Hermione Will Be Played by an Actress of Color in the Upcoming

As she stated, canon never specified skin color.

Many are expecting Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the films to respond after all she is a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. The creator of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling also tweeted in defense of the casting.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a stage play about the Boy Who Lived and his son, Albus, that’s coming to London’s West End in 2016, has found its cast.

“Interesting that some people find a black Hermione Granger harder to believe in than, you know, magic spells”, one person quipped.

An Olivier Award-winning actress for her work as Ruth Younger in the Young Vic production of A Raisin in the Sun, Dumezweni recently replaced actress Kim Cattrall as the lead in the Royal Court Theatre’s production of Linda, reports Deadline.

Directed by John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a new play by Jack Thorne based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. “Rowling loves black Hermione”, Rowling shot back on Twitter. Jamie Parker is set to play Harry and Paul Thornley will take on the role of Ron.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opens at Palace Theatre in London on July 30.

“And Neville Longbottom was blonde”, actor Matthew Lewis, who played Longbottom in the Harry Potter films, wrote on Twitter after being asked to weigh in.

Irish actress Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter series, tweeted her excitement at a new trio, saying it was “strange and exciting”. “I can’t wait to see Jamie, Noma and Paul bring the adult Harry, Hermione and Ron to life on stage next summer”, Rowling said in a post on her production company’s website, Pottermore. According to the synopsis: “As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places”.