Woke Star Trek Show On TV Has Officially Been Cancelled

[Crimson Dynamo]

After a first season of dismal ratings and widespread hatred from fans,
Paramount has finally stepped up and pulled the plug on Star Trek: Starfleet
Academy. The show is cancelled.

Starfleet Academy’s second season has already been shot and completed, so
that will air to a disinterested audience on streaming at some point, but
afterward, it’s finished. CBS and Paramount issued a joint announcement today,
confirming the second season will be the show’s last.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HEHTZ9fbQAAdQAw?format=jpg&name=small

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (premiered January 2026) has faced backlash
from critics like Elon Musk and Stephen Miller, who labeled the show "woke".
Critics cite themes focused on social change, diverse representation—
including the franchise's first openly gay Klingon—and a "liberal arts"
approach as departing from traditional Star Trek.

Themes and Values: The series is accused of prioritizing "corporate
wokeness," focusing on emotional safety, trust-building, and liberal arts
college values rather than traditional space exploration.

Diverse Representation: Starfleet Academy features a diverse cast,
including the first openly gay Klingon character, cadet Jay-Den Kraag, who is
depicted as gentle and science-minded.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HEHK59xa0AA6eQl?format=jpg&name=small

The Paramount+ series has received over 8,400 one star reviews on IMDb
with fans slamming it for pushing DEI, ‘woke’ characters and LGBTQIDP+
storylines.

https://tvnewscheck.com/programming/article/divisive-star-trek-starfleet-academy-canceled-after-two-seasons/

Instead of making a show that people will like, these clowns make a show that they think will make people like them

when will they learn

:facepalm:

[Glenn.]

What is woke

[bots]

with tv shows, people simply switch off if they don't like it. No-one is forced to watch anything

[Mystic Mock]

What is woke

A gentle Klingon sounds pretty Woke tbf.

Tbh, the trailer with the weird woman spinning around on the chair put me off checking the Show out as she looked like she was going to be really annoying.:laugh:

[Crimson Dynamo]

with tv shows, people simply switch off if they don't like it. No-one is forced to watch anything


Of course but if your job is to make them watch...

[bots]

Of course but if your job is to make them watch...

Well, obviously they have failed if the show has been cancelled. :laugh:

[Livia]

How many times do you have to watch people fall on their face before one of them thinks, hang on... I think I know where we went wrong.

[bots]

The last 2 Star Trek shows produced by paramount have been "politically correct" nonsense. Most people stopped watching the show years ago

[Cherie]

Did anyone watching Star Wars wonder about any of the actors sexuality :laugh: No wonder its tanked, people want to watch good TV and escape real life dont need PC pushed down our throats at every turn, time to wise up

[Crimson Dynamo]

Did anyone watching Star Wars wonder about any of the actors sexuality :laugh: No wonder its tanked, people want to watch good TV and escape real life dont need PC pushed down our throats at every turn, time to wise up

I did always wonder about C-3PO

:think:

[Glenn.]

It hasn’t suddenly gone woke (still waiting for OP to tell us what “woke” is), it’s just not centred around certain types of people anymore and that’s clearly the problem.

[Cherie]

Modern family says hello :wavey:

who knew Klingons were people

[Livia]

Eventually people will wise up and realise audiences are sick of their agenda. And please, someone show Glenn how to look up a word on the internet so he doesn't keep asking the same question. Unless he already knows what 'woke' means and is just asking to be confrontational.

[arista]

[CBS and Paramount issued a joint announcement today,
confirming the second season will be the show’s last.]


I blame the American Writing team.

They got this series wrong.


Star Trek, back in 1966 when it started
was Fantastic.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Killed Doctor Who as well

Go woke, go broke

:sad:

[Glenn.]

Eventually people will wise up and realise audiences are sick of their agenda. And please, someone show Glenn how to look up a word on the internet so he doesn't keep asking the same question. Unless he already knows what 'woke' means and is just asking to be confrontational.

Asking someone who uses it for everything to define it isn’t confrontational, it just exposes whether they actually can. When a word gets thrown at anything people don’t like, it stops having any real meaning. So if someone’s confident enough to use it constantly, they should be able to explain what they mean by it.

Go back to “ignoring” me.

[Mystic Mock]

It hasn’t suddenly gone woke (still waiting for OP to tell us what “woke” is), it’s just not centred around certain types of people anymore and that’s clearly the problem.

I think with Starfleet Academy it had an uphill battle by being a teen Show.

Most Star Trek fans are obviously in the older demographic, therefore it got rejected.

I actually think that the Woke debate was the secondary reason as to why Starfleet Academy struggled in the ratings.

[Glenn.]

Yeah we all know how the older generation loves progress.

[Mystic Mock]

Yeah we all know how the older generation loves progress.

I just think that the teen aspect was always going to be a killer for this particular Show.

