Paapa Essiedu Offered Role as Severus Snape in HBO’s Wizarding World Series
As a wise Hogwarts professor once roughly said, “Harry Potter casting rumours are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before.” But the latest name circling a part in Mark Mylod and Francesca Gardiner’s upcoming Wizarding World HBO series is A) A very exciting one, and B) One that comes from a very reputable source. According to THR, The Lazarus Project and The Outrun star Paapa Essiedu has been offered the role of Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher Severus Snape, formerly played by the late, great Alan Rickman.
Paapa Essiedu: The Potential New Severus Snape
Per THR, multiple sources have confirmed to the Hollywood trade that Essiedu — an actor whose theatre background and propensity for playing darkly charismatic, complex men aligns well with both the part and the actor he stands to inherit it from — has an offer on the table from HBO already. It is however worth noting that an offer is not even necessarily a sign that negotiations have begun just yet, and HBO’s official stance on the matter is exactly the same as it was when asked for comment on the Mark Rylance Dumbledore rumours: “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.”
Diversifying the Cast and Rumours
While there’s no telling at this stage whether Essiedu will end up bottling fame and brewing glory as the prestige production’s Half-Blood Prince, the fact that HBO have approached the Gangs Of London star about the role reflects the commitment of the producers behind this reboot to diversifying the cast of the upcoming show — and to gunning for the very finest the British acting world has to offer with their new series. Not only does Essiedu’s name join Mark Rylance’s as whispers continue to abound about who will play who in the planned seven season Harry Potter reboot, but in recent weeks Oscar winner Cillian Murphy has been attracting some Riddlesome buzz, with grapevines suggesting a potential serpentine villain in the Oppenheimer man’s near future. That being said, the same sources who’ve told THR about Essiedu’s potential casting are also quick to dispel the Murphy rumours as inaccurate hearsay… so who really knows anything, eh?
High Calibre Cast and Uncertain Future
Whichever way the casting for this new take on Harry Potter shakes out, the names attached behind the camera — and the ones eyeing a spot on the call sheet — are nothing if not high calibre. And if Paapa Essiedu, formidable actor that he is, winds up landing the role of Severus Snape, then that’s a very exciting prospect indeed. But no matter who ends up securing that dream part, we can confidently state that Alan Rickman is and forever will be our Snape. Even after all this time… always.
FAQs
Q: Is Paapa Essiedu confirmed to play Severus Snape in the HBO series?
A: While Essiedu has been offered the role, negotiations have not begun yet, and HBO has not confirmed any details regarding casting.
Q: Are there other actors rumored to join the Harry Potter reboot?
A: Yes, actors like Mark Rylance and Cillian Murphy have been rumored for roles, but nothing has been officially confirmed.
Q: Will the new series feature a diverse cast?
A: The producers are aiming to diversify the cast, as seen with the potential casting of Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape.
Credit: www.empireonline.com
