The Harry Potter fandom is no stranger to controversy, but the latest bombshell has sent shockwaves through Hogwarts and beyond. On September 7, 2025, alleged leaked footage from HBO’s highly anticipated Harry Potter TV series surfaced online, offering the first glimpse of Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape—a casting choice that has already sparked heated debate. The clips, which spread like Fiendfyre across X and Reddit, show the Ghanaian-British actor embodying the iconic potions master in a way that’s both electrifying and polarizing. With production underway in London and a 2027 premiere looming, these leaked scenes have left fans reeling, igniting fierce discussions about race, character integrity, and the future of J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world. So, what’s in the footage, and why is it causing such a stir?
A Casting Choice That Divided the Fandom
When HBO announced in March 2025 that Paapa Essiedu, known for his Emmy-nominated role in I May Destroy You and his commanding stage work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, would play Severus Snape, the reaction was instantaneous and divisive. Snape, immortalized by the late Alan Rickman in the original films, is described in Rowling’s books as a “thin man with sallow skin, a large hooked nose, greasy black hair, and cold, black eyes.” Essiedu’s casting as a Black actor in this role sparked accusations of “race-swapping” from some fans, who argued it strayed from the “faithful adaptation” HBO promised. Others hailed the choice as a bold reimagining, with Jason Isaacs, the original Lucius Malfoy, calling out detractors as “racist” and praising Essiedu as “one of the best actors I’ve ever seen” at FanExpo Denver.
The debate intensified on social media, with X posts ranging from vitriolic to celebratory. “Making Snape Black changes everything—James Potter’s bullying now looks like a hate crime!” one user fumed, while another countered, “Paapa Essiedu is going to eat this role up. Y’all are just mad he’s not Alan Rickman.” Critics worried that casting a Black actor as the morally ambiguous, often cruel Snape could add unintended racial undertones to his story, particularly in scenes where he’s bullied by James Potter or calls Lily Evans a “Mudblood.” Supporters, however, saw potential for a richer narrative, with one Reddit user noting, “A Black Snape could deepen the themes of alienation and prejudice already in the books.” The controversy reached a fever pitch when Essiedu signed a trans rights petition in April 2025, prompting rumors—debunked by Rowling herself—that she might fire him. Rowling clarified on X, “I don’t have the power to sack an actor, and I wouldn’t if I did. His beliefs are his own.”
The Leaked Footage: A Glimpse of a New Snape
The leaked scenes, reportedly captured during filming at Leavesden Studios and posted anonymously to a now-deleted X account, offer three brief but tantalizing glimpses of Essiedu’s Snape. The first clip, set in the Hogwarts potions classroom, shows Snape berating a young Harry Potter (Dominic McLaughlin) for a botched Draught of Peace. Dressed in flowing black robes, Essiedu’s Snape is a commanding presence, his voice low and cutting as he sneers, “Potter, your incompetence is matched only by your arrogance.” Fans noted the absence of Rickman’s signature drawl, replaced by a sharper, more volatile delivery that feels younger and rawer—fitting, given Essiedu’s age of 34 aligns with Snape’s canon age in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
The second clip, a flashback to Snape’s youth, depicts a teenage Snape (played by a yet-unidentified actor) being taunted by James Potter and Sirius Black near the Black Lake. Essiedu’s adult Snape watches from afar, his face a mask of suppressed pain. The scene, heavy with the racial optics of a Black Snape being bullied by predominantly white peers, has sparked heated debate. “This makes James and Sirius look like monsters,” one X user wrote, while another argued, “It adds depth to Snape’s isolation—imagine him joining the Death Eaters as a way to reclaim power.” The third clip shows Snape in a private moment, staring into a cracked mirror and muttering a spell, with faint whispers of “Lily” audible. The makeup team’s work is evident: Essiedu sports a prosthetic hooked nose, darkened eye circles, and matted, shoulder-length braids that nod to the book’s “greasy hair” while adapting to his natural hair texture.
The footage, though grainy and brief, has been praised for Essiedu’s intensity. “He’s not trying to be Rickman, and that’s the point,” one Reddit user posted. “He’s making Snape his own—angrier, more vulnerable, but still menacing.” Others criticized the production values, with some calling the classroom set “cheap” compared to the films. HBO has remained silent on the leak, though insiders suggest the studio is investigating the breach, which may have originated from an on-set crew member.
