J.K. Rowling Addresses Calls To Fire Paapa Essiedu From HARRY POTTER Max TV Series

J.K. Rowling Addresses Calls To Fire Paapa Essiedu From HARRY POTTER Max TV Series

Fans have launched a campaign to remove Paapa Essiedu from the upcoming Max Harry Potter series due to his past public support for trans rights and they want J.K. Rowling to join the movement.

By MarkJulian - May 06, 2025 06:05 PM EST
Filed Under: Harry Potter
Source: SFFGazette.com

Fans of the iconic Harry Potter franchise are on the brink of a new chapter, as Warner Bros. Discovery officially greenlights a live-action TV series based on J.K. Rowling’s seven beloved novels.

Set to debut on Max, the ambitious project is planned to span several years, with each season devoted to faithfully adapting one book from the original saga.

Unlike the film adaptations, the series will take full advantage of television’s extended format, offering a deeper, more immersive dive into the intricate plots and magical world Rowling created.

Though a release date hasn’t been confirmed, Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO & Max Content, has emphasized the studio’s commitment to authenticity and storytelling true to the source material.

This new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have cherished for years,” Bloys said during the announcement. “With a devoted creative team, we’ll finally be able to explore the depth and detail of these beloved stories through the long-form storytelling that television makes possible.”

While excitement for the TV show is starting to build, one fan worry is centered around the involvement of the creator of the franchise.

Despite growing anticipation for the Harry Potter TV series, some fans worry about creator J.K. Rowling's executive producer role due to her controversial stance on transgender rights.

However, she's taking a somewhat surprisingly tolerant approach in her response to fan cries for Paapa Essiedu, the actor who portrays Snape in the upcoming Max series, to be fired over his previous support of transgender rights.

On social media, Rowling stated, "I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series, and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did. I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine."

Some fans are reportedly more upset by Paapa Essiedu, a Black actor, portraying a traditionally Caucasian character from the books. They are allegedly attempting to leverage J.K. Rowling's views on trans rights to have the author call for Essiedu's removal, but Rowling seems to be disregarding this tactic.

In addition to Essiedu's Snape, the Max series will also star John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as  Minerva McGonagall, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell, and Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch.

The roles of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger have yet to be cast.

 Francesca Gardiner (His Dark Materials, Succession) is serving as showrunner. Mark Mylod (Succession) is confirmed to be directing multiple episodes of the first season.

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Lisa89
Lisa89 - 5/6/2025, 6:25 PM
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TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/6/2025, 6:29 PM
I can’t believe JK Rowling is the rational one in this scenario , what a strange world we live in.

Personally , I am reserving judgement on the casting of Paapa Essiedeu as Snape…

I’m not familiar with him as an actor though I don’t mind the race change though I can see it being unnecessarily controversial due to certain character dynamics within the story such as James & the other Marauders bullying him etc.

I do think you won’t be able to replicate Alan Rickman’s iconic performance so best to go in a different (perhaps even more book accurate to an extent in terms of personality) direction with the character which seems to be the intent.



Vigor
Vigor - 5/6/2025, 7:46 PM
@TheVisionary25 - you know i don't mind the race change. But i also feel this is strategic. It will keep the show on the mouths of certain people on reddit/twitter/threads/here... and that keeps the show on mental rotation. The whole no news is bad news thing.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/6/2025, 7:48 PM
@Vigor - perhaps

I also wouldn’t be surprised if he auditioned for the character and they just liked him the best out of the ones that did
BellChi1ton
BellChi1ton - 5/6/2025, 8:09 PM
@TheVisionary25 - Yeah, I’m fine with the race change. I don’t think race is essential to Snape’s character. And, you’re right, those Harry Potter movies were very, very well casted. It’s gonna be very hard for a lot of the actors in this show to match or even be better than what we already got.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/6/2025, 8:14 PM
@BellChi1ton - agreed.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 5/6/2025, 6:29 PM
At least she is being diplomatic about it.
UncleHarm1
UncleHarm1 - 5/6/2025, 7:57 PM
@NinnesMBC - Someone needs to test her for polyjuice potion
LibraMatter
LibraMatter - 5/6/2025, 6:30 PM
As someone who doesn’t agree with some of her beliefs, I think that was well said and well done. Honestly, we have so much exposure to public figures for everyone’s own good.
Yellow
Yellow - 5/6/2025, 6:36 PM
I remember she cut one character from the Fantastic Beasts thing because they didn't agree so...sure, Jan
rkshuttleworth
rkshuttleworth - 5/7/2025, 3:20 PM
@Yellow - hi Karen
Pictilli
Pictilli - 5/6/2025, 6:39 PM
How about they fire him because he's yet another anti white race replacement of a white character?

