Technically speaking, casting a black man as Severus Snape does not violate #HarryPotter canon as his skin color is never explicitly specified. Yes, he is described as having pale/sallow skin, but these *CAN* be used to describe black people. I am not familiar with Paapa Essiedu's work, but as someone who is "color-blind" when it comes to people, I am fully willing to give him a chance in the #HarryPotterReboot .