US Edition
Published • loading... • Updated
Death Threats, Racism and a Decade-Long Gamble: Inside HBO's Harry Potter Revival
HBO deployed extensive security and trained cast on social media harassment after actor Paapa Essiedu received violent threats over his role as Severus Snape.
- HBO has implemented heightened security measures for the Harry Potter television reboot following death threats against cast members, which Network CEO Casey Bloys confirmed to Variety.
- Following his casting as Severus Snape, Ghanaian-English actor Paapa Essiedu reported being targeted by racist trolls on Instagram, including disturbing messages telling him, "Quit, or I'll murder you."
- Actor John Lithgow, cast as Albus Dumbledore, faced calls to quit over Rowling's views on trans rights but insisted he was "perfectly ready for collisions of opinion."
- Despite the controversy, HBO released the first official image of Dominic McLaughlin as the Boy Who Lived this week, with the series set for a 2027 release.
- Bloys noted that television allows the team to spend "more time with characters and story" than the films, while the studio anticipated challenges and provided cast training on social media.
Insights by Ground AI
14 Articles
14 Articles
HBO Boss Casey Bloys Says 'Harry Potter' Set Has 'Serious Security'
It’s been another crazy week for Casey Bloys. On Monday, the HBO and HBO Max chief jetted into London to press the flesh in advance of the streaming platform finally launching in the U.K. His visit came just days after he was spotted having lunch with Netflix boss Ted Sarandos in Hollywood,…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left2Leaning Right4Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution45% Right
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources lean Right
45% Right
L 22%
C 33%
R 45%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
