Harry Potter HBO Snape casting may have already changed

Last month saw Paapa Essiedu become the first actor to be linked to the upcoming HBO Harry Potter reboot but a recent discovery reveals a potential problem.

The casting list for the HBO Harry Potter reboot still remains a mystery as, despite rumours and reports, we are still none the wiser as to who will officially be taking on the iconic roles.

Go back to where it all began with the trailer for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone below!

Let’s face it, they will have big shoes to fill but last month saw British actor Paapa Essiedu revealed to be taking on the role of Severus Snape, marking the first actor to do it since the late Alan Rickman.

Best known for his roles in Gangs of London and I May Destroy You, Essiedu is also no stranger to performing on-stage in the West End.

However, his upcoming docket has left Reddit user aryime concerned about his Snape role.

“I think there was a withdrawal in one of the names considered for the new cast,” they shared to r/HarryPotteronHBO.

“So I was browsing the internet and just looking for new information about the series and I found out that Paapa Essiedu is doing a new play All My Sons in the West End. And that caught my attention obviously because I was like, 'Hey but isn't that Snape?' We know that the series will start filming in August of this year but his new play will be performing from November 14, 2025 to February 7, 2026.”

It does raise some questions indeed but HBO has yet to redact his role in the Harry Potter reboot so it seems as though he will be juggling the two jobs.

However, one fellow user seemingly had all the answers, saying: “HBO never officially announced him as Snape so it’s certainly possible that leak was inaccurate or someone changed their mind. Supposedly there were issues with the contracts for some adult roles. If he is indeed Snape, his character isn’t in every single scene. Outside the golden trio, most roles won’t need to be there the entire time of filming.”

We will find out if Essiedu takes on the role of Snape when filming for the highly-anticipated reboot begins later this year.