Knowing your audience is a huge part of market research, something that Paramount+ clearly sucks at looking at the fact that there is a teen Star Trek Show out there.:laugh:

[Glenn.]

I just think that the teen aspect was always going to be a killer for this particular Show.

Knowing your audience is a huge part of market research, something that Paramount+ clearly sucks at looking at the fact that there is a teen Star Trek Show out there.:laugh:

Star Trek has always shifted tone depending on the audience it’s trying to reach, that’s not new. The real issue is whether the show was actually marketed and positioned properly. If people didn’t connect with it, that’s less about it being aimed at teens and more about how it was presented and whether it gave existing fans a reason to care.

And to be fair, broadening the audience isn’t bad strategy, it’s how franchises stay alive. The problem is when the execution doesn’t match the intent, not the idea itself.

[Cherie]

Yeah we all know how the older generation loves progress.

We are all the older generation to someone ...:hee:

[Redway]

People like LT should be banned from using the word “woke”.

[Nicky91]

Star trek has always been inclusive though?

In terms of other races, species, cultures


But it is more the recent times there is this anti-woke agenda from the far right


Oh well cancelling starfleet academy isn't too bad, since more focus needs to go to the Janeway series to make that similarly fab as Picard was

[Glenn.]

People like LT should be banned from using the word “woke”.

Think it needs to be censored on here, especially when those constantly trolling with it, don’t even know what it means.

[Nicky91]

The whole Voyager cast deserves that same treatment the TNG cast got with Picard

And also some unfinished storylines tbh, regarding Tom and B'Elanna their daughter Miral, and an opportunity to see Captain Seven in action with her own ship

Also that kazon cardassian hybrid whose name btw is Sessen, the child of Maje Culluh and Seska

That now derelict borg base from the endgame series finale episode

[James]

Didn't watch this series but I can't really get on board with modern Trek. The old series were better. I watched some of Discovery, couple of seasons of Picard and couple of episodes of Strange New Worlds.

[Barry.]

Didn't watch this series but I can't really get on board with modern Trek. The old series were better. I watched some of Discovery, couple of seasons of Picard and couple of episodes of Strange New Worlds.

I liked the older ones too. The new ones seem to have lost its touch, maybe the characters aren’t as good

[Crimson Dynamo]

Spin-offs like this are only ever cash grabs by unimaginative studios looking to exploit kids. Lazy like Marvel and the DEI angle is all about them and not providing entertainment. Shameful really.

[Barry.]

Spin-offs like this are only ever cash grabs by unimaginative studios looking to exploit kids. Lazy like Marvel and the DEI angle is all about them and not providing entertainment. Shameful really.

Marvel have a few good shows on Disney plus but it gets to a point where you cba watching them all

[Crimson Dynamo]

First look at Paapa Essiedu as Snape in the 'Harry Potter' series

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HER2e-obYAIGtDm?format=jpg&name=small

[Maru]

Modern TV suffers from the same problem as modern books is that they are often overly self-indulgent, aren't allowed to stray from the narrow sensibilities of a specific person and generally speaking are focused more on fan-service than storytelling. So yes, while we have more access to niche, random or otherwise very strange obscure topics surrounding modern culture, we don't exactly get to experience the breadth of content actually surrounding those themes which can kill a good story...

Woke could be an entertaining theme if it were from the point of the view beyond the scope of personal sensibilities and if the story were allowed to explore deeper themes and expand on them. The problem is, by definition "woke" is an attack on culture itself so it often will not allow entertain deeper exploration that runs contradictory to its own fantasies and goals (living "my truth", etc).

Modern writing aims to appeal to very specific audiences and taste levels or authors themselves who only tend to want to focus on their own areas of interest, ie basically pandering. While in many cases it is woke that gets this treatment, traditionally it's involved many other themes as well. A lot of old media has this problem because it has the effect of being a product of its time and so not really appealing to much more than itself. It's why we don't see Christian media, etc, being very popular because the scope of storytelling for that is only going to fit within a specific palate, so the plot focus for that is going to be very specific. Though Christian/progressive/fantasy writers, etc, can inform a broader story by adding their personal touch. They have over the decades and we've said that it was great writing...

It's when authors are writing for themselves more than for storytelling that it's a problem. Fantasy world-building through storytelling became a big deal in my generation when being online became mainstream. LGBT themes were especially prolific, with every character of a game or movie back then seemingly getting that kind of treatment and personality-modification. That crowd was pretty significant within fantasy space (which coexisted with sci-fi).

Eventually things went commercial because these are the people that lived in their basement and hoarded media. Those were the ones who bought books and spinoffs and fan-service items. They are the ones in large numbers that show up to cons to get signatures and who actively ambassador brains. So it's assumed if they can reach those folk then they can eventually capture a fanbase. That would guarantee the level of success needed to make an IP profitable because those are the people buying statues, memorabilia, rewriting the core plot into spinoffs/fanfics, the ones actively investing in the brand.

