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According to Deadline, actor Paapa Essiedu is close to finalizing a deal to play Professor Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series. Meanwhile, Janet McTeer is in talks to take on the role of Professor Minerva McGonagall.
Essiedu, who acted in I May Destroy You, The Lazarus Project, Gangs of London, and The Capture, would introduce a new perspective to the character of Snape, originally portrayed by the late Alan Rickman in the original series. If the casting materializes, it would be a huge change for the franchise, as The Hollywood Reporter indicates that HBO has promised to make this take on Harry Potter more diverse. The original films were frequently criticized for featuring an all-white main cast, so this could represent a big move in a new direction.
Of course, HBO isn’t confirming anything just yet. In response to the growing speculation, the network released a statement saying:
“We appreciate that such a high-profile series will generate a lot of discussion and rumors. As we continue pre-production, we will only confirm details once everything is finalized.”
Meanwhile, THR also reports that Mark Rylance is being considered to play Dumbledore, while Deadline adds that Mark Strong is also in the mix for the same role. As for Voldemort, despite earlier fan theories, it looks like Cillian Murphy will not be taking on the Dark Lord’s role.
This Harry Potter TV series now in the works at Warner Bros. for HBO and Max, aims to stay true to J.K. Rowling‘s popular books. Warner Bros. announced the show in 2023 calling it a ten-year project. Each season will focus on one book bringing new actors and more in-depth storytelling to Hogwarts. The original movies still play a key role in the franchise. Yet this new take hopes to bring the magic back for a new crop of fans while keeping the core of the books intact.