Former Harry Potter film star Jason Isaacs publicly criticised what he called “racist” online attacks against Paapa Essiedu, who has been cast as Severus Snape in HBO’s forthcoming television adaptation of the J.K. Rowling novels. Speaking during a panel at FanExpo Denver, Isaacs said Essiedu is “one of the best actors I’ve ever seen” and predicted detractors “will be swallowing their tongues” once the series airs. Essiedu, an Emmy-nominated actor known for HBO’s “I May Destroy You,” will succeed the late Alan Rickman in the pivotal role of Snape. The new series, which HBO plans to begin shooting this summer, will adapt each book across a full season and is tentatively scheduled to premiere in late 2026 or early 2027.