Per Deadline, the role of Severus Snape in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television adaptation might go to actor, Paapa Essiedu (Gangs of London, The Capture). However, as of yet, no formal offers have been made to the actor nor has his team conversed with HBO suits about a potential deal.
Alan Rickman (The Song of Lunch, Arena) played Severus Snape in all eight of the Harry Potter movies. The late actor brought a chilly yet somewhat sympathetic sensibility to the character, who is expected to be an antagonist within the series. Both Mark Strong (Dune: Prophecy, The Legend of Vox Machina) and Mark Rylance (Wolf Hall, The Undeclared War) are circling the role of Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, played in the original movie series by late actors Richard Harris (The Apocalypse, The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and Michael Gambon (Fortitude, Little Women).
An HBO spokesperson recently said about the casting rumors, “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.”
HBO is planning to have a diverse cast for the TV series. The long-running stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child also embraced diversity when it comes to the prime roles from the books and movies, i.e. casting Hermione as a Black woman.
The Emmy-and BAFTA-nominated Essiedu recently signed with WME for representation. He notched a Supporting Actor Emmy nomination in Limited or Anthology Series as well as a Lead Actor BAFTA TV nomination for his portrayal of Kwame in Michaela Coel’s (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Chewing Gum) HBO series I May Destroy You. He also received a BAFTA Lead Actor TV nom for The Lazarus Project.
Essiedu’s other recent projects include the National Theatre’s play The Effect, written by Lucy Prebble (Succession, I Hate Suzie), which is transferring to The Shed in New York this year. He also starred in season six of the cult anthology series Black Mirror and the Working Title/Universal Christmas movie The Genie, directed by Sam Boyd (Love Life, Stan Against Evil) and written by Richard Curtis (The Vicar of Dibley, Walliams & Friend), who also worked on Love Actually. In the recently released film The Outrun, Essiedu also starred opposite Saoirse Ronan (Robot Chicken, Proof).
The Harry Potter series is written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner (His Dark Materials, Killing Eve). Mark Mylod (Minority Report, Backstrom) serves as EP and will helm multiple episodes. The show is an HBO production in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. The series is also EPed by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling (C.B. Strike, The Casual Vacancy), Neil Blair (Joan, Stonehouse) and Ruth Kenley-Letts (The Midwich Cuckoos, You Don’t Know Me) of Brontë Film and TV, and the franchise pic’s original producer, David Heyman (Apples Never Fall, The Adventures of Paddington) of Heyday Films.
Deadline’s Jake Kanter recently wrote about Gardiner, who was picked for the job in June after a grueling four-month selection process involving Rowling‘s input. Gardiner is currently assembling her writer’s room, which includes Laura Neal (Turn Up Charlie, Sex Education), Andy Greenwald (Briarpatch, Legion) and Josephine Gardiner (Whistling Jack), Francesca’s sister.