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

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.