They have no choice anyway because our habits of media consumption and even how we collect memorabilia has changed so drastically that industry-produced goods is a competitive space. There's now basement dwellers that own 3d printers so they can have their favorite character in 50 sexy poses and while yes they will still buy official media, there's many IPs the likes of Star Trek that are competing for their short attention span. It's not the person who streams a few episodes and then tells their friend "It's alright, I guess" who makes them successful. It's the person who takes the media very personally and makes it part of their identity... so imo, that's the aim for a lot of inclusion of woke/extra sexiness because so many younger folk, especially nerdy folk DO make it their entire identity. So corporations see this demographic and think "Oh we can profit from that!". It's been true to some degree, especially in games and books, but imo it has to still have good storytelling... TV is more difficult because the way we process moving picture is very different than books or comic books... but imo, that's why you see such a degradation of modern media is that it's trying to capture the type of audience that devours media like necessary for life fuel.

Disney successfully managed to do this with its mainstream movies and especially in making sure to keep a focus on magic and happy thoughts becoming actual real things, they've went into New Age deeply with their merchandising and tried to capture not only the children but also the older demographics that collect things like Tarot decks... because anime also has managed to capture that audience inadvertently and so that's a larger demographic that is building in the West (the US particularly) than most people realize and it's connected to that same circuitry of rabid fanpeoples...

Anyway, related (but books/writing):
S: https://youtu.be/x3NPxraALq0?si=DIBaQHU4UaNbzfMw&t=420

[Maru]

I liked the older ones too. The new ones seem to have lost its touch, maybe the characters aren’t as good

I think I've watched DS9 all the way through dozens of times. Voyager less so because some of the characters were more annoying to me for some reason, but I may try to re-watch it now that it's been so long with different eyes. Can't say the same for anything new I've watched over the years. It seemed to happen after everything went digital, since people aren't buying and storing media, why bother making it so that you'll watch it more than once... that's possibly affected the quality of newer media also.. after all it costs them now when you re-watch (over and over).

[Barry.]

I think I've watched DS9 all the way through dozens of times. Voyager less so because some of the characters were more annoying to me for some reason, but I may try to re-watch it now that it's been so long with different eyes. Can't say the same for anything new I've watched over the years. It seemed to happen after everything went digital, since people aren't buying and storing media, why bother making it so that you'll watch it more than once... that's possibly affected the quality of newer media also.. after all it costs them now when you re-watch (over and over).

Iirc DS9 was my favourite. I used to watch it when they were on sky one with my dad

[bots]

i also think its an age thing. I watched my first star trek over 50 years ago :laugh:

Looking back, i think Enterprise was one of my favourite series

[Redway]

Think it needs to be censored on here, especially when those constantly trolling with it, don’t even know what it means.

Operative word.

[Maru]

i also think its an age thing. I watched my first star trek over 50 years ago :laugh:

Looking back, i think Enterprise was one of my favourite series

It doesn't have to be that way. I was into it when the shows during the 90s were airing including NG. It's one of those shows for me that could cover a lot of common ground on big topics without it feeling like 1) a total bore (the worse outcome) or 2) a complete farce

Most Star Treks have suffered from an "annoying character" problem. Especially if they were involved in some trope or or a tedious plotline that alienated people from the original appeal. It was also one of the shows most argued about online I seem to remember during even the dial up years. Maybe they just want to relive that... I've never remembered ST fanfolk as being particularly unified as a community, ironically enough and even shows like the Simpsons and other sitcoms at the time would pick up on the tendency for big followers of the show to just argue totally minor points out of no where about ST or other fictional sci-fi-related shows.

I remember a lot of people loved Voyager, but HATED DS9. Then you had people who loved DS9 but couldn't stand the captain in Voyager. So it always seemed like they just settled on having two shows to appease different wings of the base because it was so divided lol.

[Glenn.]

First look at Paapa Essiedu as Snape in the 'Harry Potter' series

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HER2e-obYAIGtDm?format=jpg&name=small

Looks great.

But then I’m not a racist.

[Mystic Mock]

Star Trek has always shifted tone depending on the audience it’s trying to reach, that’s not new. The real issue is whether the show was actually marketed and positioned properly. If people didn’t connect with it, that’s less about it being aimed at teens and more about how it was presented and whether it gave existing fans a reason to care.

And to be fair, broadening the audience isn’t bad strategy, it’s how franchises stay alive. The problem is when the execution doesn’t match the intent, not the idea itself.

I get what you're saying, but normally the successful rebrands tend to work because the fandom and the general public were both open to the idea.

I honestly don't believe that most people (including the teens) wanted a Show from the Star Trek franchise to exist in the market space that Starfleet Academy is going for.

