HBO respect the source - recast Snape & Hermione and stay faithfull to J.K Rowlings work
The Issue
we, passionate fans of the Harry Potter book series, respectfully urge HBO and Warner Bros. to honor the integrity of J.K. Rowling’s original work in your upcoming television adaptation.
Why We're Concerned:
The Harry Potter books are more than a cultural phenomenon — they are detailed, character-rich narratives that have shaped the imaginations of millions. We were excited by the promise of a faithful, chapter-by-chapter adaptation. However, recent casting choices and early creative decisions suggest a potential shift away from the source material’s tone, characters, and core themes.
In particular, the casting of Severus Snape and Hermione Granger has sparked concern. These characters are deeply beloved and intricately described in the books — with appearances, backgrounds, and arcs that are crucial to the story’s impact. Deviating from these core details undermines the very promise of a “faithful adaptation.”
This is not about limiting artistic freedom — it's about respecting the canon that made this series so powerful in the first place.
We' ve got nothing against Papaa Essiedu and Arabella Stanton. Both are incredibly talented and deserving of great careers but changing the etnicity of such culturally important characters is not being faithfull to the source material. The etnicity of these characters cant be changed as IT plays an important part in back stories and characters development. HBO should not underestimate that a large segment of the fanbase would prefere a traditional cast 100 % faithfull to the books. This can seriously impact the success of the series - if Hbo continues with the race swapped cast IT is a possibility that the series will flop and NOT remain a popular adaptation for many generations.
Our Requests:
Reconsider and recast roles where the casting clearly diverges from book canon, especially Snape and Hermione.
Commit publicly to a faithful adaptation that:
Retains key character traits, backstories, and appearances.
Preserves the original themes, tone, and intent of the books.
Engage with the fanbase by being transparent about how source material will be handled.
Why It Matters:
A faithful Harry Potter series has the potential to be the definitive adaptation for generations to come. This isn't just about nostalgia — it's about respecting storytelling, canon, and the fanbase that has supported this franchise for over two decades.
We want to support this series. Give us a reason to believe in it again.
We'll need between 500.000 and 1 mio signings, maybe even more to put pressure on Hbo to stay faithfull to J.K. Rowlings work.
2
The Issue
we, passionate fans of the Harry Potter book series, respectfully urge HBO and Warner Bros. to honor the integrity of J.K. Rowling’s original work in your upcoming television adaptation.
Why We're Concerned:
The Harry Potter books are more than a cultural phenomenon — they are detailed, character-rich narratives that have shaped the imaginations of millions. We were excited by the promise of a faithful, chapter-by-chapter adaptation. However, recent casting choices and early creative decisions suggest a potential shift away from the source material’s tone, characters, and core themes.
In particular, the casting of Severus Snape and Hermione Granger has sparked concern. These characters are deeply beloved and intricately described in the books — with appearances, backgrounds, and arcs that are crucial to the story’s impact. Deviating from these core details undermines the very promise of a “faithful adaptation.”
This is not about limiting artistic freedom — it's about respecting the canon that made this series so powerful in the first place.
We' ve got nothing against Papaa Essiedu and Arabella Stanton. Both are incredibly talented and deserving of great careers but changing the etnicity of such culturally important characters is not being faithfull to the source material. The etnicity of these characters cant be changed as IT plays an important part in back stories and characters development. HBO should not underestimate that a large segment of the fanbase would prefere a traditional cast 100 % faithfull to the books. This can seriously impact the success of the series - if Hbo continues with the race swapped cast IT is a possibility that the series will flop and NOT remain a popular adaptation for many generations.
Our Requests:
Reconsider and recast roles where the casting clearly diverges from book canon, especially Snape and Hermione.
Commit publicly to a faithful adaptation that:
Retains key character traits, backstories, and appearances.
Preserves the original themes, tone, and intent of the books.
Engage with the fanbase by being transparent about how source material will be handled.
Why It Matters:
A faithful Harry Potter series has the potential to be the definitive adaptation for generations to come. This isn't just about nostalgia — it's about respecting storytelling, canon, and the fanbase that has supported this franchise for over two decades.
We want to support this series. Give us a reason to believe in it again.
We'll need between 500.000 and 1 mio signings, maybe even more to put pressure on Hbo to stay faithfull to J.K. Rowlings work.
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Petition created on June 16, 2025