The first big casting news about HBO’sHarry Potterremake has surfaced, andit’s a great sign for the upcoming Wizarding World TV show.HBO’sHarry Potterserieswill offer a modernized take on the books, and its TV format should allow it to be more faithful than the original adaptations. WhiletheHarry Pottermoviesare fairly well-regarded, they cut a decent number of smaller storylines and characters from the source material. As the TV show will revisit theHarry Potterbooks, it has the opportunity to tackle their story more accurately.
Of course, this also means replacing theHarry Pottermovies' iconic cast— an undertaking that’s likely to be the most challenging aspect of selling HBO’s remake. Many ofHarry Potter’s stars have become synonymous with their roles, so the TV show’s creators will need to choose actors wisely in order to successfully replace them. Fortunately, the first bit of casting news to come from the HBO remake is promising.It’s looking like Paapa Essiedu couldtake on the role of Professor Severus Snape, and that puts the series' casting off to a strong start.
Paapa Essiedu’s Likely Snape Casting Is Great News For The Harry Potter Remake
The Actor’s Previous Credits Are Promising
Essiedu isn’t yet confirmed to play Snape in theHarry Potterremake, but perThe Hollywood Reporter,the actor is in talks to take on the iconic role. It’s somewhat surprising that the HBO series' first casting announcement is Snape and not a member of the Golden Trio. However, due to his crucial part in the later books, getting his character right is equally important. Fortunately,Essiedu’s potential casting is a great sign for the HBO show. His credits inI May Destroy YouandThe Lazarus Projectindicate he’s more than capable of delivering a winning performance.
With theHarry Pottermovies having a primarily white cast, it’d be nice to see a Black man step into such a prominent role.
Essiedu is also British, suggesting that the upcoming remake will stick to theHarry Pottermovies' insistence on casting British stars. Needless to say, those concerned that the TV show might diverge from that aspect of the films won’t be disappointed.Essiedu’s likely casting also reveals that the TV series will be more diversethan the original adaptations. With theHarry Pottermovies having a primarily white cast, it’d be nice to see a Black man step into such a prominent role. It indicates that more inclusive casting choices could be on the horizon, too, which is great news.
The Harry Potter Remake’s First Big Casting News Shows It’s Taking The Right Approach
It Looks Like The HBO Show Will Strike The Right Balance
TheHarry Potterremake’s first big casting news indicates that the show is taking the right approach to reviving the story. For one, casting a Black British man means that the TV show is leaning from both the movies' strengths and weaknesses. The creators clearly recognize that having a British cast worked in the original films' favor, adding a layer of authenticity to Harry’s story. However, the fact that the show is ensuring more diversity means thatit’s willing to look at theHarry Pottermovies' shortcomings and make improvementswhere necessary.
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Essiedu’s casting is more telling than that, though, as it also reveals that theHarry PotterTV show isn’t looking to snag A-listers in an attempt to draw a bigger audience. Essiedu’s acting credits are impressive enough that he’ll deliver a solid performance, butHarry Potterstill marks his first major franchise. This is the perfect middle ground, as casting actors from other major franchises would likely be distracting and take viewers out of the story. Therefore,Harry Potter’s remake appears to be striking the right balance, at least if its first potential casting is anything to judge by.
Paapa Essiedu Still Has Big Shoes To Fill After Alan Rickman’s Snape Performance
The Original Harry Potter Stars Will Be Hard Acts To Follow
If Essiedu accepts the role of Severus Snape in theHarry Potterremake, it would be great news for the show. However, the actor will still have big shoes to fill, as will anyone else who joins the HBO series' cast.Comparisons to the originalHarry Potterstars are inevitable, and this will especially be true of those who gave iconic performances, like Alan Rickman or Maggie Smith. That’s not to say that the new iterations of characters like Snape or McGonagall won’t be great, but it’ll definitely take some getting used to for longtime fans.
HBO’sHarry Potterremake is expected to premiere in 2026.
When it comes down to it,the newHarry Pottercast’s success will be determined by whether they can make their performances stand out— and whether the HBO remake’s character writing proves strong. The news surrounding Essiedu inspires hope in the upcomingHarry PotterTV show, but there’s still a long way to go before it becomes a reality and gets the chance to prove itself.
Harry Potter
Cast
Harry Potter is HBO’s remake of the iconic Wizarding World film series that consisted of eight films between 2001 and 2011. Each season adapts a book from JK Rowling’s popular series and provides more book-accurate details than the movies did.
