British actor Paapa Essiedu is officially heading to Hogwarts.
Max has confirmed the I May Destroy You star will take on the iconic role of Severus Snape in its highly anticipated Harry Potter television series.
Essiedu, an Emmy, BAFTA, and Olivier nominee, joins a high-profile ensemble cast that includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.
Essiedu’s casting turns a new chapter in the Harry Potter legacy, stepping into a role indelibly defined by the late Alan Rickman. Snape, the brooding potions master with a tortured soul and complicated loyalties, remains one of the saga’s most enigmatic characters.
Born to Ghanaian parents in London and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Essiedu already has eyes on him for his powerful performances on stage and screen. His breakout role as Kwame in HBO and BBC’s I May Destroy You earned him critical acclaim, followed by compelling turns in Anne Boleyn, The Lazarus Project, and Black Mirror.
Now, Essiedu brings his unique gravitas to the wizarding world.
The upcoming series is being billed as a “faithful adaptation” of J.K. Rowling’s beloved novels, with Francesca Gardiner (Succession) serving as showrunner and Succession director Mark Mylod set to helm multiple episodes. Rowling herself is on board as an executive producer alongside Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and David Heyman — the original producer of all eight Harry Potter films.
Set to run for ten years, the series will explore each of Rowling’s seven books in greater depth than ever before, allowing for new character development and story arcs. Production is scheduled to begin this summer at Leavesden Studios in the UK — the original home of the Harry Potter films and current home to the franchise’s famed studio tour.
With the announcement of Essiedu as Snape, Max is clearly embracing a fresh vision for the Harry Potter universe by reflecting the diversity of the world its fans live in today.
Wizards and moguls are all waiting for this series to hit the streamer!
Photo Credit: Instagram – Pessiedu
