Even before the first spell is cast, the Harry Potter reboot is facing a grim challenge: racism aimed at Paapa Essiedu, the newly cast Severus Snape. But fans aren't the only ones speaking out.
Jason Isaacs, known for his iconic portrayal of Lucius Malfoy, has powerfully intervened, refusing to let the online mob dictate the narrative around this pivotal character.
What Did Jason Isaacs Tell Haters About Paapa Essiedu's Harry Potter Casting?
While the mere thought of a reboot for the franchise is bad enough, it's worse when actors hired for their talent face the same backlash for no reason. In this case, fans are not convinced that hiring a Black man to play Severus Snape is a good idea.
Upon hearing news of this, the Harry Potter alum Jason Isaacs called out racist Potterhead fans during an interview with Collider at Fans Expo.
"Paapa Essiedu is one of the best actors I've ever seen in my life. I've seen some people online who are being rude about him. What they're being is racist," Isaacs said, adding that all of the new cast for the reboot are "amazing."
"They will be swallowing their tongues, hopefully — you know, their digital tongues — when they see what [Paapa] does on screen," Isaacs continued.
This isn't the White Lotus star's first time defending the upcoming reboot. He had previously applauded the new actor, Johnny Flynn, to replace him as Lucius Malfoy in the anticipated series.
"A fantastic actor, a lovely man and irritatingly, a rather brilliant musician too," Isaacs wrote on X about Flynn, whom he starred with in the 2021 historical war drama Operation Mincemeat, "Couldn't have handed the snake-topped baton on to anyone better. Just please don't make him sing..."
What Else Have Fans Said About Paapa's Cast as the New Snape?
While Isaacs' words ring true for fans who refuse to believe in Paapa's capability as a versatile actor, some fans would argue that their criticisms lie in book accuracy rather than racism.
One fan noted that turning Professor Snape into a different race could mean delivering a darker tone from Harry Potter's point of view, given that Harry has always suspected Snape has been out to get him ever since he stepped into Hogwarts.
Let's not forget the constant bullying Snape received from Harry Potter's father, too.
That said, it would be wiser to give Paapa and the new Harry Potter production team the benefit of the doubt, assuming they could potentially improve the narrative once it receives its streaming release.
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