A decision to cast a black actress as Hermione Granger in next year's staging of Harry Potter at the Palace Theater has garnered both support and criticism. J.K. Rowling has stepped in to defend the decision and establish the notion that she was colorblind when characterizing Hermione in the series.
The next installation in the series, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, announced Monday that the actress in question, Noma Dumezweni, will perform the role alongside Jamie Parker, who is cast as Harry Potter.
Paul Thornley has also been cast as the adult Ron Weasley in the play.
Much in the same vein as Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton, in which Miranda, who is of Puerto Rican descent, performs under the guise of a white founding father--a decision that both been well received and championed.
So why the backlash of a black Hermione? It's hard to gauge, but Rowling takes side with the progressives, citing "Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever. White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione."
The latest addition to the Potter franchise, The Cursed Child picks up when a middle-aged Harry has turned into an overworked employee with a 9-to-5 at the Ministry of Magic.
His youngest son, Albus, obviously, has to come to terms with his celebrity father, a past he was involuntarily born into. Not unlike his father, Albus will in time face evils similar to his ancestors, which has proved to come from the most unexpected places.
A story of past-meets-present, hopefully Albus won’t fall victim to nepotism at Hogwarts.
Hermione Granger, too, will be played by Dumezeni despite the arbitrary criticism--and the series’ founder thinks that is perfect.
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