I wonder if Rowling wouldn't fire someone for holding that opinion, but I doubt it.

Good for her for having the correct take on the transitioning/sex change question at least.
narrow290
narrow290 - 5/6/2025, 9:06 PM
@Pictilli - Save your tears sweetheart didn’t she actually create the character?
Pictilli
Pictilli - 5/6/2025, 9:37 PM
@narrow290 - doesn't mean she can't support the top-down anti white agenda. In fact, I wouldn't put it past her to issue some sort of editorialized apology or disclaimer at the beginning of new editions of her books for making the characters majority white in them.
BigPhilbowski
BigPhilbowski - 5/6/2025, 10:59 PM
@Pictilli - that you maga in disguise? Guess you needed a new account to touch on this since you outed yourself as racist. Stgu ya simpleton. Time to go look up some IP addresses
Pictilli
Pictilli - 5/6/2025, 11:12 PM
@BigPhilbowski - I am not a Trump guy, of that you can be assured. If you can't refute my argument, bug off. I've no interest in personal insults.
BaddestOptics
BaddestOptics - 5/6/2025, 11:55 PM
@Pictilli - oh no. Is mama TERF and the incel internet freaks fighting? Boo hoo 🤣🤣🤣
Yellow
Yellow - 5/7/2025, 6:27 AM
@Pictilli - You are all mad about a character for a show aimed for children
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 5/7/2025, 7:53 AM
@BigPhilbowski - @narrow290 @Pictilli
I do have a question though. If Snape was written as a black character, would it be OK if a white guy played him on screen? Not race baiting. Just never understood the argument.. Like personally I feel Idris Elba could correctly play Glinda in the Wizard of OZ... Also, I feel Gary Oldman would correctly portray Kunta Kinte... This is based completely on their acting abilities as they are personally 2 of my favorite actors.
So again, had Snape been written as a Black character, would there be this type of pushback if a white guy played the part? (just fyi no one will ever capture Alan Rickmans magic)
Pictilli
Pictilli - 5/7/2025, 7:54 AM
@Yellow - so what?
Pictilli
Pictilli - 5/7/2025, 7:58 AM
@AgentofSH1ELD - it wouldn't be okay because it isn't accurate. If that were to happen tho, there would be an even bigger pushback due to the anti white agenda, which is why casting a white person as a popular black character would never happen let alone even be considered in the first place.
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 5/7/2025, 8:15 AM
@Pictilli - So, it is considered accurate for a black guy to play a white character? It sounds like a double standard. So i'll ask again:
If a black character was portrayed as a white guy, is it ok?
If a white character was portrayed as a black guy, is it ok?

Its the same, so how would it not be accurate?
BigPhilbowski
BigPhilbowski - 5/7/2025, 8:26 AM
@AgentofSH1ELD - no there wouldn't be because we've seen that happen countless times in the past and there's silence from these people. Like you, my opinion is if they're good enough at acting I don't care what race they are compared to the source material when it comes to fictional characters unless it's crucial to who the character is. Snape being black doesn't change anything about his character whereas changing Tchalla to a white would drastically alter his entire character and backstory. Bit different if it's real like historical figures. The main example I use, and have been using to call out their hypocrisy is Neeson in Batman Begins. He's a white Irishman cast as a half Arab/half Chinese man. No pushback, no complaints, no cries of race swapping and they all praise it as a great movie. Yet will condemn an entire franchise or show etc over something like this Snape casting.
BigPhilbowski
BigPhilbowski - 5/7/2025, 8:27 AM
@Pictilli - except Liam Neeson played A half Arab half Chinese man and none of you complain about it.
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 5/7/2025, 8:41 AM
@BigPhilbowski - Hmm. thanks for the take.
How about Tilda Swinton as The Ancient one?
Matador
Matador - 5/7/2025, 8:45 AM
@AgentofSH1ELD - I think they should test that theory and see how that goes down. Then we can go back to them and say cry me a river.
BigPhilbowski
BigPhilbowski - 5/7/2025, 9:32 AM
@AgentofSH1ELD - personally I don't think they should have cast her. She's fine in the movie but they should have went with an Asian actor, preferably tibetan, but that was never gonna happen with china's influence. Don't care that the character was gender swapped as that wouldn't affect the character but I'm not a fan of erasing his origin of growing up in the himalayas, building his temple with the monks etc. The argument was they wanted stay as far from the old stereotypes he was portrayed as in the comics but they could have done that while still having the character played by an Asian actor or actress. But in saying that, he doesn't have much of a backstory and it's never fully explored in the comics but imo the idea that this celtic woman formed a centuries old tibetan order along with the monks who follow her doesn't make sense. I mean historically, it technically could work, as celts did make it to Asia. The book of Kells for example was made with lapus from the himalayas about 1000 years before the Ancient Ones origin is set. Basically it boils to her performance was fine I enjoyed it and don't have any real issues with it but I'd prefer the character to have been cast differently with his background unchanged if it was my choice. Now if the character had a rich background that was fully explored and really important to the character I'd say never change it.
Pictilli
Pictilli - 5/7/2025, 9:39 AM
@AgentofSH1ELD - I just said it isn't accurate so it wouldn't be okay.
Pictilli
Pictilli - 5/7/2025, 9:41 AM
@BigPhilbowski - Ra's AL Ghul is white, that's why no one complained.

