‘Harry Potter’ star rips into death threats he received over his casting, but he refused to back down for one surprising reason

Paapa Essiedu, the actor set to portray Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter reboot, has revealed in an interview with The Times that he received death threats after his casting was announced. Essiedu is stepping into some truly iconic shoes, taking over from the legendary Alan Rickman as the enigmatic Potions Master.

This new Harry Potter series is a massive undertaking, set to span ten years, which means Essiedu will be 45 by the time it wraps up. He knows this project will change his life in a big way, acknowledging that it’s a “big commitment” that has already proved incredibly testing.

The new series is bringing the Wizarding World back to the small screen, with its first season, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, slated to air this coming Christmas. Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout, and Arabella Stanton are taking on the monumental roles of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. You’ll also see John Lithgow as the stoic Albus Dumbledore and Nick Frost, the Cornetto star, as Hagrid. The whole show will be streaming on HBO Max, which has just expanded its reach to the UK and Ireland.

Essiedu didn’t mince words about the threats he’s endured

He recalled being told, “Quit or I’ll murder you.” He shared more details about the abuse, but thankfully, he’s not letting the bullies win. He explained that he knows his life is going to change significantly, but he has to “just surrender to that.” He even mused, “I could have children by the end of this,” which really puts the decade-long commitment into perspective.

As a kid, Essiedu was an avid reader and a huge fan of the Harry Potter books himself. He fondly remembered his mum taking him to the library during holidays because she couldn’t afford a babysitter. He loved Harry Potter, saying the books were “escapism when other things were less easy for me,” even though he never saw the films.

Essiedu is fully aware that Snape was originally written as a white character, and his casting did stir up some controversy. He stressed that this issue “really matters.” He also admitted that if he looks at X, he’ll see someone saying, “I’m going to come to your house and kill you.” While he hopes he’ll be okay, he conceded, “I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t affect me emotionally.” He added that nobody should have to face such threats for doing their job, especially when he’s “playing a wizard in Harry Potter.”

Despite the nasty comments, Essiedu says the abuse actually “fuels” him, making him even more passionate about making the role of Snape his own. He reflected on his childhood self, imagining himself flying on broomsticks at Hogwarts. The idea that a child like him can now see themselves represented in that magical world is his motivation. He refuses to be intimidated by people who would rather he died than do work he’ll be truly proud of.

He also pointed out that ignoring the hate doesn’t make it disappear. People see the awful stuff and message him to check if he’s okay. Surprisingly, he hasn’t reported any of the death threats, explaining, “I don’t think some 17-year-old boy being put in jail for two weeks for threatening to murder me would actually make me feel any better.” Ultimately, Essiedu emphasized that the core themes of Harry Potter are “love triumphing over hate — of acceptance,” and that’s precisely why he’s taking on this challenge.