I don’t think this is about racist opinions…every character is nearly identical, in every way, except Snape. Snape ended up being such a beloved character, and key to Harry’s survival, and is now distinctly different. This is not about hate for Papa E (a very good actor) but for the love of Snape and how that character unfolded. The physical portrayal of that character is just as important as the character’s role.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Just because a character is fictional, doesn’t mean their physical compatibility is irrelevant. Ron without red hair would have been a disaster. Likewise Hermione without bushy hair (and lord knows I criticized the movies for taming her hair over time).
Your response comes off as racist. If you said it affects Snape’s backstory creates a negative impact then that would make more sense your disagreement with the casting. In the books, Snape is bullied by Harry’s dad and having a white guy bully a Black guy on screen is not a good look, especially when the white guy’s response as to they he hates Snape is that “he simply exists” – big red flag there. Or how Snape gets hung upside down near a tree….Black men still get lynched aka hanged on trees. Or how Harry, a white boy, automatically dislikes Snape….the only Black and Person of Color so far at Hogwarts that we know of….for some fans they are worried about the racism that this casting choice continues to further.
Snape is one of the few characters in the books in fact that has his skin specifically described.
Ron, Hermione, Remus Lupin, Serius Black, all of the other kids at the school, even Harry himself, none of them ever have their skin described in any fashion.
Snape. Snape is the one character that is repeatedly described as having pale skin and greasy straight black hair.
It’s not just about talent. It is about appearance too, and those things matter to fans. It’s like if they decided to make Ron and his family not ginger. It just wouldn’t be the same. This is a deliberate part of white replacement and blacksploitation: casting a white character as black is about division and spite, not talent.
Leaving the race aspect aside (though, I feel it’s relevant in this instance… not because of any sort of negative feelings or opinions of ANY race, in any form), the fact that he’s never bothered to watch ANY of the movies, is completely inexcusable… it’s not your job to “reinvent” the character, SPECIFICALLY one of the most iconic, brilliantly portrayed, uniquely polarizing characters in the entirety of the HP Wizarding World. Bad form, HBO… BAD FORM!
I will say on thing, Snapes usage of “mudblood” (to Lily) and it’s racist meaning combined with his subsequent growth as a character (one of acceptance) will be more impactful as a black character.
Making Snape black would be fine, except that it could now turn his bullying by Potter’s dad and his white friends into ugly racism. That would give the character a legitimate reason for hating Harry. I bet they didn’t think of that. It would have been better if they had made Dumbledore black.
It’s White erasure, it’s done purely as anti White typical Weimar wokeism and the slob can’t act despite all the claims to the contrary.
Also it disrespects authorial intent. But then so does casting the mystery meat Hermione and scenery chewing nobody Lithgow as Dumbledore.
This is Rings of Power territory, can’t wait.
I wish people would actually “READ THE BOOKS”, Snape is described as having “Sallow Skin”. Sallow Skin is skin with a dull, yellowish, or “Brownish” complexion that lacks radiance. This New actor DOES meet this DESCRIPTION of Snape.
When everyone welcomes an Asian playing Nelson Mandela or a white person as Othello, then someone can tell race about not wanting to change the race of Snape. I will applaud when all three do occur but I do not want it only one way.
I don’t like Rowling’s anti trans ideas but I’ll probably still watch as I’ve always loved the stories. I don’t mind the skin color of the snape actor at all.
It’s too soon for a remake. The remake cast is a 95% unabashed doppelganger of the original cast, and the exception (Snape) is tokenist pandering to the jarringly-Hollywood fiction that every race (except whites) has been present in every place in every era of history.
This new series is driven by sheer profit motive. Aside from being happy for the excited young actors, I have no enthusiasm to see it. It all has the hallmarks of a cynical live-action reboot a la Disney plus negative replication artifacts: a caricature, not a re-imagining.
Let’s say it again louder for those in back: viewing audiences will more or less openly rebel against casting choices that not only contradict popular headcanon, but clash with the author’s own clear descriptions of a key character.
The books are too much a part of our cultural lore to just toss them aside in favor of a supposed ‘creative choice.’ People will see Snape-as-Black, rightly, as yet another overreach of moral preenery for the benefit of a very small segment of society which really couldn’t care less about the story, as long as it pokes a dirty thumb in JKR’s eye.
But surely we all know that Jo’s laughing right to the bank… no? It’s still her IP and her name on the licensing paycheck.
