Paapa Essiedu among picks to play Severus Snape in 'Harry Potter' TV show
British actor Paapa Esseidu is being eyed to play Professor Severus Snape in HBO's Harry Potter TV series adaptation.
Multiple sources told The Hollywood Reporter about the potential casting. Sources said Esseidu has been offered the part but "it is not clear if negotiations have begun in earnest."
“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 said in response to the rumors.
In April, Warner Bros. Discovery first announced that a new TV series around the franchise would be made. Stories from each of the books will become a "decade-long series" featuring a new cast.
So far, no actors have been officially announced to be part of the cast. In November, Variety reported that Tony and Oscar-winning actor Mark Rylance is a pick to play Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
As for who will play the next Harry, Ron, and Hermione, the entertainment outlet said that Warner Bros. opened a casting call for the trio. The casting call is searching for kids between 9 to 11 years old—of all races, ethnicities, and gender identities—in April 2025 who are residents of the U.K. and Ireland.
Snape, Hogwarts' potions master who also wanted to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, was played by the late Alan Rickman in the Harry Potter films.
Esseidu is known for starring in theater productions of Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and The Merry Wives of Windsor. He has also starred in film and TV in I May Destroy You, Anne Bolyeyn, Gangs of London, The Lazarus Project, and Black Mirror.