Severus Snape is Black now...

Let me tell you why this is a bad idea.

First thing is first. If you are about to read this blog post and then respond with “OMG, Carrow! SPOILERS!!” please go away. I will be talking about elements within the Harry Potter series that would require you to read all of the books and not skim through Wikipedia. This series is 17 years old at the time of my posting this—you’ve had ample time to read it.

Every time a new Harry Potter novel was released, my British family would gift it to me. I would spend the entire day rereading the whole series up until that point. When I joined the military, I carried that tradition with me—whenever a new book came out, I’d be camped outside the BX on base with other military folks and dependents at 4am, all eagerly waiting to get our copy.

I grew up with this series. I love it. And I’m also not afraid to point out some of the weirdness in it. Behind me, I have the first edition releases, and I’m not afraid to cite them. Normally, I don’t comment on Harry Potter events because I’ve noticed that activists and the media often weaponize the story against people they want to label as bigots, when in reality, many of them are just concerned fans who genuinely love the Wizarding World and its characters.

But this shit with Snape is wack, yo. I gotta talk about it. Spanning seven books, eight movies, spin-offs, and a dedicated theme park, the wizarding world has deeply ingrained itself into the childhoods of millions. So, when HBO announced a reboot of the series with a new cast, it was bound to spark discussion. Casting changes, especially those that alter key character attributes, have reignited debates about authorial intent, audience investment, and the psychology behind why people care so deeply about fictional characters.

The “His Race Was Never Stated” Argument—Fact or Fiction?

A common defense for changing the race of characters in adaptations is the claim that their ethnicity was never explicitly mentioned. This argument has been used in multiple adaptations beyond Harry Potter, such as The Little Mermaid and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, where character racial changes sparked similar discourse. While some audiences welcome these changes as steps toward broader representation, others push back, citing concerns about fidelity to the original source material. The level of resistance or acceptance often depends on how well the adaptation integrates these changes without disrupting the narrative's established world-building and themes. This argument has surfaced in response to HBO’s Harry Potter casting decisions, with some insisting that the books never explicitly identified Snape as White. However, this is factually incorrect. While the books do not say “Snape is a White man,” they do describe him as “pale” on multiple occasions. In Western literary conventions, particularly in British writing, describing a character as pale typically implies a Caucasian complexion unless otherwise specified.

This isn’t a matter of personal interpretation—it’s a textual reality. While adaptations have the freedom to make changes, presenting the idea that Harry’s racial identity was always ambiguous is revisionist. It dismisses the fact that the original books had specific descriptions that guided readers' visualizations of the characters.

The Issue with Changing Snape’s Race

One of the more complex changes rumored in the upcoming adaptation is the racial shift of Severus Snape. While Snape’s core personality—his bitterness, his tragic love story, and his morally gray nature—remains, changing his race introduces an unintended consequence: altering the context of his childhood bullying by James Potter and the Marauders.

The relationship between Snape and James is one of the most critical dynamics in Harry Potter, as it serves as a reflection of deeper themes like redemption, moral complexity, and the consequences of past actions. Snape’s enduring resentment towards James is not simply about schoolyard bullying—it underscores his internal struggle between love and hatred, and how unresolved trauma can shape a person’s entire identity. The contrast between James’ youthful arrogance and Snape’s bitterness later in life highlights the idea that people can grow, change, and seek redemption, a theme echoed in Harry’s eventual decision to name his son after both Snape and James. Altering this dynamic, especially through significant changes in Snape’s background, risks diminishing the impact of these layered themes that give the story much of its emotional depth. James and his friends bullied Snape mercilessly, an act that played a major role in shaping Snape’s bitterness and eventual allegiance to Voldemort. If Snape is portrayed as a person of color, this historical context takes on a completely different tone—one that shifts from childhood rivalry and harassment to something with racial connotations. Even if this was not the intention of the casting, audiences will inevitably read into it.

This is not about gatekeeping characters based on race but about narrative coherence. The Harry Potter story is deeply entrenched in British culture, history, and social class dynamics. Making significant changes to a character like Snape without considering the implications of how he was treated by the privileged, popular, wealthy James Potter creates a ripple effect that distorts key relationships and themes within the story.