Obviously the Political stuff will have played it's part to a point for both the Woke and Anti-Woke camps for and against the Show tbf. But nothing will really convince me that a teen Star Trek Show was a smart business decision, even if I ended up personally enjoying the Show myself I'd still say the exact same thing that I'm saying right now.

[Mystic Mock]

Spin-offs like this are only ever cash grabs by unimaginative studios looking to exploit kids. Lazy like Marvel and the DEI angle is all about them and not providing entertainment. Shameful really.

What you're calling DEI is the creators hiding behind an arguably good cause to disguise the fact that they (the writers) have no actual writing talent.

I mean tbf I really can't speak for Starfleet Academy on this, but it's just definitely my experience with a lot of the Shows that I've watched.

[Mystic Mock]

Modern TV suffers from the same problem as modern books is that they are often overly self-indulgent, aren't allowed to stray from the narrow sensibilities of a specific person and generally speaking are focused more on fan-service than storytelling. So yes, while we have more access to niche, random or otherwise very strange obscure topics surrounding modern culture, we don't exactly get to experience the breadth of content actually surrounding those themes which can kill a good story...

Woke could be an entertaining theme if it were from the point of the view beyond the scope of personal sensibilities and if the story were allowed to explore deeper themes and expand on them. The problem is, by definition "woke" is an attack on culture itself so it often will not allow entertain deeper exploration that runs contradictory to its own fantasies and goals (living "my truth", etc).

Modern writing aims to appeal to very specific audiences and taste levels or authors themselves who only tend to want to focus on their own areas of interest, ie basically pandering. While in many cases it is woke that gets this treatment, traditionally it's involved many other themes as well. A lot of old media has this problem because it has the effect of being a product of its time and so not really appealing to much more than itself. It's why we don't see Christian media, etc, being very popular because the scope of storytelling for that is only going to fit within a specific palate, so the plot focus for that is going to be very specific. Though Christian/progressive/fantasy writers, etc, can inform a broader story by adding their personal touch. They have over the decades and we've said that it was great writing...

It's when authors are writing for themselves more than for storytelling that it's a problem. Fantasy world-building through storytelling became a big deal in my generation when being online became mainstream. LGBT themes were especially prolific, with every character of a game or movie back then seemingly getting that kind of treatment and personality-modification. That crowd was pretty significant within fantasy space (which coexisted with sci-fi).

Eventually things went commercial because these are the people that lived in their basement and hoarded media. Those were the ones who bought books and spinoffs and fan-service items. They are the ones in large numbers that show up to cons to get signatures and who actively ambassador brains. So it's assumed if they can reach those folk then they can eventually capture a fanbase. That would guarantee the level of success needed to make an IP profitable because those are the people buying statues, memorabilia, rewriting the core plot into spinoffs/fanfics, the ones actively investing in the brand.

They have no choice anyway because our habits of media consumption and even how we collect memorabilia has changed so drastically that industry-produced goods is a competitive space. There's now basement dwellers that own 3d printers so they can have their favorite character in 50 sexy poses and while yes they will still buy official media, there's many IPs the likes of Star Trek that are competing for their short attention span. It's not the person who streams a few episodes and then tells their friend "It's alright, I guess" who makes them successful. It's the person who takes the media very personally and makes it part of their identity... so imo, that's the aim for a lot of inclusion of woke/extra sexiness because so many younger folk, especially nerdy folk DO make it their entire identity. So corporations see this demographic and think "Oh we can profit from that!". It's been true to some degree, especially in games and books, but imo it has to still have good storytelling... TV is more difficult because the way we process moving picture is very different than books or comic books... but imo, that's why you see such a degradation of modern media is that it's trying to capture the type of audience that devours media like necessary for life fuel.

Disney successfully managed to do this with its mainstream movies and especially in making sure to keep a focus on magic and happy thoughts becoming actual real things, they've went into New Age deeply with their merchandising and tried to capture not only the children but also the older demographics that collect things like Tarot decks... because anime also has managed to capture that audience inadvertently and so that's a larger demographic that is building in the West (the US particularly) than most people realize and it's connected to that same circuitry of rabid fanpeoples...

Anyway, related (but books/writing):
S: https://youtu.be/x3NPxraALq0?si=DIBaQHU4UaNbzfMw&t=420

No offence intended here, but where's the extra sexiness in the 2020's TV Shows?:laugh:

I've done a rewatch of Falling Skies recently, which started it's First Season back in 2011 I think, and there were a lot of attractive looking women on that Show imo, much more than what I'm seeing from most 2020's Shows.

Unless we go into Korean TV, which admittedly has crazy high beauty standards imo.

Otherwise I do agree with most of your other points, especially about the Woke topic could be a lot more interesting as a storyline if TV writers could be bothered to write their own genuine opinions on the topic, rather than just regurgitating the exact same messages on repeat, some of the more extreme Woke opinions are not even morally sane views imo.

