Harry Potter TV show gets 'serious security team' as stars face death threats

The mega-budget HBO remake of Harry Potter has already been rocked by backlash after Snape actor Paapa Essiedu was targeted by racist trolls over his casting

Kate Nelson and Tom Hutchison Associate Editor

14:49, 25 Mar 2026Updated 14:50, 25 Mar 2026

The Harry Potter TV reboot is coming to HBO

Harry Potters HBO TV reboot is on high alert - with bosses drafting in a serious security team after stars were hit with chilling death threats.

The mega-budget remake has already been rocked by backlash after Snape actor Paapa Essiedu was targeted by racist trolls over his casting. Show chief Casey Bloys admitted things have turned scary because some crackpots take it too far.

He said: This is obviously one of those where youve got, you know, passionate fans, people with a lot of opinions. It can get scary in places.

So for any show like that, we anticipated it and tried to have training and best practices in terms of social media and how to handle it.

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Paapa Essiedu has faced death threats(Image: Getty Images)

And obviously weve got a serious security team. Unfortunately, it was something that we thought might happen and we just try to be as careful as we can.

Actor Paapa revealed the vile abuse hes faced, including messages telling him: Quit, or Ill murder you.

He added: The reality is that if I look at Instagram I will see somebody saying, Im going to come to your house and kill you.

Nobody should have to encounter this for doing their job.

Other fans have turned nasty over J.K. Rowlings outspoken views on the trans debate.

Despite the drama, bosses had no trouble signing big-name actors for a decade-long run covering all seven books.

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JK Rowling's trans views have also sparked controversy(Image: Getty Images)

The HBO chief added: We didnt really have any issues with that.

We havent seen many people say, Well, I dont want to do that, because its going to be too long.

Actor John Lithgow, 80, who plays Albus Dumbledore, admitted the storm around the show stung and made him consider quitting.

He faced calls to walk away over JK Rowlings views on trans rights but insisted he was perfectly ready for collisions of opinion.

The author, who serves as an executive producer, has been at the centre of fierce debate in recent years over her gender-critical stance.

But Lithgow defended the telly series, saying the Potter world is on the side of the angels, against intolerance and bigotry.

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The big-budget TV series will hit screens in 2027, nearly 15 years after the final film.

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