TheHarry Potterremake should dig deeper into the most interesting part of Severus Snape’s backstory — andit’s not his connection to Lily Potter or the Marauders. Snape is one of the most important characters intheHarry Potterbooks, which is why it’s so crucial for HBO’s upcoming remake to get his portrayal right. Fortunately, theHarry PotterTV show’s Snape casting rumorsbode well, as Paapa Essiedu is a promising candidate for the role. Bringing him on board would alsofix a Marauder movie complaint.
But theupcomingHarry PotterTV showshouldn’t just be concerned with nailing the characters' book depictions; it should also strive to dig deeper into the source material’s main and supporting cast. A TV medium offers more room to expand on the Wizarding World andHarry Potter’s original story. While too many deviations from the books would be unwelcome, the extended runtime gives the creators a chance to explore existing characters and storylines in more depth. This includes Snape, andthere’s one part of his backstory the HBO series should show more of.
The Most Interesting Part Of Snape’s Backstory Isn’t His Connection To The Marauders
Part of what makes Snape such an interesting character in theHarry Potterbooks is that he isn’t exactly a villain — but he also isn’t someone who makes a great first impression, as he has a deep-seated hatred for Harry. This is because of Snape’s connection to Harry’s parents.Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanreveals that Snape’s relationship with James Potter was more than a little strained. In fact,James and the other Marauders spent a lot of their time at Hogwarts bullying him.
Snape’s hatred of James was made worse by Harry’s father ending up with Lily Evans. It’s not revealed untilHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but Snape’s history with Lily is why he turned away from Voldemort and the Death Eaters — and why he has such a complicated relationship with Harry.All of these twists make sense of Snape’s actions throughout the fantasy series, but they aren’t the most interesting part of the character’s backstory. These forces drive his actions throughout Harry’s narrative, but it’d be fascinating to dig into his psyche before he left the Death Eaters.
Harry Potter’s Remake Should Expand On Snape’s Early Days As A Death Eater
There’s A Lot To Unpack About Snape Joining Voldemort’s Forces
TheHarry Potterremake must explore James' relationship with the Marauders if it wants to remain faithful to the books, butit should also dig into the most intriguing part of his history: his time as a Death Eater. We know that Snape joined the Death Eaters as a young man, likely not long after he graduated from Hogwarts. The books also tell us that he eventually learned of Trelawney’s professor and how it targeted Lily, leading him to turn on Voldemort and become a double agent.
There isn’t much exploration of how or why Snape became a Death Eater, nor is there any discussion of whether he had doubts before the prophecy.
However, there isn’t much exploration of how or why Snape became a Death Eater, nor is there any discussion of whether he had doubts before the prophecy. In general,Harry Potter’s villains aren’t given the most complex motivations. If anything, it appears that Snape is a Death Eater because he was a Slytherin — and it was convenient for the story. If being bullied, being influenced by his family, or being rejected by Lily contributed to his decision, it’s only explored minimally in theHarry Potterbooks and movies. The TV remake can change this.
How Snape Is Described In The Harry Potter Books (& How The Movies' & Show’s Actors Compare)
With HBO’s Harry Potter show in development, casting is a top concern, and many may be wondering what the source material says about its characters.
By dedicating an episode or two to Snape’s backstory, HBO’sHarry Potterremake can reveal why he joined the Death Eaters and whether he had any reservations about it. Painting him as a more layered character would make his story more believable, and it would make him more sympathetic once he makes the right choice. It would also open the door forHarry Potterto tackle important conversations about extremism and the circumstances that push people towards it. And, of course, it would push back against all Slytherins being bad for the sake of it.
The Harry Potter Series Can Show Snape Learning Occlumency & Being A Double Agent
This Would Make For A Thrilling Storyline
While Snape becoming a Death Eater opens the door for relevant discussions in theHarry PotterTV show, it would also be exciting to see his turn against Voldemort. The books and movies only show Snape pleading with Dumbledore, butthey don’t dive into how he learns Occlumency and embraces his role as a double agent. Being an Occlumens in the Wizarding World isn’t easy, so this must have required some serious dedication on Snape’s part. It also must have been dangerous in the beginning, as Voldemort could have discovered him when he was inexperienced.
This is the sort of in-depth characterization that the HBO show should use its extended runtime for, and Snape is a prime candidate for such a thing.
Needless to say,this would be a more thrilling part of Snape’s backstory for theHarry Pottershow to cover. It would also offer the opportunity to depict Snape’s growth entirely, rather than showing him as a child and then telling us about how he became the Hogwarts professor Harry meets inSorcerer’s Stone.This is the sort of in-depth characterization that the HBO show should use its extended runtime for, and Snape is a prime candidate for such a thing.
Expanding Snape’s Backstory Can Also Flesh Out Another Important Death Eater
The Harry Potter Remake Could Expand On Regulus Black Through Snape’s Story
Expanding Snape’s backstory in theHarry Potterremake would allow for a fascinating study of the character, andit would also give the series an opportunity to explore another underused Death Eater. Sirius Black’s brother, Regulus, would likely have been part of Voldemort’s following around the same time as Snape, as he’s only two years younger than the Marauders. And while the books and movies give Regulus a big role in the sense that he steals Voldemort’s locket, he doesn’t actually get much attention outside of that.
TheHarry Potterremake is expected to debut sometime in 2026.
By showing Snape’s time as a Death Eater, the upcoming HBO show can explore younger versions of Death Eaters, and characters who aren’t around for the original story, like Regulus. This would add layers to the hunt for the Horcruxes, Sirius Black’s backstory, and Voldemort’s history in the Wizarding World. And expanding on all these elements will make the Wizarding World feel even more fleshed out than it is in theHarry Potterbooks and movies, potentially even opening the door for spinoffs of the upcoming TV show.
Harry Potter
Cast
Harry Potter is HBO’s remake of the iconic Wizarding World film series that consisted of eight films between 2001 and 2011. Each season adapts a book from JK Rowling’s popular series and provides more book-accurate details than the movies did.
