While Max has yet to make any official casting announcements about the upcoming “Harry Potter” television series, Paapa Essiedu is rumored to be taking on the role of Severus Snape — and fans of the “Harry Potter” books and movies have some strong opinions about it.

With filming expected to begin this summer, the Harry Potter HBO TV show is close to finding the actors to play McGonagall and Snape.

Janet McTeer is in talks to play Minerva McGonagall and Paapa Essiedu is nearing a deal to play Severus Snape in HBO's Harry Potter series.

The HBO-produced Harry Potter TV series has, unsurprisingly, sparked much debate. The idea of revisiting the material from J.K. Rowling's novels, which were already used for a highly successful

John Lithgow has played everything from Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha to an extraterrestrial patriarch in 3rd Rock from the Sun. Next he will be the powerful, wise, and compassionate professor Dumbledore in HBO’s Harry Potter TV show. He confirmed the casting in a recent interview, saying it will “define me for the last chapter of my life.”

All the news on HBO's streaming 'Harry Potter' TV series, including cast, release date, how to watch, development and whether J.K. Rowling will be involved.

The other week, we learned that American actor John Lithgow would play Albus Dumbledore in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter TV show, the first major casting announcement to come out of this series. Now, Deadline has the scoop on a couple more actors circling major roles.