And yes there are morally insane Far Right opinions too, before anyone thinks that I'm picking a side.:laugh:

[James]

My favourite was DS9. I liked Voyager and The Next Generation too. When I watched Enterprise at first I couldn't get into it, but I watched it all back after it finished and liked it.

I think one of the problems now is TV is all about serialised stories and the modern Trek writers can't do single episode stories well. That and the style of it, that was set by the JJ Abrams films - too glossy looking and action-led. He wanted to make a Star Wars film instead.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I will never forget the moment watching the original series back in the day when I realised that the guy beaming down with Kirk, Spock and Bones and wearing his distinctive red shirt was always going to die :joker:

[Livia]

First look at Paapa Essiedu as Snape in the 'Harry Potter' series

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HER2e-obYAIGtDm?format=jpg&name=small

They rush to replace a white actor with a black actor. But they can't bear to make Hermoine the rather plain, slightly dumpy, frizzy-haired girl who only blossoms in the later books. Instead they take a very pretty child and frizz up her hair a bit.

[Glenn.]

Hermione wasn’t written to be unattractive or dumpy, she’s described as having bushy hair and big teeth early on, then growing into herself. Casting a conventionally pretty actor doesn’t erase that arc, it just means they didn’t lean heavily into making a child look awkward on screen. Films do that all the time.

Snapes defining traits are his personality, his history, and how he moves through the story. His appearance is secondary unless it directly affects the plot, which it doesn’t in any meaningful way.

Also, saying they rush to replace a white actor with a Black actor assumes there’s some agenda driving every decision. In reality, adaptations change things constantly, age, looks, accents, even personalities get tweaked. Some people only seem to notice when race is the thing that changes.

[GoldHeart]

I think with Starfleet Academy it had an uphill battle by being a teen Show.

Most Star Trek fans are obviously in the older demographic, therefore it got rejected.

I actually think that the Woke debate was the secondary reason as to why Starfleet Academy struggled in the ratings.

I've never been a big trekkie,but from what you're saying sounds like the main issue with a lot of modern tv shows these days. Isn't it mostly just awful dialogue and terrible scripts/ plots ? .

Wasn't picard tv series very strange in how it was presented, I think it did ok in ratings. But I think they tried to be a bit more edgy with the language or something. And it was out of place ,and not what the original Star Trek series was ever about. I think even Patrick Stewart himself wasn't happy with it.

People also miss nostalgia I guess as well. I always groan and facepalm when I hear about old shows & movies getting either a reboot or new sequel .

Thank goodness the Back to the future 4 trailer on YouTube was just a fanmade video, because I just know they'd mess it up.

[Maru]

No offence intended here, but where's the extra sexiness in the 2020's TV Shows?:laugh:

I've done a rewatch of Falling Skies recently, which started it's First Season back in 2011 I think, and there were a lot of attractive looking women on that Show imo, much more than what I'm seeing from most 2020's Shows.

Unless we go into Korean TV, which admittedly has crazy high beauty standards imo.

Otherwise I do agree with most of your other points, especially about the Woke topic could be a lot more interesting as a storyline if TV writers could be bothered to write their own genuine opinions on the topic, rather than just regurgitating the exact same messages on repeat, some of the more extreme Woke opinions are not even morally sane views imo.

And yes there are morally insane Far Right opinions too, before anyone thinks that I'm picking a side.:laugh:

Sexy in media for appeal now seems to be focused more on kinks or just outright freak behavior more than looks. So it's not just tied to visuals. Ex: Behaviors or proclivities focused on personality defects being used as part of a "clever" backstory.

Far right themes in plotlines has always been a thing obviously as the villain. There's actual superhero Nazis (evil) in The Boys (Amazon) that work for a corporation that engages in woke marketing. So they rip on Woke as well as a tool for PR exploitation. Does it add to the plot in imaginative ways? Not really. It borders a 1:1 (plug and play plotlines) reference to cynical modern politics with insulting references towards both ends for shock value. The gore and mostly dark sexual humor is off the charts, though. Most of the main characters are actual freaks and the story centers around the PR spin needed to keep it and any unchecked violence under wraps while also trying to take down a major corporation.

[Barry.]

Looks great.

But then I’m not a racist.

I don’t mind the recast but with what happens to Snape in the books it’s a bit risky for white men to be bullying a black man. I know it hasn’t to do with his skin colour but you know people will love that nonetheless

[Cherie]

First look at Paapa Essiedu as Snape in the 'Harry Potter' series

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HER2e-obYAIGtDm?format=jpg&name=small

Thought JK would never work again according to some

[bots]

i thought the HP franchise was grim first time round, the stories aren't interesting or compelling, so i can't see me rushing to watch any remakes :laugh:

[Crimson Dynamo]

Thought JK would never work again according to some

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR-xm_HIjwdNfUEyEIC_ntdurJTukK4ejh7KQ&s

[GoldHeart]

I don’t mind the recast but with what happens to Snape in the books it’s a bit risky for white men to be bullying a black man. I know it hasn’t to do with his skin colour but you know people will love that nonetheless

If it's colour blind casting,then the bullying of Snape shouldn't matter regardless of skin colour,if that's the original story surely?.

