Harry Potter’s OTHER New Snape Actor Is a Very Good Sign for the Remake

by

Fans of Harry Potter might be surprised by the upcoming HBO Max TV series. While one actor from the original films is returning, the rest of the cast will be entirely new. Veteran actor John Lithgow will be playing Albus Dumbledore, a choice that adds some weight to the project, as many are skeptical it’s just a money-making venture. HBO Max is definitely taking a gamble with this fresh take on the beloved books.

Paapa Essiedu, a celebrated stage actor with the Royal Shakespeare Company, is taking on the iconic role of Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter show. Snape is a central character in the series, and Alan Rickman’s portrayal in the Warner Bros. films was incredibly memorable, making it a challenging role to take on. However, Essiedu is well-equipped to deliver a compelling performance, and someone is dedicated to helping ensure a smooth and focused process as he prepares.

Harry Potter‘s Newest Snape Actor Is Knocking It Out of the Park

Even though a TV show is already being made, the creators are determined to maximize profits from the Harry Potter franchise. Their newest project is a full-cast audiobook series, starting with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, featuring well-known actors reading all the books. Matthew Macfadyen and Hugh Laurie will voice Voldemort and Dumbledore, and Arabella Stanton, who plays Hermione in the upcoming TV series, will reprise the role in the audiobooks. However, the most exciting casting choice is Riz Ahmed as Snape.

Ahmed is a well-known actor, having appeared in films like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and popular TV shows such as The Night Of. Though he’s not typically praised for his voice acting, his performance as Snape in the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone audiobook is impressive. He portrays the character with a calm demeanor, a different approach than Alan Rickman’s performance in the original film. This subtle choice hints at the complexities of Snape’s character that will be revealed later. It remains to be seen if the new actor taking on the role will follow a similar path, but Ahmed’s work is showing a promising future for the Harry Potter audiobook reboot.

The Harry Potter Franchise Isn’t Sticking to Its Guns

A new adaptation of the Harry Potter books raises the question of whether it will offer anything fresh, considering the original movies already covered the main storylines and themes well, even with some material left out. However, early signs, particularly the performance by Ahmed, suggest significant changes are coming to the Wizarding World. This approach might be similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which draws inspiration from its source comics but doesn’t rigidly follow them. HBO Max seems willing to take creative risks and make changes where needed, potentially even reimagining established characters like Snape.

Look, I don’t expect this new series to hit every single beat of the movies – or the books, for that matter. I doubt we’ll see Snape revealed as a Death Eater right away, and I’m pretty sure he won’t be gone before the final season. But honestly, that’s a good thing! They have a chance to really make this Snape – played by Essiedu – his own character, separate from Alan Rickman’s iconic portrayal. I get that some super-fans might be disappointed if it doesn’t follow the first movie exactly, but I think it’ll be great. It means we’ll have different versions of the story to enjoy, and as a fan, that’s what I want – more magic to get lost in whenever I’m craving a trip back to that world.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/list/5-most-hated-harry-potter-movie-moments/embed/#

Read More

2025-11-08 21:43