Harry Potter movie actress Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in all eight installments, has voiced her approval of Noma Dumezweni in The Cursed Child.
It was announced last month that Dumezweni will be playing Hermione in the Harry Potter stage play — the “eighth story” — when the show opens on London’s West End this summer.
Said Emma on Twitter on Saturday:
Can't wait to see Noma Dumezweni as Hermione on stage this year. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ #harrypotterandthecursedchild #2016
— Emma Watson (@EmWatson) January 2, 2016
The casting of the actress caused some backlash because of Dumezweni’s race. Clearly, Hermione will not be the white Hermione we saw in the Harry Potter movies (and who many thought they saw in the Harry Potter books).
The response to the casting has been interesting. While many people have been thrilled by the news, there’s also been a very vocal (possibly minor) group who’ve voiced their concerns over the perceived race bending.
Producer and collaborator J.K. Rowling responded to the criticism over Dumezweni’s casting after the news was announced last month:
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
Despite all the attention on Hermione, the play will focus on Harry and his son Albus Severus as the latter navigates “the weight of a family legacy he never wanted.” The play has cast Jamie Parker to play Harry, but producers haven’t found their Albus Severus yet.
Tickets for The Cursed Child are available over on the stage play’s official website.
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