Try a little harder with your bad faith argument next time...
Pictilli
Pictilli - 5/7/2025, 9:44 AM
@AgentofSH1ELD - the only time you will see a white actor play a nonwhite character today is if the nonwhite character is considered "racist"/harmful/negative to non-whites, while whites can be portrayed negatively in movies all the time, so yes, even Tilda Swinton's miscasting as The Ancient One is part of the anti white agenda or at least a politically correct agenda.
BigPhilbowski
BigPhilbowski - 5/7/2025, 9:51 AM
@Pictilli - no he most definitely is not. He's half Chinese and half Arab. There's literally a whole [frick]ing back story and history of his origin. That's a race swap but you don't care about that. Point proven. Another racist halfwit who only gets upset about a black person portraying a white character but not the other way around
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 5/7/2025, 10:27 AM
@BigPhilbowski - So, the point would be exactly. You have a strong feeling for a certain thing, whiles others either didnt know, or could care less. Its a pick and choose debate. Its ok for this but not this. Its not ok for this but for this it is.
Either way, no one wins if a character is either race or gender swapped (or both) because someone will always feel disrespected or indifferent.
So, that being said, is it easier to just stick to source material?
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 5/7/2025, 10:28 AM
@Pictilli - So historically accurate would be the preference as opposed to source material accurate?
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 5/7/2025, 10:30 AM
@BigPhilbowski - @Pictilli please dont argue or take it personally. Trying to get to the point of either yes or no. There cant be a gray area.
BigPhilbowski
BigPhilbowski - 5/7/2025, 11:01 AM
@AgentofSH1ELD - I have strong feelings if it's crucial to the character or their background. If it doesn't change the core character or story then it doesn't matter if they're race or gender swapped.
Pictilli
Pictilli - 5/7/2025, 11:24 AM
@BigPhilbowski - nope, he's white and always has been. He is drawn the same way as Bruce Wayne, same features, skin color, etc. Same for Talia AL Ghul.

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In fact, for years, Christopher Lee was the fan favorite to play Ra's al Ghul:

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https://cafans.b-cdn.net/images/Category_38733/subcat_79604/jTQgRtsp_0810221745041gpadd.JPG

Finally, even if Ra's was a black or Asian character race changed into a white person, it still doesn't come anywhere close to how often white characters are race replaced into nonwhite characters/actors.

Here's a list of some of the white characters who have  been race replaced, just recently:

