British Actor of Ghanaian Descent, Paapa Essiedu Cast as Snape in New Harry Potter Series

British actor of Ghanaian origins, Paapa Essiedu, has been cast as Severus Snape in the new Harry Potter television series.

Max, formerly HBO Max, announced a slew of new casting for the series – which is expected to debut in 2026 – on Monday, April 14.

Paapa Essiedu, the British actor known for the BBC’s I May Destroy You, Gangs of London, and others, stole the headlines following reports he was cast as Severus Snape, the legendary Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher who appeared to share a mutual disdain with Hogwarts star pupil Potter. The producer’s choice of changing the race of Snape’s character sparked sharp online discourse. Author and executive producer J.K. Rowling said the series will be a ‘faithful adaptation’.

Other cast announcements included John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Luke Thallon as Professor Quirinus Quirrell, and Paul Whitehouse as caretaker Argus Filch.

Essiedu was born in London to Ghanaian parents. His mother, Selina, was a fashion and design teacher. His father, Tony, was a lawyer and moved back to Ghana when Essiedu was a child. He had other children in Ghana but died when the actor was 14.

Essiedu’s career has spanned roles in television, film, and the stage. In theatre, he gained acclaim for his stage roles in Caryl Churchill’s play A Number and Lucy Prebble’s play The Effect. Essiedu appeared in the films Murder on the Orient Express, Men, and Genie. On television, he’s had roles in Anne Boleyn, Gangs of London, The Lazarus Project, and Black Mirror: Demon 79.

The new Harry Potter television series starts filming in 2025 and debuts on Max in 2026.