Paapa Essiedu is speaking out about the disturbing backlash he’s faced since being cast as Professor Severus Snape in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series — and it goes far beyond criticism.
In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, Essiedu revealed that the online harassment has escalated into explicit, race-fueled death threats tied to his casting in the beloved franchise.
“I’ve been told, ‘Quit or I’ll murder you,’” Essiedu shared.
The actor explained that the threats are not isolated incidents, but part of a broader wave of ongoing abuse that he still encounters when scrolling through social media.
“The reality is that if I look at Instagram I will see somebody saying, ‘I’m going to come to your house and kill you,’” he said. “So while I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be murdered… That could age badly! But, yes, while I hope I’ll be OK, nobody should have to encounter this for doing their job.”
Essiedu, best known for his work in I May Destroy You and Black Mirror, is stepping into one of the most iconic roles in the Harry Potter universe — a character previously portrayed by Alan Rickman. His casting marks a shift in how the franchise is reimagining its world, but it has also exposed the same toxic corners of fandom that continue to resist change.
Despite the vitriol, Essiedu is choosing to channel that energy into the work.
“But the abuse fuels me,” he said. “And makes me more passionate about making this character my own, because I think of how I felt as a kid. I would imagine myself at Hogwarts on broomsticks, and the idea that a kid like me can see themselves represented in that world? That’s motivation to not be intimidated by someone saying they’d rather I died instead of doing work I’m going to be really proud of.”
That perspective is rooted in his own childhood connection to the material. While he never watched the original films, Essiedu says J.K. Rowling’s books played a meaningful role in his upbringing.
“I was an avid reader as a kid,” he said. “My mum couldn’t afford a babysitter in the holidays, so she would take me to the library. I loved ‘Harry Potter.’ … the books were escapism when other things were less easy for me.”
Now, he’s preparing for what will likely be one of the most defining chapters of his career. Essiedu has reportedly signed on for a long-term commitment to the series, which is expected to span a decade.
“Yes, this is a big commitment,” he said. “I’ll be 45 by the time I finish and I know my life is going to change in a big way, but I have to just surrender to that. I could have children by the end of this.”
Still, the conversation around his casting highlights a larger issue within entertainment — one where representation continues to be met with hostility in certain spaces. Essiedu even addressed the idea of simply ignoring the noise, noting that avoidance doesn’t erase the problem.
“But even if you successfully ignore it, it doesn’t mean it’s not happening,” he said.
As HBO moves forward with its new Harry Potter adaptation, Essiedu’s experience underscores the reality that for many actors — especially Black actors stepping into legacy roles — the job doesn’t stop at performance. It also means navigating an industry (and audience) still grappling with who gets to belong in these worlds.
The upcoming Harry Potter series is being developed as a long-term, faithful adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s books, with plans to span multiple seasons. HBO and Warner Bros. Television are producing the series, which is expected to run for up to a decade.
The show stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, alongside Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout. The supporting cast includes John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as McGonagall, Essiedu as Snape, and Nick Frost as Hagrid.
Led by showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod, the series began production in 2025 and is currently slated to premiere in 2027.