Wahala dey for wizarding world as Paapa Essiedu, di actor wey go play Severus Snape for HBO new Harry Potter series, don receive death threats and racist abuse since dem announce am for di role. Di man yarn say e don see messages wey dey tell am to “quit or I’ll murder you” for social media.
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Essiedu talk dis matter for USA Today interview. E say even if e just dey scroll Instagram, e fit see person wey dey write say dem go come kill am for house. Di actor wey go take over from Alan Rickman, wey play Snape for di original eight films, say e dey hope say e go safe, but e add say “nobody should have to encounter this for doing their job.”
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Despite all dis wahala, Essiedu say di abuse dey fuel am more. E talk say representation matter to am well-well, and e remember how e dey imagine self for Hogwarts as pikin. Now, e see di casting as chance for others to feel included for dat world. E even say e no report di threats, because e believe say punish people no go bring am peace.
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Support don come from inside di franchise sef. Jason Isaacs, wey play Lucius Malfoy for di original films, defend di casting and call out di criticism directly. E talk say those wey dey attack Essiedu online na “being racist.” Meanwhile, di whole HBO series don already face scrutiny because of author J.K. Rowling involvement and ongoing debates over her public statements on trans rights.
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Essiedu don voice support for trans community, talk say artists “have a right to be treated with dignity and should be able to work without being intimidated.” Di new series go retell di original books with fresh cast, including Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
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For another news, Harry Potter Season 2 fit dey closer than we think. Even though HBO CEO and Chairman Casey Bloys don talk before say seasons no go fit dey release annually because of production issues, e don drop new hint say gap no go too much.
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Bloys talk for interview with The Times of London say, “Our goal is to not have a huge gap, you know, especially because the kids are growing. It’s not going to be an annual; the show is too big and too massive. But … they’re writing the season two now.”
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Season 1 wey dem title Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone go premiere on HBO on Christmas 2026. If writing for Season 2 finish soon, we fit expect filming to begin dis year. And if everything go well, Harry Potter Season 2 fit land for end of 2027.
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Meanwhile, former Harry Potter actors dey show support to di new cast. Tom Felton, wey play Draco Malfoy for di original films, don send word to Lox Pratt, di young actor wey go take over di role for HBO series. Felton talk for Happy Sad Confused podcast say e give Pratt him phone number and address, tell am say, “Have as much fun as possible. Take as many pictures as you can. Steal as many props as you can.”
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Daniel Radcliffe don write letter to Dominic McLaughlin, di new Harry Potter, and Rupert Grint don reach out to Alastair Stout, di new Ron Weasley. Both of dem wish di young actors best of luck and better experience than dem get.
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Felton, wey dey currently play older Draco for Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, still dey marvel at how di franchise dey grow. E talk say e never know say him way of saying “Potter” go become iconic meme. E say di pronunciation come from how him three older brothers dey call am names like “maggot” and “runt.”
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Di actor add say e dey “thrilled that the Wizarding World is thriving” and none of dem expect say people go still dey interested like dis after films finish. With season 1 dey come Christmas and season 2 dey write now, di magic dey continue for new generation.
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