Tim Drake
Daphne
Norman Osborn
Ned Leeds
Flash Thompson
Shaggy
Velma
A-Train
Louis de Pointe du Lac
Claudia (Interview With A Vampire)
Domino
Human Torch
Submariner
Iris West
Wally West
Bart Allen
Mary Jane
Little Orphan Annie
Batgirl
Batwoman
Jimmy Olsen
Kingpin
Lex Luthor
Moneypenny
Felix Leiter
Commissioner Gordon
Bruno Manheim
Aqualad
Nick Fury
The Little Mermaid
Snow White
Harvey Dent
Martian Manhunter’s John Jones identity
Starfire
Heimdall
Valkyrie
Catwoman
Black Adam
Cyclone
Hawkman
Hawkgirl
Hugo Strange
Perry White
Deadshot
Alicia Masters
Pete Ross
Emil Hamilton
Hogun
Electro
Baron Mordo
Calistoga
Slade aka Deathstroke
Manchester Black
Agent Jasper Sitwell
Zod
Gomez Addams
Alexander Hamilton
Peter Pan
Tinker Bell
Triss(Witcher Netflix)
Yennifer(Witcher Netflix)
Fringilla Vigo
Aquaman
Black Canary
Annabeth Chase
Grover Underwood
Beast Boy
Mazikeen & Amenadiel in ‘Lucifer’
April O’Neil
Bow(Netflix She-Ra)
Josie(Josie and the Pussycats)
Rip Cord(G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra)
Lana Lang
Cecile Horton(Flash CW)
Alice Monaghan(Hellboy)
Artemis of Bana-Mighdall(Wonder woman)
Firefist(Deadpool 2)
Andra(Masters of the universe)
Ravonna  Renslayer (Loki)
Ben Urich
Karate Kid
Flagsmasher
Marie/Clara (Nutcracker)
The Nutcracker
Herr Drosselmeyer
Jesus
Santa Claus
Cheaper By The Dozen remake
Sun baby in Teletubbies
Elektra
Kang The Conqueror
Wonder Man
Makkari (Eternals)
L (from Death Note)
Albert Wesker(Netflix)
Jill Valentine(Welcome to Raccoon City)
Angrboda(GOWR)
High Evolutionary (MCU)
Wizard Shazam
Shazam Family
Zeus
Hercules
Achilles
Rama-Tut
Immortus
Scarlet Centurion
Victor Timely
Sir Lancelot
Friar Tuck
Guinevere
Robert De Beaumont
King Solomon
Hannibal Barca
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
Margaret of Anjou
Joan of Arc
Oenomaus
Sir Bedivere
Achilles
Julius Caesar
Zeus
Red Death
Grim Reaper (MARVEL)
Kirsten McDuffie
Jarl Haakon (ruler of Norway)
Poison Ivy
Carrie Kelly
Roseland Walker
Tris Merigold
Anita Radcliffe
Isaac (Castlevania)
Ambrose Spellman
Elizabeth "Darling" Brown (Lady & The Tramp)
Cleopatra
Ann Boleyn
Queen Charlotte
Wicked Witch
Astrid Hofferson
King Richard III
Charlie (in Charlie & The Chocolate Factory)
The Tinkerer
Brian Marcos (Fast & Furious)
Clayface
The Thing
Sentry
Vicki Vale (Merry Little Batman)
Professor Ivo (COIE animated movie)
Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding (Shawshank Redemption)
Amanda McCoy
Chani (Dune)
The Equalizer
Lightning Lad
Lightning Lass
Amadeus Mozart
Bolivar Trask
Inspector Henserson (Superman)
Detective Arnold John Flass
Black Cat (Ultimates)
Jake from State Farm
Athena (Percy Jackson)
Man-At-Arms (He-Man)
Toy Man (Lois & Clark)
Harry Osborn
Curt Connors
Athena (Nolan)
Ram-Man (Masters Of The Universe)
Pictilli
Pictilli - 5/7/2025, 11:27 AM
@AgentofSH1ELD - It depends on if the source material is created to be anti white or not.

If a person is white in real life but you create a story in which they are not white so you can portray them as nonwhite and use it as a means to antagonize white people then no.
BigPhilbowski
BigPhilbowski - 5/7/2025, 11:50 AM
@Pictilli - oh if only we had source material to disprove everything you said. Oh we do. And hes half Chinese/ Half Arab and grew up in a tribe in North Africa. That's his official ethnicity according to DC and the comics. Sure some older comics drew him to look "white" but he isn't and never was white. Deny it as much as you want but you're wrong. And whoopy, Christopher Lee was favourite to play him at a time when Asians were routinely portrayed by white guys as well as black face being a thing. And your big long list of characters has only further proven your racism. Going out of your way to list them all and highlighting that it's a bad thing while denying his Asian/Arab ethnicity to justify him being played by a white guy. Your mask has well and truly slipped like the other clown last week.
Pictilli
Pictilli - 5/7/2025, 12:15 PM
@BigPhilbowski - a white person is any of the original peoples of Europe, Middle East, and North Africa. Despite whatever obscure retcon you want to rely on, Ra's was always white in the comics, and, even by your own definition, is still majority white. Sp yeah... Liam Neeson was great, and so was David Warner and every other white actor that voiced him in the past.

And my list just proves how ignorant you are to the reality of the situation.
krayzeman
krayzeman - 5/7/2025, 1:22 PM
@AgentofSH1ELD - oh here you go again. So how IS a black character supposed to be written? Name some characteristics for me. Also Kunte Kinte was a character based on real life events so the Oldman analogy definitely doesnt work
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