I’m really not happy about a black man in the role, because lets face it, the way that Snape is treated by everyone else, it is really hard NOT to view it through a frame of race now. Harry IMMEDIATELY distrusts Snape… oh, and Snape is the ONLY black teacher, but surely that has nothing to do with Harry’s distrust… right… If it makes it past this first season, we are eventually going to see Snape being hung from a tree… yeah, nothing problematic about hanging a black man from a tree…
If you were going to make anyone black, why would it be the character for whom it is going to be very difficult not to question if people’s actions are racist towards them?
I am tired of peopĺe thinking its racism to be upset about this casting. James bullied Snape because he was a slytherin, into the dark arts and friends with Lily. Now its going to look likke he is racist
It is not about racism, it is about the character Alan brought to life. Changing a character appearance after you grow to love (or hate) is hard to accept. Let’s make it about that and nothing else.
At the end of the day it is what it is. Paapa Essiedu Is a great actor, and I’m sure he will do a good job. I won’t be boycotting it or criticising anything unless the performance is poor. That said, there would be hell to pay, if a white actor was ever given a part that was closely associated previously with a black person. That’s where this “but he’s a great actor” falls down. It wouldn’t matter if it was Tom Hanks, if he played a role associated with a black man he’d be toast. So it is very much a one way street. I’m all for giving black actors more roles, but I’m not in favour of giving such roles where a character, fictional or not, has already been established. Aside from anything else the actor is in a position where their casting can be accused of being tokenism. Or they only got it to make up the numbers and tick boxes. That’s unfair on the actor. Give them new roles and cut the controversy. Paapa Essiedu could have been a new professor and created a new role and nobody would have blinked.
I have zero interest in watching this. A POC Snape makes this show a horrible decision. Him being a character of color changes everything from class bullying to races discrimination. This decision has divided the fans, nobody wanted this! Entertainment should be about bringing the story to life, not changing characters for no reason.
Garbage, its all gar age! You cannot remake Harry Potter its already as good as its goin to get! Why can people actually be creative anymore and make their own story. Stop remaking shit and just create something new! Idk maybe use your own ideas instead of someone else’s!
Comments for HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Confirms Changes to Snape After Fan Backlash
Gabriel Cogan
Two words: Absolute! Failure! Boycott the show!!! No viewers, no ratings, no Season 2
jordan belfort
Delete your HBO account and the message will be clear. A boycott simply isn’t enough.
Lady Vautour
I don’t think this is about racist opinions…every character is nearly identical, in every way, except Snape. Snape ended up being such a beloved character, and key to Harry’s survival, and is now distinctly different. This is not about hate for Papa E (a very good actor) but for the love of Snape and how that character unfolded. The physical portrayal of that character is just as important as the character’s role.
Marissa James
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Just because a character is fictional, doesn’t mean their physical compatibility is irrelevant. Ron without red hair would have been a disaster. Likewise Hermione without bushy hair (and lord knows I criticized the movies for taming her hair over time).
Cho
Your response comes off as racist. If you said it affects Snape’s backstory creates a negative impact then that would make more sense your disagreement with the casting. In the books, Snape is bullied by Harry’s dad and having a white guy bully a Black guy on screen is not a good look, especially when the white guy’s response as to they he hates Snape is that “he simply exists” – big red flag there. Or how Snape gets hung upside down near a tree….Black men still get lynched aka hanged on trees. Or how Harry, a white boy, automatically dislikes Snape….the only Black and Person of Color so far at Hogwarts that we know of….for some fans they are worried about the racism that this casting choice continues to further.
Sam
Snape is one of the few characters in the books in fact that has his skin specifically described.
Ron, Hermione, Remus Lupin, Serius Black, all of the other kids at the school, even Harry himself, none of them ever have their skin described in any fashion.
Snape. Snape is the one character that is repeatedly described as having pale skin and greasy straight black hair.
I don’t get it.
Tracy
I won’t be watching….
A
It’s not just about talent. It is about appearance too, and those things matter to fans. It’s like if they decided to make Ron and his family not ginger. It just wouldn’t be the same. This is a deliberate part of white replacement and blacksploitation: casting a white character as black is about division and spite, not talent.
Beau
Leaving the race aspect aside (though, I feel it’s relevant in this instance… not because of any sort of negative feelings or opinions of ANY race, in any form), the fact that he’s never bothered to watch ANY of the movies, is completely inexcusable… it’s not your job to “reinvent” the character, SPECIFICALLY one of the most iconic, brilliantly portrayed, uniquely polarizing characters in the entirety of the HP Wizarding World. Bad form, HBO… BAD FORM!
A
I will say on thing, Snapes usage of “mudblood” (to Lily) and it’s racist meaning combined with his subsequent growth as a character (one of acceptance) will be more impactful as a black character.
