HBO’s upcoming remake of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has made a subtle change to the character of Severus Snape. While the show is staying true to the original films in some ways – for example, Nick Frost’s Hagrid closely resembles Robbie Coltrane’s portrayal – it’s also taking some different directions. These changes are intended to give the series its own unique feel, improve accuracy compared to the books, and ultimately, serve the story best.
A key character, Severus Snape, will be played by Paapa Essiedu, known for his role in I May Destroy You. We’ve seen quick looks at Essiedu as Snape in the show’s first trailer and in a released still image. While his casting as a Black actor has unfortunately sparked some controversy and even threats, it actually brings the character closer to descriptions found in the original books.
The upcoming show will feature a scene not included in the films: Snape refereeing the Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff Quidditch match. The actor playing Snape revealed to Esquire that he’ll even be shown flying on a broomstick during the scene.
There was an episode packed with Quidditch scenes, and my character needed to fly on a broom. The production team actually built a stadium for it! I saw a scene with Harry flying using wires, and when it was my turn, my broom was attached to a large mechanical arm. It wasn’t the most comfortable experience, but I managed it… until I fell off and ended up dangling from my broom.
The Harry Potter TV Show’s Snape Will Be Different From The Movies – And That’s Good
Alan Rickman’s performance as Snape is so iconic that anyone taking on the role faces an incredibly difficult task. Trying to imitate him wouldn’t work – it would only result in a weak copy. Casting someone like Essiedu offers a real opportunity to create a fresh take on the character and even align more closely with the original books.
While Alan Rickman was a phenomenal Snape, his portrayal wasn’t a perfect match to the books – a point often overlooked in recent criticism of the new casting. One key difference was age: Snape is described as being in his early thirties when the story starts, but Rickman was in his mid-fifties during the first film. The new actor, Essiedu, is 35, which brings the character’s age closer to how it’s depicted in the books.
This also affects how the character is portrayed. Alan Rickman’s Snape wasn’t as harsh, furious, or cruel as the one in the books. While not exactly friendly, he was much more approachable and stayed remarkably composed. This change fit with the older age Rickman brought to the role; a Snape still behaving that way in his fifties wouldn’t be believable. However, with Essiedu being much younger, it makes sense to see more of the book character’s intensity. Essiedu is a very talented actor, and it will be interesting to see his interpretation.
The show including a Quidditch scene with Snape flying on a broom is a good sign. Because the TV series has more time than the movies, it can add scenes like this – moments that weren’t in the books or films – to develop the characters and world in greater detail. This doesn’t guarantee it will be better than the movies, but it does mean it can offer a unique and valuable experience of its own.
Because we know Severus Snape’s entire story from the beginning, the series could subtly hint at his eventual revelations throughout all seven books. He’s one of the most layered and fascinating characters in Harry Potter, and we should trust that Essiedu can deliver a compelling performance. Whether he succeeds won’t have anything to do with his race. Essiedu gave a thoughtful answer when asked why he accepted the role, and it’s a perspective worth remembering.
The main ideas in the Harry Potter books are about love being stronger than hatred, and the importance of accepting others. That’s the reason I’m involved with this project.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone releases Christmas 2026 on HBO and HBO Max.
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2026-03-28 15:10