The following podcast contains audio extracted from videos on the Harry Potter Theory YouTube channel.

Before you decide to boycott the new Harry Potter series, watch this video.

Lately, the Harry Potter world has been a little chaotic. Sure, there's been plenty of exciting news, a brand new HBO series in the works,

major casting announcements, and the promise of finally getting a longer, more detailed adaptation

of the books. But not all the news has been met with open arms. And one casting decision,

in particular, the choice for Snape, has been all over my newsfeed for months,

seemingly sparking non-stop debate and dividing the fandom in a way I haven't seen in years.

And here's the thing, it's not a standalone issue. People don't have a problem with this

year-do as a person or as an actor. They have a problem with how HBO have chosen to conduct business.

Advertising a show is book Faithful and then turning their back on this claim, the second casting starts.

With filming just around the corner, today I'm breaking down the good, the bad and the ugly,

and making the case for why this series may or may not be redeemable.

Let's dive into it.

Hey everyone, welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory.

Starting with the elephant in the room, why is this series, and in particular

in this casting, so controversial? Well, it's all rooted in the following press release from

HBO. The series will be a faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter book series by

author and executive producer J.K. Rowling. The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation

of fandom, full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters Harry Potter fans have loved

for over 25 years. And the issue here, a series can't be both faithful and make casting decisions

that contradict this statement. Papa Sidu has been cast as Snape is not by any stretch of the imagination, a book

faithful representation of Snape.

...