Why “It’s Not That Big of a Deal” is Dismissive and Ignorant

One of the most common counterarguments against concerns over the casting is, “It’s not that big of a deal.” This phrase is dismissive at best and ignorant at worst. It disregards the fact that fans who have invested decades of their lives into this world are emotionally tied to these characters. Saying it “doesn’t matter” ignores that for many people, Harry Potter was a foundational part of their childhood, a story that shaped their morals, sense of belonging, and personal growth.

Moreover, adaptations are not independent works. They exist in relation to their source material, which means the integrity of the original text should be respected. Fans are not wrong to be invested in these details. They care because these characters and their journeys mean something to them, and any major change can feel like a betrayal of the original vision they fell in love with.

The Psychology of Why People Care About Fictional Characters

Why do people react so strongly to changes in their favorite stories? Why does it feel personal when an adaptation alters a beloved character?

The answer lies in psychology. Human brains are wired to form attachments, not just to real people but to fictional characters as well. Studies in psychology and neuroscience, such as those examining parasocial relationships, have shown that our brains process fictional characters similarly to how we process real-life friends and family members. For example, research by Dr. Jennifer Barnes at the University of Oklahoma highlights how people experience genuine emotions, including grief, when a favorite character dies or a beloved story ends. This attachment can be seen in fandoms, where individuals create art, write fanfiction, and even revisit a story repeatedly for comfort. The emotional investment in fictional characters is not a passive experience but an active engagement, reinforcing why changes to beloved characters can feel deeply personal and even upsetting. This phenomenon, known as parasocial relationships, explains why audiences feel a deep emotional connection to characters they’ve spent years with. To the brain, these characters are not just momentary distractions; they are companions in our personal journeys.

When a franchise like Harry Potter introduces us to characters like Harry, Hermione, and Snape, our minds process them as familiar entities, much like a friend or family member. Their struggles, triumphs, and growth become interwoven with our own experiences. This connection is not accidental—it is the intended function of well-crafted media. Stories that successfully create these attachments ensure brand loyalty, leading audiences to return time and time again, whether through book rereads, film marathons, or merchandise purchases.

When a character undergoes a drastic change in an adaptation, it can feel as though the person we knew has been rewritten, as if a close friend has been replaced by a stranger. It’s not just a surface-level complaint about appearance; it’s a deeper psychological response to what feels like an intrusion upon something personal and meaningful.

The Importance of Faithful Adaptation

This is not to say that adaptations cannot or should not change things. However, alterations should be made with a deep understanding of the material and the reasons why fans care. Changes that fundamentally shift the meaning of characters and their relationships risk alienating the very audience that made the franchise successful in the first place.

If HBO’s new adaptation intends to be the definitive Harry Potter experience for a new generation, it should do so with an awareness of the emotional weight these characters carry. One way to achieve this balance is by incorporating diversity in roles where racial identity is not central to the character’s narrative arc, such as expanding representation among background characters, faculty members, or entirely new additions to the Hogwarts universe. Another approach is maintaining the core visual and thematic identity of major characters while ensuring diverse storytelling in world-building, highlighting different magical cultures and perspectives within the wizarding world. By respecting the legacy of the original characters while embracing organic representation, HBO can create an adaptation that appeals to both longtime fans and new audiences without compromising the integrity of the story. Diversity in media is important, but it should not come at the cost of narrative coherence. Representation should be thoughtfully integrated rather than retroactively imposed in a way that disregards existing character dynamics.

That’s a Wrap

Stories are more than just entertainment; they are cultural touchstones that shape identities, relationships, and personal growth. Dismissing concerns about changes to beloved characters as “not a big deal” fails to acknowledge the psychological and emotional bonds people form with fiction and often say by those who lack the same investment as dedicated fans.

Fans are allowed to question, critique, and discuss these changes without being labeled as reactionary or resistant to diversity. If HBO wishes to win over both new audiences and longtime fans, it should strive to create an adaptation that respects the source material while ensuring that its changes serve the narrative rather than disrupt it. After all, a story as beloved as Harry Potter deserves nothing less than a faithful and thoughtful retelling.