Author J.K. Rowling is pushing back against criticism of the decision to cast, Noma Dumezweni, a black actress as an adult Hermione Granger in an upcoming theatrical production that continues the “Harry Potter” saga.
“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” the eighth official tale in the Potter canon, is set 19 years after the last novel, and it looks at the challenges the now fully grown wizard encounters as a father and also looks at his relationship with Hermione and their longtime friend and companion Ron Weasley.
The lead actors are cast for @HPPlayLDN! Here’s what @jk_rowling had to say: https://t.co/PDkUmP3jdr #CursedChild pic.twitter.com/RmfJO7lZ3k
— Pottermore (@pottermore) December 21, 2015
Rowling never specified the race or ethnicity of Hermione in the seven best-selling original “Potter” books, but that hasn’t prevented a fierce debate over the decision to cast Dumezweni. Rowling took to social media to stand up for the choice. “Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever. White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione,” she tweeted Monday.
Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever. White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione https://t.co/5fKX4InjTH
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 21, 2015
She has also retweeted fan-made images of a Hermione of color:
Some of my favourite Hermione fanarts next to our new Hermione! pic.twitter.com/80bIkcLBMJ
— alice in wonderland (@alwaysdragxns) December 20, 2015
Actress Emma Watson, who became famous for playing Hermoine on the big screen, has not commented directly on the controversy, but she did retweet a message from actor Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom in the “Potter” films on the casting debate, which said in part: “I really don’t care. Good luck to her.”









