Like London buses, it seems as if two castings have come at once for Paapa Essiedu after months of fans waiting for news. Ten days on from the exciting, albeit expected, confirmation that the actor would be starring as Professor Snape in the new HBO adaptation of the Harry Potter TV series, Essidou is back in the headlines for a new casting announcement, this time teaming up with Bodyguard star Keeley Hawes to star in a brand-new drama for Channel 4, Falling. Speaking of his casting, as cited via Variety, Essidou said, “Falling is a story that has Jack Thorne’s singular talent of mining the sublime out of the ordinary running all the way through. I can’t wait to work with Keeley, Peter and the rest of the team to bring this world to life.”
Before he takes on the iconic role of Snape and attempts to fill the shoes of the late, great Alan Rickman, Essidou will first don the cassock of a Catholic priest, alongside Hawes‘ nun, with the pair entirely committed to their religion and their community. Forbidden from crossing romantic boundaries, a simmering passion begins to form, with the desire to submit to their love for each other proving a worthy opponent to their dedication to faith. Alongside both Essidou and Hawes in the Falling cast are the likes of Rakie Ayola, Jason Watkins, Niamh Cusack, Adrian Scarborough, David Dawson, Susan Brown, Sandra Voe, and newcomers Holly Rhys and Shayde Sinclair.
The Forge Entertainment-produced series has been penned by the prolific Jack Thorne, fresh off the back of his two Netflix smash hits, Toxic Town and Adolescence. The latter has become a worldwide phenomenon, topping the streaming charts in almost every country it has been made available and even becoming a catalyst for change within the British government. Speaking of this latest project, which surprisingly marks the writer’s first ever love story, Thorne said, “I never thought I’d write a love story, but I am very excited to be making one with the brilliant Peter Hoar. We feel so lucky we have persuaded the mighty (and lovely) Keeley Hawes, the brilliant (and also lovely) Paapa Essiedu and the most amazing company of (lovely) actors to come make this with us, The Forge and Channel 4.”
Who Else Has Been Cast in the Upcoming ‘Harry Potter’ Series?
Essidou is a terrific talent and has perhaps taken most of the headlines regarding the upcoming Harry Potter series casting, for better or for worse. However, the recent announcement also confirmed several other top talents as being involved in the ambitious project, which will seek to adapt the bestselling books into a seven-part series, with each part tackling a singular novel. Paul Whitehouse has been cast as caretaker Argus Filch, Luke Thallon as Professor Quirrell, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, and Nick Frost as the beloved Rubeus Hagrid. Currently, the series is set to film later this year and will aim for a 2026 release.
via Collider