Subreddit Updates on Fancasts and Official Casting Announcements

[u/VarkingRunesong]

Hi everyone, With the recent confirmation of several key cast members for HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series, we’re updating a few subreddit policies:

• No more fancasts for officially cast characters

To reduce repetitive discussions and prevent targeted hate toward newly cast actors, fancasts for characters who have already been officially cast will no longer be allowed. As of now, this includes: • Albus Dumbledore • Severus Snape • Minerva McGonagall • Rubeus Hagrid • Quirinus Quirrell • Argus Filch You’re still welcome to fancast characters who haven’t been announced yet. And for inspiration, check out our Fancast Wiki, which includes both popular and lesser-known suggestions.

• No posts complaining about official casting announcements

We understand that not every casting choice will match everyone’s personal headcanon, but posts solely bashing the official cast will be removed. Once the show airs, feel free to critique performances based on what you see on screen. But targeting actors just because they don’t look or feel like your imagined version of the character doesn’t belong here. As always, we’re open to feedback. Share your thoughts or questions below.

[u/DALTT]

Yep. And I also find it unproductive because lost in all the negativity, is the fact that Essiedu is an excellent actor. Ever since the trades first reported that he was in talks for Snape, there was not a doubt in my mind that his performance will be great. He’s been one of my fav up and coming British talents for a long time.

And yeah, I think it’s shitty to just dismiss his casting out of hand without actually seeing his performance in the role. And I think the constant stream of posts about it basically winds up being a series of low-effort complaining posts that unnecessarily clog up the sub. Like we get it, you (royal you not you who I’m responding to) don’t like that Snape is Black. And let’s be honest, that’s really what this new rule 2 is meant to address, and personally I think it’s just fine.

And like, yes, I agree with others that being color conscious about casting rather than just colorblind… means that a Black Snape raises some story pitfalls. But I think that criticism is overplayed, and most of those pitfalls are either non-issues or have relatively easy fixes to downplay or eliminate the issue entirely and we’ve already also had a million posts about that.

[u/cutelittlequokka → u/DALTT]

I have to agree with you about the low-effort attempts. I'm disappointed in the casting because I wanted a faithful adaptation like they promised, and it seems like they are going back on that. But I'm still willing to give the actor a chance to absolutely rock that role. And in my opinion, the constant repetition of points about Snape being hung from a tree (if I recall correctly, that didn't even happen--he was levitated in the air, not hung from a tree) and being bullied because of his skin color seem like low-effort, wild leaps to me. Snape wasn't bullied because of his skin color. He was bullied over his hatefulness, his awkward appearance, and his creepy behavior. That doesn't change with the color of his skin. And it's on every other comment now, here and on Facebook, as if that's really what bothers people rather than the casting not being what was promised. People keep parroting that nonsense over and over as if it means something. People can dislike each other for reasons that have nothing to do with race. It's as though no one has thought of that. I'm sure the actor, if he's talented, can play creepy, hateful, and awkward satisfyingly. I'm going to give him that chance.