It should be more about seeing why Snape became the way he is ,I always thought as a character he was complex and not as ruthless nor hard as he made out.

[Barry.]

If it's colour blind casting,then the bullying of Snape shouldn't matter regardless of skin colour,if that's the original story surely?.

It should be more about seeing why Snape became the way he is ,I always thought as a character he was complex and not as ruthless nor hard as he made out.

Yes that’s true but you know how people will react to that.

[Glenn.]

The new book-to-screen adaptation of the Harry Potter novels is one of the most anticipated projects on the horizon, but not all of that attention has been positive. As excitement builds, so too has a darker side of fandom, including real, explicit threats against cast members like the death threats that were made against actor Paapa Essiedu, who’s set to take on the role of Professor Severus Snape. According to HBO, this is something they’ve been preparing for from the start.

HBO's CEO, Casey Bloys, told Variety that the production has been preparing for this exact scenario from the start. They anticipated strong reactions and took steps early to protect the people involved, according to Bloys:

With all actors on any kind of big IP shows — and this is obviously one of those where you’ve got, you know, passionate fans, people with a lot of opinions — it can get scary in places. So for any show like that, we anticipated it and tried to have training, you know, best practices in terms of social media and how to handle it.

Paapa Essiedu has spoken openly about the kinds of threats he’s received since his casting, which have ranged from backlash from a segment of fans resistant to seeing a new take on the character popularized by the late Alan Rickman, to others that are strictly racially motivated. According to the actor, he’s been told things like, “Quit or I’ll murder you,” and has seen direct messages threatening violence, including claims that someone would “come to your house and kill you.”

Essiedu has acknowledged how difficult it is to ignore these threats. Even if he believes the threats won’t be carried out, the reality of seeing those messages regularly can take a toll on someone’s mental health. As troubling as that all sounds, Bloys made it clear this kind of reaction didn’t catch the studio off guard. The exec says there’s a more direct layer of protection. He continued:

And obviously we’ve got a serious security team. So unfortunately, it was something that we thought might happen and we just try to be as careful as we can.

It’s reassuring to hear that the cast of the Harry Potter TV series is being supported beyond just the work itself, especially when stepping into a role this visible. There’s clearly an effort to help them navigate the online side of things, too, which, at this point, is just part of the job, whether it should be or not.

Given the kind of threats being reported, it makes sense that security is a priority. This isn’t a wait-and-see situation. It’s something the studio was actively preparing for, which feels necessary.

There’s a bigger issue at play here as well. Big franchises, like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, exist because of passionate fans keeping the story alive, but when that passion crosses into harassment or outright threats, it becomes something else entirely. The threats Essiedu described, sadly, aren’t just a one-off, but a part of a pattern that keeps showing up when casting choices push expectations or bring something new into these worlds.

The new Wizarding World series is arriving sooner than expected, as it will debut on the 2026 TV schedule on Christmas Day. All you'll need to enjoy it is an HBO Max subscription.

Grim

[Livia]

I have no problem at all with black actors or black characters, but Snape is established as a white man. It'd be like remaking Luther with Idris Elba replaced by a white guy.

[Glenn.]

The racists really are triggered

[GoldHeart]

Yes that’s true but you know how people will react to that.

Well yeah that's unfortunately the case , people will always moan about something :rolleyes:.

But Snape was never bullied due to his skin colour,so even if it ends up looking ' iffy ' that's not the initial story unfolding. I think most people probably still think of Alan Rickman still as Snape ,and will probably find it difficult to imagine someone else...even if it's a prequel story.

[GoldHeart]

I have no problem at all with black actors or black characters, but Snape is established as a white man. It'd be like remaking Luther with Idris Elba replaced by a white guy.

I've never actually read all the Harry Potter books,was Snape ever described as a white man ? . I know people say Hermione is described as white ? .

Wuthering Heights would be a better example to compare to ,as Heathcliff & Cathy casting in this year's movie with Margot Robbie & Jacob Elordi are nothing like the description in the novel. Apparently the director changed everything . Heathcliff is supposed to be of gypsy Asian heritage and background, which plays a big part of the story. Especially where he's treated differently for the time period,and the whole class aspect and status.

And Cathy is supposed to be younger with dark hair or something, again total opposite.

[Maru]

If it's colour blind casting,then the bullying of Snape shouldn't matter regardless of skin colour,if that's the original story surely?.

It should be more about seeing why Snape became the way he is ,I always thought as a character he was complex and not as ruthless nor hard as he made out.

