SNL Parodies HBO Harry Potter Casting With Kam Patterson as Snape

During the April 5, 2026, episode of Saturday Night Live, comedian Kam Patterson appeared in a Weekend Update sketch portraying Professor Snape from the Harry Potter franchise. The performance served as a satirical commentary on the casting of the upcoming HBO Harry Potter series.

Patterson’s portrayal of the character is a direct reference to the production of the new HBO series, where the role of Professor Snape, originally a white character in the books and films, is being played by Black actor Paapa Essiedu.

Satirical Take on the Wizarding World

In the sketch, Patterson began his interaction with Colin Jost by utilizing a formal speaking style before transitioning into a more casual manner, describing the shift as code-switching.

The comedy centered on a reimagined perspective of the events at Hogwarts. Patterson’s Snape characterized Harry Potter as racist as hell and referred to him as the Proud Boy Who Lived.

The sketch highlighted the plot of the first installation of the series, specifically the suspicion cast upon Professor Snape. Patterson’s character claimed that Harry spent the year insisting that the school’s only Black teacher was secretly evil.

When Colin Jost mentioned that Harry might have been worried about the theft of the Sorcerer’s Stone, the character questioned why the primary suspect was Black Snape while the white guy in the turban was ignored. This was a reference to the character Professor Quirrell, who had the villain Voldemort attached to the back of his head.

Patterson’s Snape concluded the segment by noting that such assumptions are common, mentioning that upon arriving at Hogwarts, he was immediately identified as the professor of the Dark Arts.

Episode Context and Casting

The sketch appeared in Season 51, Episode 16 of Saturday Night Live, which was hosted by Jack Black. This appearance marked Black’s fifth official time hosting the show and his second appearance within the last two seasons.

The casting of Paapa Essiedu in the forthcoming HBO series represents a significant departure from the original visual depiction of the character, providing the foundation for the SNL parody’s focus on racial dynamics and perceptions within the fictional school setting.