Shane Mann
Making Snape black would be fine, except that it could now turn his bullying by Potter’s dad and his white friends into ugly racism. That would give the character a legitimate reason for hating Harry. I bet they didn’t think of that. It would have been better if they had made Dumbledore black.
Epic Fantasy Gamemaster
It’s White erasure, it’s done purely as anti White typical Weimar wokeism and the slob can’t act despite all the claims to the contrary.
Also it disrespects authorial intent. But then so does casting the mystery meat Hermione and scenery chewing nobody Lithgow as Dumbledore.
This is Rings of Power territory, can’t wait.
Jon
I wish people would actually “READ THE BOOKS”, Snape is described as having “Sallow Skin”. Sallow Skin is skin with a dull, yellowish, or “Brownish” complexion that lacks radiance. This New actor DOES meet this DESCRIPTION of Snape.
Siempre
When everyone welcomes an Asian playing Nelson Mandela or a white person as Othello, then someone can tell race about not wanting to change the race of Snape. I will applaud when all three do occur but I do not want it only one way.
Brad
I don’t like Rowling’s anti trans ideas but I’ll probably still watch as I’ve always loved the stories. I don’t mind the skin color of the snape actor at all.
J Cline
It’s too soon for a remake. The remake cast is a 95% unabashed doppelganger of the original cast, and the exception (Snape) is tokenist pandering to the jarringly-Hollywood fiction that every race (except whites) has been present in every place in every era of history.
This new series is driven by sheer profit motive. Aside from being happy for the excited young actors, I have no enthusiasm to see it. It all has the hallmarks of a cynical live-action reboot a la Disney plus negative replication artifacts: a caricature, not a re-imagining.
Let’s say it again louder for those in back: viewing audiences will more or less openly rebel against casting choices that not only contradict popular headcanon, but clash with the author’s own clear descriptions of a key character.
The books are too much a part of our cultural lore to just toss them aside in favor of a supposed ‘creative choice.’ People will see Snape-as-Black, rightly, as yet another overreach of moral preenery for the benefit of a very small segment of society which really couldn’t care less about the story, as long as it pokes a dirty thumb in JKR’s eye.
But surely we all know that Jo’s laughing right to the bank… no? It’s still her IP and her name on the licensing paycheck.
Chris
Wow! Some YT people have lost their minds!
Michael
I’m really not happy about a black man in the role, because lets face it, the way that Snape is treated by everyone else, it is really hard NOT to view it through a frame of race now. Harry IMMEDIATELY distrusts Snape… oh, and Snape is the ONLY black teacher, but surely that has nothing to do with Harry’s distrust… right… If it makes it past this first season, we are eventually going to see Snape being hung from a tree… yeah, nothing problematic about hanging a black man from a tree…
If you were going to make anyone black, why would it be the character for whom it is going to be very difficult not to question if people’s actions are racist towards them?
Amber
I am tired of peopĺe thinking its racism to be upset about this casting. James bullied Snape because he was a slytherin, into the dark arts and friends with Lily. Now its going to look likke he is racist
Roger
It is not about racism, it is about the character Alan brought to life. Changing a character appearance after you grow to love (or hate) is hard to accept. Let’s make it about that and nothing else.
AlexH
At the end of the day it is what it is. Paapa Essiedu Is a great actor, and I’m sure he will do a good job. I won’t be boycotting it or criticising anything unless the performance is poor. That said, there would be hell to pay, if a white actor was ever given a part that was closely associated previously with a black person. That’s where this “but he’s a great actor” falls down. It wouldn’t matter if it was Tom Hanks, if he played a role associated with a black man he’d be toast. So it is very much a one way street. I’m all for giving black actors more roles, but I’m not in favour of giving such roles where a character, fictional or not, has already been established. Aside from anything else the actor is in a position where their casting can be accused of being tokenism. Or they only got it to make up the numbers and tick boxes. That’s unfair on the actor. Give them new roles and cut the controversy. Paapa Essiedu could have been a new professor and created a new role and nobody would have blinked.
Craig Stidham
I have zero interest in watching this. A POC Snape makes this show a horrible decision. Him being a character of color changes everything from class bullying to races discrimination. This decision has divided the fans, nobody wanted this! Entertainment should be about bringing the story to life, not changing characters for no reason.
Britany
Garbage, its all gar age! You cannot remake Harry Potter its already as good as its goin to get! Why can people actually be creative anymore and make their own story. Stop remaking shit and just create something new! Idk maybe use your own ideas instead of someone else’s!