The creator of Harry Potter has shut down racist opponents to a black actress playing Hermione in the upcoming 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' stage play
In case you were not aware, Harry Potter's story doesn't conclude with the events of The Deathly Hallows. (Spoilers) That final book -- and its movie adaptation -- ends with an epilogue seeing Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione waving their own children off to Hogwarts as adults, hinting at new adventures to come.
The scene sets the stage, somewhat literally, for the upcoming *Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.*A theatrical production set to debut in two parts on London's West End in 2016, the story -- written by Jack Thorne and based on an outline by JK Rowling -- follows a grown-up Harry and his youngest son, Albus, each struggling to deal with their family legacy.
Unfortunately, the reveal of the play's cast has had some fans up in arms. The adult cast for the play consists of Jamie Parker as Harry, Paul Thornley as Ron, and Noma Dumezweni as Hermione. It's the latter actor's inclusion that has been "controversial", and not because of anything to do with Dumezwani's outstanding career -- a lot of people seem unable to accept the idea of a black Hermione.
However, following an awful Twitter storm, the one true authority on all things Potter -- author and creator JK Rowling -- has chimed in on The Cursed Child's casting. "Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever. White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione", Rowlong tweeted, adding a kiss emoji for emphasis.
That seems as definitive as it's possible to get, then. Rowling, ever the class act, then offered Twitter hugs to numerous fans responding to her tweet.
The only vague reference to Hermione's ethnicity comes in The Prisoner of Azkaban, where Rowling writes "They were there, both of them, sitting outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour -- Ron looking incredibly freckly, Hermione very brown, both waving frantically at him."
For anyone who's objection to Dumezwani's casting may have come from a lack of familiarity, rest easy -- the Swaziland-born British actress is an outstanding performer, having appeared in film, television, and theatre, in productions as disparate as Doctor Who andMacbeth. She also won the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for her 2006 apppearance in*A Raisin in the Sun.* Fear not,Harry Potter fans -- Hermione is in extremely capable hands.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opens in July. Tickets can be booked through the official site now.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
