Harry Potter star Paapa Essiedu says he's faced death threats since being cast as Snape in the new TV series

Harry Potter star Paapa Essiedu has said that he's faced death threats since being cast as Severus Snape in the new TV series.

The actor, 35, is currently filming the HBO series in Watford ahead of its 2027 release and has now opened up about the racist abuse he has had to endure.

He explained in a new interview how the trolls believe a black man should not play a fictional wizard and have told him: 'Quit or I'll murder you'.

The role was previously taken on by Alan Rickman in the films which starred Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger.

He told The Sunday Times: 'The reality is that if I look at Instagram I will see somebody saying, 'I'm going to come to your house and kill you. Nobody should have to encounter this for doing their job. 

'Many people put their lives on the line in their work. I'm playing a wizard in Harry Potter. And I'd be lying if I said it doesn't affect me emotionally. But the abuse fuels me.

'And makes me more passionate about making this character my own, because I think of how I felt as a kid. I would imagine myself at Hogwarts on broomsticks, and the idea that a kid like me can see themselves represented in that world? That's motivation to not be intimidated.'

He added that he hasn't actually reported any of the messages as it wouldn't made him feel any better to see anyone punished for it. 

Paapa also spoke about growing up and going to a school in east London where 'racism, misogyny, homophobia were rife.'

The interview also touched upon his support for trans rights and his contrasting gender views to Harry Potter mastermind J.K Rowling.

Last year he signed an open letter that challenged the Supreme Court's decision that 'woman' and 'sex' refer only to a biological woman and biological sex - a ruling Rowling openly celebrated.

After there were calls to sack him from the role of Snape following his signing but he says he doesn't regret sharing his point of view as 'artists in the trans community have a right to be treated with dignity'.

It comes after just this week John Lithgow revealed he almost backed out of playing Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series after facing extreme backlash from fans and former co-stars.

After it was announced the American actor, 80, would be taking on the role last October, he was quickly met by backlash from his fans - calling for him to walk away from the project over Rowling's views on trans rights. 

And John's non-binary former Jimpa co-star Aud Mason-Hyde last month branded his casting in the series 'hurtful and difficult'.

Now, John has revealed the backlash 'stung' and made him consider pulling out of the series during a new interview with The New York Times. 

John went on to insist he does not agree with JK's views on trans rights and in a further swipe to the author said the story of Harry Potter is 'clearly on the side of the angels, against intolerance and bigotry'.

JK has faced intense criticism in recent years for her gender critical views, including from several stars of the Harry Potter films, but has denied being transphobic - despite previously said she would 'happily' go to jail for misgendering a trans person. 

Actor John will join a star-studded cast for the new HBO TV adaptation of the popular franchise, which will make its debut on screens nearly 15 years after the last film. 

While he has decided to pursue the role, John added that he knows 'every interview I will ever do for the rest of my life this will come up'. 

In the wake of the announcement, John revealed that a friend with a trans child sent him a link to an article entitled: 'An open letter to John Lithgow: Please walk away from Harry Potter' - something he admitted made him feel 'uncomfortable'. 

John also addressed the backlash last month as he swiped at the author's 'ironic and inexplicable' views on trans women - and insisted she's 'not really involved in series at all'.

JK, 60, is serving as an executive producer on the new TV series, which also stars Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. 

Quizzed about his decision to join the TV show, which is due for release in 2027, despite criticism from fans, actor John admitted it was a 'hard' one to make.

He told Variety that while he took the subject of Rowling's anti-trans views 'extremely seriously', he was 'perfectly ready for collisions of opinion' and 'understands' that not everyone will support his choice. 

John said: 'She has created this amazing canon for young people, and it has jumped into the consciousness of the society, it's about good versus evil, kindness versus cruelty.

'I find her views ironic and inexplicable.

'It upsets me when people are opposed to me having anything to do with this. But in 'Potter' canon, you see no trace of transphobic sensitivity.'

The actor also detailed that he had never met JK and that, despite her contributions to the HBO show, she was 'not really involved in its production'. 

Instead he heaped praise on the production staff as 'remarkable', as he concluded: 'It made me uncomfortable and unhappy that people insisted I walk away from the job. I chose not to do that.'

Days after this interview, John's Jimpa co-star Aud, who is non-binary, shared their disappointment at his casting.