Harry Potter actor Papa Essiedu says he received racially-based death threats over his casting as Professor Snape in the upcoming HBO Max movie.
“I’ve had people say to me, ‘Quit or I’ll kill you,'” Essiedu told London’s Sunday Times in a new interview.
“That’s really important. The reality is that when you look on Instagram, you see someone saying, ‘I’m going to come to your house and kill you.'” So, I’m sure I won’t get killed, but… it can get old horribly! But yes, I hope I’m okay, but no one has to run into a situation like this to do their job. Many people put their lives on the line for their work. He plays a wizard in “Harry Potter.” And I’d be lying if I said it didn’t affect me emotionally. ”
Essiedu will play Potions Master Snape, one of Potter’s archenemies, in the upcoming streaming version, a role previously played by Alan Rickman. His casting sparked a toxic fan backlash.
“But the abuse gave me strength,” he continued in the interview. “And I became even more passionate about making this character my own, because it reminded me of how I felt as a child: imagining myself at Hogwarts on a broomstick. And the idea that a kid like me could express myself in that world. That’s what motivates me not to be intimidated by people who would rather die than do work they’re really proud of.”
The Black Mirror and I May Destroy You actor has never seen the original film, which starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, but admitted he was a fan of JK Rowling’s book series as a child. “As a child, I was an avid reader,” he said. “My mother couldn’t afford a babysitter during the holidays, so she took me to the library. I loved ‘Harry Potter.'” I’d never seen the movies, but books were my escapism when nothing else was easy for me. ”
The new series is set to launch on HBO Max in 2027 with a (nearly) all-new cast. The core trio consists of Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Arabella Staunton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
Mr Essiedu had a 10-year contract for the series, which he told The Sunday Times was a “huge commitment”. “I’ll be 45 by the time this is over, and I know my life is going to change a lot, but I just have to surrender to it. I might have kids by the time this is over,” he said.
