Jason Isaacs has sparked a fiery debate among Harry Potter fans after he launched a fierce defence of Paapa Essiedu’s casting as Severus Snape in HBO’s upcoming television series.
The casting news was met with backlash following its announcement earlier this year, with Isaacs directly calling critics “racist” for their negative reactions.
The actor, who portrayed Lucius Malfoy in the original film franchise, spoke out during a panel at FanExpo Denver over the weekend.
“Paapa Essiedu is one of the best actors I’ve ever seen in my life,” Isaacs said. “I’ve seen some people online who are being rude about him. What they’re being is racist.”
The 62-year-old actor’s comments come amid backlash against the casting of Essiedu, who will take on the role made famous by the late Alan Rickman in the films.
Isaacs praised the entire cast of the new series, stating: “All the cast of the new Harry Potter TV series are amazing.”
Essiedu, 35, is known for his Emmy-nominated performance in I May Destroy You, as well as roles in Gangs of London and The Lazarus Project.
The actor’s casting as the potions professor has sparked criticism ranging from complaints about his physical appearance not matching the character’s description in JK Rowling’s books to suggestions that Snape being Black would alter story dynamics.
Some critics have argued that the casting changes elements of Snape’s backstory, particularly his experiences of being bullied at school by Harry’s father and friends, and his unrequited love for Harry’s mother.
A similar backlash occurred when a Black actress was cast as Hermione in the stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
However, others have suggested the casting could bring new dimensions to Snape’s character, potentially strengthening the overall narrative.
Isaacs predicted that critics would regret their harsh words once they witness Essiedu’s performance on screen.
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“They will be swallowing their tongues, hopefully — you know, their digital tongues — when they see what [Paapa] does on screen,” he told the FanExpo Denver audience.
The White Lotus star expressed enthusiasm for the HBO adaptation, explaining that it would allow more time to explore Rowling’s source material.
“The show is being made by the same people who made the films, and they’re just taking the time to make each book into a whole season — and it’s going to be great,” Isaacs said.
Isaacs’ quotes have sparked a passionate reaction from the fandom, with several taking exception to being branded “racist” for suggesting the TV show is veering away from its source material. Others have claimed the casting adheres to “Hollywood’s woke agenda” and accused Isaacs of “gaslighting” for raising their concerns.
Reacting to the US publication Variety which published Isaacs’ quotes on Monday evening, one X user raged: “It’s racist to give black people lazy race swaps and hand me downs instead of investing in already established black characters or creating new ones.”
“No one is arguing about his talent or value,” a second fumed. “It’s a casting made for woke reasons that ruins the immersion and the meaning of the original story. Stop gaslighting people.”
A third also hit out: “He could be the best actor in the world with 30 of the best acting awards in history, but he just don’t have the description of Snape of the books. And the producers says it would be 100% adaptation OF THE BOOKS!”
Another complaint read: “The issue is because of Hollywood’s unwavering woke agenda. They do this all the time. Unfortunately, now even in cases in which an actor does get a part based on talent, fans are now predisposed toward thinking that it was due to race. Jason Isaacs seems to be a solid dude, and I hope at the end of the day, Paapa does a good job.”
Meanwhile, a fifth diplomatically stated: “Fans have every right to be upset when a character like Snape who’s inherently white in both source and symbolism, gets lazily race-swapped by execs more interested in forcing their own personal ideologies over respecting the material and its fans!
“But let’s be CRYSTAL clear: it is NOT nor will it EVER BE okay to take those frustrations out on the actors! These actors are merely playing a part and sometimes, someone like Paapa gets cast simply because they’re that gifted at doing their JOB not because the color of their skin is the right shade. Grow the f*** up.”
Some echoed Isaacs’ stance, however, with one Harry Potter fan arguing: “He was cast because he’s a very talented actor. There’s absolutely no reason to believe Snape being black will ruin the immersion and the meaning of the story.” (Sic)
Essiedu’s casting has also raised questions about his relationship with series producer JK Rowling, given their opposing views on transgender rights.
The actor was among hundreds of film industry professionals who signed an open letter in May condemning a UK Supreme Court ruling that transgender women are not legally considered women.
Rowling, who celebrated the ruling, addressed speculation about potential conflict over Essiedu’s casting.
“I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did,” Rowling wrote on X. “I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.”
The series has already announced several other cast members, including John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.
The HBO adaptation is expected to begin filming this summer at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in Hertfordshire, with a planned debut in late 2026 or early 2027.
