence and then becomes a cop.”

For Essiedu, the role of Snape is a double-edged sword. His talent is undeniable—his performance in I May Destroy You earned him a BAFTA nomination, and his stage work has been lauded for its emotional depth. But stepping into a role defined by Alan Rickman’s haunting portrayal, while facing a divided fandom and the shadow of Rowling’s controversies, is a daunting task. The series’ long-term commitment—potentially a decade of filming—means Essiedu will be tied to this role for years, a prospect some fans find discouraging, with one predicting the show will be “forgotten and cancelled after 2 seasons.”

As HBO’s Harry Potter series moves forward, the controversy over “Black Snape” underscores the challenges of adapting a beloved franchise in an era of heightened cultural sensitivity. Essiedu’s casting could be a groundbreaking moment, offering a new lens on a character defined by his outsider status. But it also risks alienating fans who feel protective of the source material, especially when the change intersects with sensitive themes like bullying and blood purity. For now, the reveal of the main cast has set the stage for a contentious journey—one that will test the resilience of both Essiedu and the Harry Potter legacy as it navigates the complexities of 2025.