HBO is Making Severus Snape Black. Is This Woke or A Win?

The upcoming Harry Potter series has cast Paapa Essiedu as Professor Snape, and it’s stirring up a storm. Is this a bold step toward inclusivity or a forced detour from the books? As a lifelong fan who grew up waiting for midnight book releases and rewatching the movies with family, I dig into why this casting feels off. Snape’s “pale, pallid, sallow-skinned” description in the books clashes with this choice—yet some argue his race was never specified. I get the appeal of diverse casting (and it’s cool to see Paapa thriving!), but this feels like HBO’s diversity agenda trumping the story’s authenticity. From adding unintended racial dynamics to James Potter’s bullying to my bigger frustration with art being used to push modern narratives, I explain why this matters to fans who cherish the wizarding world as it was.

Should fantasy stay true to its roots, or evolve with the times? Let’s talk about it in the comments!