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HBO's Harry Potter Series Faces Death Threats, Security Boosted

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HBO steps up security for Harry Potter series amid death threats to actor Paapa Essiedu, who plays Severus Snape. The network, anticipating fan backlash, offers social media training and robust security. Essiedu shares his experience with online trolls, while fans show support with nearly a million likes on the first official image. The series, set to debut in 2027, promises to expand the story beyond movie limits, appealing to both longtime fans and a new generation.

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HBO's Harry Potter Series Faces Death Threats, Security Boosted

Entertainment & Celebrity News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

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Entertainment & Celebrity News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!HBO's Harry Potter Series Faces Death Threats, Security Boosted. Machine-transcribed; use the interactive transcript above to jump the player to any line.

It's March 25th from Hollywood to your headphones. This is Entertainment and Celebrity News. Today, powered by AI, HBO's ramping up security for its upcoming Harry Potter series after actor Pawapa Siyidu cast a Severus Snape started getting death threats online. The network had already planned ahead for backlash from passionate fans, given the franchise's huge following. Casey Bloyes, the HBO chief, explained they provide training on handling social media and have a strong security team in place. He noted that big intellectual properties like this often draw intense reactions, so they prepared to keep everyone safe on set. Siyidu shared how trolls spam him with violent messages like threats to show up at his home just for taking the role. Meanwhile, fans showed mostly positive vibes by giving nearly 1 million likes to HBO's first official image from the show.

That sneak peek features young Harry Potter, played by Dominic McLaughlin, heading to the Quidditch pitch in his Gryffindor cloak outside Hogwarts. The series also stars John Liefgaugh as Dumbledore, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alistair Stout as Ron Weasley. Production continues toward a 2027 debut, and Bloyes says he's thrilled with the progress, especially how it lets the story expand. One movie limits, while appealing to both longtime fans, and a new generation of kids.

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