Harry Potter star Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy) has spoken out in support of Paapa Essiedu, who will play Severus Snape in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV reboot.
The Harry Potter TV series has begun assembling its cast, with both Hollywood veterans and fresh faces stepping into iconic roles. Among them is Paapa Essiedu, who will portray Hogwarts’ iconic Potions Master.
While the casting has been met with excitement from many, it has also sparked criticism online, with fans going as far as to launch a petition demanding that the Star Wars actor Adam Driver be cast instead.
While stepping into the shoes of the late Alan Rickman was never going to be easy, fellow Harry Potter actor Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy in the original film series, addressed the backlash during a panel at FanExpo Denver.
Jason Isaacs defends Paapa Essiedu Snape casting
“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. “All the cast of the new Harry Potter TV series are amazing. They will be swallowing their tongues, hopefully – you know, their digital tongues, when they see what [Paapa] does on screen.”
Essiedu made his name on stage with standout performances in Hamlet and King Lear, before earning Emmy and BAFTA nominations for his work in I May Destroy You and The Lazarus Project.
Now, he’s set to bring that talent to one of television’s biggest upcoming projects – HBO’s Harry Potter reboot, which will adapt J.K. Rowling’s seven-book saga across multiple seasons.
Each season will cover a single book, offering a longer, more detailed look at the source material. According to Warner Bros., the series will span a decade, so we’ll have plenty of time to see how Essiedu and the rest of the cast will lean into their new roles.
“I’d cry every day”: Teacher explains how working at the richest vs the poorest school in Ohio “radicalized” him