Fan Reactions: From Outrage to Excitement
The leaked scenes have poured fuel on an already polarized fandom. On Reddit’s r/HarryPotteronHBO, fans dissected every frame, with some expressing awe at Essiedu’s performance. “He’s got the Snape vibe down—cold, bitter, but you can feel the hurt underneath,” one user wrote, sharing fan art of Essiedu with a hooked nose and unkept braids. Others doubled down on their objections, arguing that the casting undermines Snape’s arc. “Snape’s supposed to be unattractive, gaunt, and pale,” one commenter insisted. “Essiedu’s too charismatic and, frankly, too good-looking.” A particularly vocal X post, viewed over 800,000 times, declared, “This is a cataclysmic misstep. A Black Snape as a Death Eater? The optics are a nightmare.”
Yet, defenders of the casting see it as a chance to reframe Snape’s story. The Guardian’s Jason Okundaye argued that a Black Snape could enrich the character’s journey, drawing parallels to Essiedu’s role in Death of England, where he played a Brexit-voting Black man wrestling with alienation. “A Black Snape joining the Death Eaters, a blood-purity cult, adds layers of irony and tragedy,” Okundaye wrote. “It’s not just about race—it’s about a man who’s ostracized and seeks belonging in the wrong places.” Supporters also point to Essiedu’s stage pedigree, noting his Ian Charleson Award for playing Hamlet as proof he can handle Snape’s complexity.
The racial dynamics of the casting have sparked broader conversations. Some fans fear that Snape’s cruelty toward students like Harry and Neville could be misread as racially charged, while others argue that the wizarding world’s prejudices—centered on blood status, not race—make such concerns irrelevant. “The Marauders bullied Snape because he was a weird, poor half-blood, not because of his skin,” one Reddit user argued. “HBO can keep it that way.” Still, the leaked flashback scene has intensified worries about James Potter’s likability, with one X user joking, “James bullying a Black kid in the ‘70s? Good luck making him a hero now.”
The Bigger Picture: A Reboot Under Pressure
The Harry Potter TV series, greenlit for a decade-long run with each season adapting one of Rowling’s seven books, faces immense pressure to live up to the original films’ $7.7 billion legacy. With a cast including John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as McGonagall, and Nick Frost as Hagrid, the show aims to blend fresh faces with veteran talent. Yet, Essiedu’s casting has become a lightning rod, compounded by Rowling’s controversial stance on transgender issues. Some fans speculate that HBO’s choice is a deliberate move to counter Rowling’s critics, though others see it as “clickbait” to generate buzz. “They knew this would spark chaos,” one Forbes article noted, warning that the casting could alienate mainstream audiences if mishandled.
The leaked scenes have also raised questions about how HBO will balance fidelity to the books with modern sensibilities. Snape’s arc—from a bullied outcast to a Death Eater to a tragic antihero—relies heavily on his unlikable traits and eventual redemption. Essiedu’s portrayal, as seen in the leaks, leans into a younger, more volatile Snape, which could shift perceptions of his morality. “Rickman made Snape a brooding villain you couldn’t look away from,” one fan posted on X. “Essiedu’s Snape feels like a man on the edge, which is scarier in a way.” The makeup and costume choices, like the prosthetic nose and braids, aim to bridge the gap between book accuracy and Essiedu’s natural appearance, but some fans remain skeptical. “If they’re using prosthetics, why not cast someone closer to the book’s description?” one Reddit user asked.
What’s Next for Essiedu and the Series?
The leaks have put Essiedu in a precarious position. While he’s remained largely silent, his April 2025 Instagram post—“An honour to be going to Hogwarts. See you as Professor Snape x”—radiated confidence. Yet, the online vitriol, including racist slurs and calls for his recasting, has prompted warnings from fans and critics alike. “Protect Paapa Essiedu,” one X user pleaded, citing the harassment faced by Noma Dumezweni when she played Hermione in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. HBO’s refusal to confirm or deny the leaks suggests a strategic pivot to focus on the show’s broader vision, with showrunner Francesca Gardiner emphasizing “a fresh take that honors the source material.”
As production continues, the Harry Potter series faces a tightrope walk. Can Essiedu’s Snape win over skeptics with a performance that transcends the controversy? Will HBO address the racial dynamics head-on or sidestep them entirely? And how will the show navigate Rowling’s shadow while forging a new path? The leaked scenes, for all their grainy imperfection, have given fans a taste of what’s to come: a Snape who’s both familiar and startlingly new, brought to life by an actor unafraid to tackle one of literature’s most complex characters. Whether it’s a triumph or a misstep, Essiedu’s portrayal is already a cultural flashpoint, ensuring that when the series premieres in 2027, all eyes will be on him—and the wizarding world will never be the same.
