Paapa Essiedu Shares Feelings Behind the Noise Surrounding His ‘Harry Potter’ Casting

Few casting announcements in recent memory have landed with as much noise as HBO’s decision to hand Severus Snape to a new actor. The role was made famous by the late Alan Rickman, and any successor was always going to face a tough crowd. The fan base for J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world is passionate, protective and rarely shy about sharing opinions.

For Paapa Essiedu, the pressure has come from more than one direction. The 36-year-old British actor has faced backlash from some fans over the decision to cast a Black actor in a role previously played by Rickman. His casting was announced in April 2025, and the conversation around it has barely cooled since.

Now, with the series inching closer to its debut, Essiedu is speaking again. According to Deadline’s report, he addressed the controversy while attending the 2026 TIME100 Next gala, where he was honored for his achievements in film, TV and the stage. His summary of the situation was refreshingly plain: “People have a lot of feelings about this.”

The actor went on to acknowledge that everyone has the right to their own opinion, a measured response given how heated the discourse has become. Rather than firing back at critics, he emphasized his commitment to doing justice to one of the franchise’s most complex figures. Deadline also notes that his focus is on bringing humanity and complexity to the character.

That calm tone is notable because the backlash has not been limited to online arguments. Earlier this year, Essiedu revealed that he had faced a number of racist death threats since joining the series. Rather than being broken by the abuse, he said the hateful comments motivate him further.

Essiedu’s place in the cast has also drawn scrutiny because of his politics. Rowling has been outspoken against transgender rights in recent years and previously celebrated the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that prohibits trans women from being legally recognized as women. After that ruling, more than 400 people signed a letter urging the country’s film and television industry to take action on trans rights, including Essiedu.

Fans quickly began to wonder whether the decision would cost him the part. Rowling responded by posting on X that she does not have the power to sack an actor from the series and would not exercise it if she did. Deadline notes that she commented on his pro-trans advocacy after fans speculated about whether he would be axed from the show.

Essiedu has never walked back his stance. Speaking to the press in March, he said he feels “really supported” by the team behind the adaptation after backing the trans community, and he stands by his decision to sign the open letter. He is also not the only cast member to push back on the author’s views, as co-stars John Lithgow and Bel Powley have expressed their disagreement with Rowling’s anti-trans views.

Support has come from elsewhere in the franchise too. Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy in the original films, defended Essiedu’s casting at a FanExpo Denver panel moderated by Collider, calling critics of the casting “racist.” The reaction online has been mixed, with many fans calling out racist comments while others say they are disappointed by the lack of resemblance to the original series.

What makes Essiedu’s latest comments stand out is how little he seems interested in feeding the cycle. He has taken the controversy head-on, acknowledged the strong emotions and kept his attention on the work itself. For a project already carrying decades of expectation, that may be the smartest approach.

The real test will come when audiences finally see his Snape on screen. Until then, the noise is unlikely to fade, but Essiedu appears ready to let the performance do the talking.