Emma Watson Comments On New-Look Hermione For Stage Show

The internet went into meltdown recently after the next chapter in the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise was announced - a new instalment of the much-loved wizarding story that’ll take to the stage in 2016.

Some corners of the Potter fandom weren’t too thrilled to learn that their idolised Hermione Granger (played on the big screen by Emma Watson) was to be portrayed by award-winning Swaziland-born actress Noma Dumezweni.

‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ is a sequel to the fantasy fiction written by J.K. Rowling, following Harry and his son with the former’s now a grown man.

After a backlash over an actress of a different ethnicity now playing Hermoine, Watson was quick to show her public support for Dumezweni on Twitter.

Similarly, author and creator Rowling was vocal over the decision, stating “Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever. White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione.”

It’s not the first time we’ve seen established fictional characters change ethnicity. For example, Idris Elba’s Marvel character Heimdall did just that, leaving some fans outraged. But it’s easy to argue that the decision was a great one because Elba’s become somewhat of a fan favourite.

Jamie Parker and Paul Thornley join Noma Dumezweni as Harry Potter and Ron Weasley respectively, with ‘the Cursed Child’ performed in theatres later this year.

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Picture credit: Warner Bros., Twitter