SNL Runs “Black Snape” Segment During Weekend Update, Skewering HBO Harry Potter Casting Choice

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Even Saturday Night Live has joined the conversation about the casting of the new Snape in HBO’s Harry Potter series. Comedian Kam Patterson recently played the character – who will be portrayed by Paapa Essiedu – on Weekend Update, and the sketch quickly made jokes about the online buzz surrounding the casting choice.

Professor Snape comments on the trailer for the new Harry Potter series

— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) April 5, 2026

Prof. Snape on Weekend Update

Following a mention of the new Harry Potter trailer and a casting announcement by Weekend Update host Colin Jost, comedian James Patterson appeared as his impression of Severus Snape. He started with an overly formal greeting – “Good evening, Mr. Jost” – but quickly dropped the act. “Nah, I’m just playing,” he said, adopting a more casual tone. “I don’t normally talk like that. It’s called code-switching!” He playfully emphasized the term, saying, “Code switchio!”

The conversation continued with Snape repeatedly accusing Harry Potter—whom he sarcastically called “the Proud Boy Who Lived”—of spreading rumors that the only Black teacher was malicious. Jost playfully suggested Harry might have been concerned someone was trying to steal the Sorcerer’s Stone. Patterson, staying in character, responded with disbelief: “So something was stolen, and the main suspect is Black Snape?”

Snape pointed out that people often get the wrong idea. He recalled starting at Hogwarts and being immediately labeled as the Dark Arts professor, despite having actually studied African Muggle Studies in school.

The sketch demonstrated how changing just one actor could completely change the way people view the story. Instead of criticizing HBO, Saturday Night Live chose to joke about the author, with Jost saying, “I’m starting to think J.K. Rowling might be a bit controversial.”

Honestly, the movie touched on what a lot of fans have been complaining about – a pretty major flaw in the series – but it was just a quick mention within a scene largely about that problem. It felt a bit like acknowledging the elephant in the room without really diving in.

Why the Sketch Resonates with Fans

When HBO announced they were changing the race of a beloved character, there was an immediate negative reaction online. The first glimpse of the new Snape in the Harry Potter trailer didn’t calm many fans’ concerns. Even if Paapa Essiedu delivers a strong performance, casting him as a Black actor creates story issues for those who know the character’s background.

The Black Snape sketch is particularly memorable because Saturday Night Live chose to find the funny side of the issue instead of criticizing viewers for pointing it out.

Cultural Impact Beyond the Joke

The jokes about Black Snape in the recent SNL sketch weren’t very new or inventive. However, the sketch even made it on television, which shows how Harry Potter still has the power to become a part of our cultural conversation – something very few franchises can do these days. Even though some people think SNL hasn’t been very relevant lately, the writers clearly recognized a chance to tap into this and they did.

Look, as a big Harry Potter fan, when someone famous like a cast member from SNL starts poking fun at Snape, it actually gives other fans’ complaints a little more weight, you know? But it also sends a message to HBO: even if they cast someone who seems like a perfect fit on paper – someone who checks all the right boxes – people are still going to talk about it, debate it, and have opinions. It shows they can’t just avoid controversy with casting choices.

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2026-04-07 23:56