He's one of the most written/drawn characters in HP fanfic world so not being an watcher/reader of the series, I always perceived it as people interpreting his facade as having plenty of room to add their own bits of imagination. So his character being twisted would be on par :shrug:

And no I don't think skin doesn't tie to his character at all from what little I remember. However, I'm like bots as I never understood the appeal.

[Jordan.]

First look at Paapa Essiedu as Snape in the 'Harry Potter' series

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HER2e-obYAIGtDm?format=jpg&name=small

Thought JK would never work again according to some

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR-xm_HIjwdNfUEyEIC_ntdurJTukK4ejh7KQ&s

when you don't know whether to complain about WOKE or glee over JK Rowling finally being back in employment

https://a.pinatafarm.com/750x596/a5a2d42074/cross-eyed-spongebob.jpg

[Cherie]

when you don't know whether to complain about WOKE or glee over JK Rowling finally being back in employment

https://a.pinatafarm.com/750x596/a5a2d42074/cross-eyed-spongebob.jpg

good old JK you can't keep a good woman down

[Jordan.]

good old JK you can't keep a good woman down

Glad you want the woke show to be a success then, now we await LT's stance :think:

[Barry.]

when you don't know whether to complain about WOKE or glee over JK Rowling finally being back in employment

https://a.pinatafarm.com/750x596/a5a2d42074/cross-eyed-spongebob.jpg

I haven’t seen Cherie complain about woke. It’s usually LT that spews that word

[GoldHeart]

He's one of the most written/drawn characters in HP fanfic world so not being an watcher/reader of the series, I always perceived it as people interpreting his facade as having plenty of room to add their own bits of imagination. So his character being twisted would be on par :shrug:

And no I don't think skin doesn't tie to his character at all from what little I remember. However, I'm like bots as I never understood the appeal.

You never understood the appeal of the character Snape ? ,or the appeal of something else?.

Well Snape isn't out and out evil is he ?, he always seemed complex like I said . He's more bitter and troubled really.

[Crimson Dynamo]

spews

:laugh2:

[Crimson Dynamo]

good old JK you can't keep a good woman down

She can't get up with all that cashola in her pockets from fanboys

Lol

[Glenn.]

Glad you want the woke show to be a success then, now we await LT's stance :think:


I wish you luck getting that answer :skull:

He doesn’t do much explaining when he gets called out.

[Cherie]

I haven’t seen Cherie complain about woke. It’s usually LT that spews that word

Thank you Baz

My kids were never into Harry Potter so I have no idea who this character even is, he could be pink with yellow spots for all I know

[Crimson Dynamo]

Thank you Baz

My kids were never into Harry Potter so I have no idea who this character even is, he could be pink with yellow spots for all I know

:nono:

Let's not bring colour into this

[Maru]

You never understood the appeal of the character Snape ? ,or the appeal of something else?.

Well Snape isn't out and out evil is he ?, he always seemed complex like I said . He's more bitter and troubled really.

HP, in general. I never disliked it or anything, it just wasn't something I got into so my knowledge is limited

[GoldHeart]

HP, in general. I never disliked it or anything, it just wasn't something I got into so my knowledge is limited

Oh right I've got you :wavey:

[Glenn.]

The colour of his skin has zero impact on his character. That’s the bottom line. No matter how the many racists try to frame it.

[Mystic Mock]

They rush to replace a white actor with a black actor. But they can't bear to make Hermoine the rather plain, slightly dumpy, frizzy-haired girl who only blossoms in the later books. Instead they take a very pretty child and frizz up her hair a bit.

The actress playing Hermoine is just a child tbf.

Her appearance isn't really that different to a regular girl of her age group imo.

I'm trying my best to word it in a non-offensive way, I hope that people on here understand what I'm trying to say.

[Mystic Mock]

I've never been a big trekkie,but from what you're saying sounds like the main issue with a lot of modern tv shows these days. Isn't it mostly just awful dialogue and terrible scripts/ plots ? .

Wasn't picard tv series very strange in how it was presented, I think it did ok in ratings. But I think they tried to be a bit more edgy with the language or something. And it was out of place ,and not what the original Star Trek series was ever about. I think even Patrick Stewart himself wasn't happy with it.

People also miss nostalgia I guess as well. I always groan and facepalm when I hear about old shows & movies getting either a reboot or new sequel .

Thank goodness the Back to the future 4 trailer on YouTube was just a fanmade video, because I just know they'd mess it up.

Tbf I've only watched Star Trek: Discovery out of modern Trek, and I had very mixed feelings on the First Season so I never came back to it.

I am considering seeing if Lower Decks is better though as I have heard some people say that it's meant to be decent.

But yeah I would argue that Discovery had some rough around the edges writing for it's characters, especially Michael unfortunately given that she was the lead of the Show, and I felt like everyone else was more interesting than her near enough.

