HBO CEO Casey Bloys has confirmed that the upcoming ‘Harry Potter’ TV series is operating with a “serious security team,” after actor Paapa Essiedu, who plays Professor Snape, received ongoing death threats.

Essiedu revealed that he was sent racist abuse following the casting announcement. Some of the messages included threats such as “Quit or I’ll murder you” and “I’m going to come to your house and kill you.”

Essiedu, 35, was announced for the role last April, sparking backlash from some online critics and audiences who argued that the character—originally portrayed as white—should not be recast in this way.

Bloys acknowledged the intensity of fan reactions tied to major franchises. He explained that large-scale productions like this often attract strong opinions, which can sometimes escalate into more troubling behavior.

“With all actors on any kind of big IP shows — and this is obviously one of those where you’ve got, you know, passionate fans, people with a lot of opinions — it can get scary in places,” Bloys said. “So for any show like that, we anticipated it and tried to have training, you know, best practices in terms of social media and how to handle it. And obviously, we’ve got a serious security team. So unfortunately, it was something that we thought might happen and we just try to be as careful as we can.”

Bloys also addressed casting rumors surrounding the show’s main antagonist. Despite speculation linking Tilda Swinton to the role of Voldemort, he confirmed that the character has not yet been cast. Meanwhile, Cillian Murphy has publicly denied reports suggesting he would take on the part.

Essiedu has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of the threats. While he said he does not genuinely expect them to be carried out—adding that such a statement might “age badly”—he emphasized that no one should face that kind of hostility simply for doing their job.

“Many people put their lives on the line in their work,” he said. “I’m playing a wizard in Harry Potter. And I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t affect me emotionally.”

Around the time his casting was announced, Essiedu also joined hundreds of film and television professionals in signing a letter urging stronger action on trans rights within the industry.

Author J. K. Rowling, who has faced ongoing criticism over her comments on gender identity in recent years, was reportedly unbothered by Essiedu’s involvement in the letter. According to an unnamed source cited by MailOnline, Rowling would not consider intervening in his casting despite her active role in the project.

Production on the ‘Harry Potter’ series is currently underway, with a premiere planned for 2027. Essiedu has committed to the show for a decade-long run.

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