HBO is interested in casting I May Destroy You‘s Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape in its upcoming Harry Potter TV series, Deadline understands. However, no formal offer has been made to the actor nor has his team conversed with HBO suits about a potential deal.

In the movies, it was the late Alan Rickman who made the chilly yet somewhat sympathetic Snape famous. The character is expected to be the antagonist in the series.

Meanwhile, we hear that both Mark Strong and Mark Rylance are circling the role of Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts.

An HBO spokesperson said recently about such casting rumors: “We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.”

HBO is planning to have a diverse cast for the TV series. The long-running stage play...