And yeah, I personally dread hearing about something that I liked years ago getting brought back by these modern writers who don't know how to write in-depth plots, character development, or how to be comedic on a basic level.

[Mystic Mock]

Sexy in media for appeal now seems to be focused more on kinks or just outright freak behavior more than looks. So it's not just tied to visuals. Ex: Behaviors or proclivities focused on personality defects being used as part of a "clever" backstory.

Far right themes in plotlines has always been a thing obviously as the villain. There's actual superhero Nazis (evil) in The Boys (Amazon) that work for a corporation that engages in woke marketing. So they rip on Woke as well as a tool for PR exploitation. Does it add to the plot in imaginative ways? Not really. It borders a 1:1 (plug and play plotlines) reference to cynical modern politics with insulting references towards both ends for shock value. The gore and mostly dark sexual humor is off the charts, though. Most of the main characters are actual freaks and the story centers around the PR spin needed to keep it and any unchecked violence under wraps while also trying to take down a major corporation.

That's true tbf, Hollywood is starting to make me kink shame with how disgusting some of it can be tbh.:joker:

I have heard about The Boys being political before, I didn't realise just how Political their messaging goes though.

[Mystic Mock]

I've never actually read all the Harry Potter books,was Snape ever described as a white man ? . I know people say Hermione is described as white ? .

Wuthering Heights would be a better example to compare to ,as Heathcliff & Cathy casting in this year's movie with Margot Robbie & Jacob Elordi are nothing like the description in the novel. Apparently the director changed everything . Heathcliff is supposed to be of gypsy Asian heritage and background, which plays a big part of the story. Especially where he's treated differently for the time period,and the whole class aspect and status.

And Cathy is supposed to be younger with dark hair or something, again total opposite.

Apparently "Puppy play” is in the new Wuthering Heights Movie.:shocked:

[Cherie]

The colour of his skin has zero impact on his character. That’s the bottom line. No matter how the many racists try to frame it.

Bless you, my point was about people like you conveniently forgetting you had cancelled JK for the sake of the community so you could watch this :laugh:

[Glenn.]

Who said I’m watching it? Another assumption.

[GoldHeart]

Apparently "Puppy play” is in the new Wuthering Heights Movie.:shocked:

Yeah I saw a clip on YouTube when I watched a review for it , the director is weird and must think humiliation is fun. There's a theory that she is living out her own fantasy as she fancies Jacob Eldori.

Anyway I was never a wuthering Heights fan , haven't read the book ....but it sounds like Emerald Fennell butchered the whole thing. I have zero interest in ever watching it .

[Livia]

The actress playing Hermoine is just a child tbf.

Her appearance isn't really that different to a regular girl of her age group imo.

I'm trying my best to word it in a non-offensive way, I hope that people on here understand what I'm trying to say.

There's a big difference between the was she was described in the book and the pretty children they've chosen to play Hermoine. Maybe you have to have been a little girl to know that the way you look makes a difference, even as children.

[Cherie]

Who said I’m watching it? Another assumption.

Well you assume alot of things so I didn't think you would mind me assuming also

[Glenn.]

I don’t assume anything :hee:

[Crimson Dynamo]

https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTZjMDliOTUyb3MwZ2hobnlrcms1aGxsODUwZGc0ZDc 5cjU3eHAxMXU2a28ydmJwMCZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjd D1n/TZKFBveHtquAM/giphy.gif

[Cherie]

https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTZjMDliOTUyb3MwZ2hobnlrcms1aGxsODUwZGc0ZDc 5cjU3eHAxMXU2a28ydmJwMCZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjd D1n/TZKFBveHtquAM/giphy.gif

:laugh:

[Mystic Mock]

Yeah I saw a clip on YouTube when I watched a review for it , the director is weird and must think humiliation is fun. There's a theory that she is living out her own fantasy as she fancies Jacob Eldori.

Anyway I was never a wuthering Heights fan , haven't read the book ....but it sounds like Emerald Fennell butchered the whole thing. I have zero interest in ever watching it .

Same on both points.

I've never read the Book, and the Film looks poor imo.

[Mystic Mock]

There's a big difference between the was she was described in the book and the pretty children they've chosen to play Hermoine. Maybe you have to have been a little girl to know that the way you look makes a difference, even as children.

Can we get pretty adults please?:fc:

And tbf maybe you're right about the Hermione stuff, it's just not something that I've noticed is all.

[Nicky91]

Best star trek's

Are original series, voyager, the next generation

Honestly

And i am someone who watched voyager like more than 5 times, btw those interested Robert Picardo ( EMH) does lots of nice vlogs recently, talking about scenes of episodes and he even recorded new versions of the songs he did on voyager


And there also have good films, my favourite one has to be First Contact, i mean James Cromwell is an icon as Zefram Cochrane