Harry Potteralum Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy in the original movies, has rushed to the defense of Paapa Essiedu, who found himself at the toxic end of online backlash over being cast as Snape in the HBO TV series. Essiedu is set to take on the iconic role of the Hogwarts professor and Slytherin head Severus Snape, who was originally played by the late and great Emmy-winning actor Alan Rickman.
The television adaptation of the world-famousHarry Potterfranchise was confirmed by HBO Max in 2023 and is expected to span a decade, with each season based on one of the seven J.K. Rowling books. Warner Bros is seemingly committed to making the TV adaptation a roaring success from the get-go as it’sreported to have cost £1 billion to expand the Leavesden Studios, which will include a real school, brand-new roads, car parks, and even an updated version of Privet Drive, the street where Harry spent his younger years. As more names are being attached to the small screen adaptation, likeDaniel Rigby and Bel Powley as Vernon and Petunia Dursley, Harry’s uncle and aunt who he lived with before he began Hogwarts, things have turned hateful as racist comments have been directed at the acclaimed British actor.
“What They’re Being Is Racist” Jason Isaacs Calls Out Toxic Fans Over Snape TV Series Casting
During a panel at the FanExPo Denver convention this year withCollider,Isaacs took aim at the racially charged criticism against Paapa Essiedu following the announcement that he would slip into the well-worn shoes of Professor Severus Snape in HBO’s upcoming TV series.“Paapa Essiedu is one of the best actors I’ve ever seen in my life. I’ve seen some people online who are being rude about him,” Isaacs said, “What they’re being is racist." The actor went on to praisethe cast of theHarry PotterTV series, stating that they are all “amazing,” before revealing that those who have spat vile remarks against Essiedu “will be swallowing their tongues, hopefully — you know, their digital tongues — when they see what [Paapa] does on screen.”
Starting his career in 2012 at the Royal Shakespeare Company, starring in countless productions likeThe Merry Wives of Windsor,Hamlet, andKing Lear,Essiedu is best known for his Emmy-nominated role in HBO’s “I May Destroy You”. However, the 35-year-old actor also starred in many other TV shows, like “Black Mirror,” “The Outrun,” “The Lazarus Project,” “Gangs of London” and “Black Doves.” Due to his incredible acting chops, he is now poised to take on the role thatAlan Rickman received widespread acclaim for.
Isaacs also confessed that he did not get any inside scoops about theHarry PotterTV seriescasting development, even though he knew someone very well who was directly involved in the process. “Funnily enough, my daughter’s friend from university is in the casting office for the show,” he revealed. “She came for dinner, and she wouldn’t f—king tell us anything! Unbelievable, what a waste of university tuition fees.”
As for right now, theHarry PotterTV series isn’t expected to release until late 2026 or early 2027.
