29
Credit: Inside the MagicHBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV series is already causing a whirlwind of controversy. Whether it’s the backlash J.K. Rowling is receiving for sharing her celebratory selfie following the U.K. Supreme Court’s ruling on the legal definition of a “woman,” or the casting, which so far includes six actors, there’s a storm brewing in the Wizarding World.
Putting the ongoing (and probably never-ending) Rowling controversy aside, however, many fans have also taken issue with HBO’s choice of actors.
Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead), who will be stepping into the half-giant boots of Hogwarts groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid, has been forced to disable the comments on his Instagram after being criticized by pro-trans fans for choosing to work alongside Rowling.
Meanwhile, John Lithgow (Dexter), the new Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, seems unfazed by the fact that Rowling is such a controversial figure.
But it’s the casting of Black actor Paapa Essiedu (Black Mirror) as Severus Snape, who was previously portrayed by the late Alan Rickman, that appears to be causing some of the most heated debate among fans, and it’s completely unrelated to the ongoing J.K. Rowling saga.
Essiedu, 34, also recently signed an open letter condemning the U.K. Supreme Court ruling. Rowling later took to X (formerly Twitter) to clear the air regarding his involvement with the series and whether he’ll be fired for his pro-trans stance, saying in her tweet:
“I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did. I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.”
I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did. I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine. pic.twitter.com/nKcAl3gcvO
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 5, 2025
Rowling’s tweet suggests that, despite rumors, she has little to do with casting in the series. Nevertheless, Essiedu’s casting and the backlash he’s getting reminds us of a similar Harry Potter recasting from several years ago, which involved the replacement of Emma Watson.
Long before she began stirring the cauldron on X (then Twitter) with her comments on gender identity, Rowling complicated her relationship with fans when she said that Hermione Granger may not be White in the books, saying that her ethnicity was never revealed.
This came after South African-British actress Noma Dumezweni’s casting as the character in the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2016) led to backlash from fans.
Related: The ‘Harry Potter’ Actor Who “Didn’t Give a Sh*t” About the Films
Whether or not Hermione will be portrayed as a person of color in the Harry Potter TV series, remains to be seen. However, it’s worth noting that since Dumezweni’s performance, Hermione has been played by non-White actors in all versions of Cursed Child.
Either way, there’s nothing wrong with diversifying the cast/characters, but there’s a vocal minority who will always have plenty to say about it.
Beyond Snape, there will likely be many other characters who will undergo changes. Previously, Warner Bros. has reportedly said that it will “a concerted effort” to diversify the cast.
It’s also worth noting that there may also be efforts to include LGBTQ+ representation in the series. After all, the open-world video game “Hogwarts Legacy” (2023) features the trans character Sirona Ryan, who’s played by trans actor Rebecca Root (Last Christmas).
Do you think Hermione Granger will be played by an actor of color in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series? Let us know in the comments down below!