Mischief managed? J.K. Rowling shot down any critics who sniffed at a black actress being cast as Hermione Granger in the sequel play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," which picks up the story from after we left the now adult trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the flash-forward of "Deathly Hallows."Rowling first re-tweeted news about the play's casting:
We're thrilled to confirm Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni & Paul Thornley will play Harry, Hermione & Ron #CursedChild http://pic.twitter.com/s1rsDbrXMO
— Harry Potter Play (@HPPlayLDN) December 21, 2015
Here's the start of Pottermore's story:
But then Rowling -- and the "Harry Potter" film cast -- were inundated with questions on how they felt about a non-white Hermione.Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni and Paul Thornley will lead the cast as Harry, Hermione and Ron when Cursed Child opens in London's west end next summer. J.K. Rowling told Pottermore: 'I'm so excited with the choice of casting for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I can't wait to see Jamie, Noma and Paul bring the adult Harry, Hermione and Ron to life on stage next summer.'"
Here's Rowling's response:
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
That is now Rowling's Pinned Tweet. And quoting text to suport your argument is so Hermione of her.Rowling also tweeted casting defense from Matthew Lewis, aka the film's Neville Longbottom:
And Neville Longbottom was blonde. I really don't care. Good luck to her. https://t.co/0JNjK3Pe0V
— Matthew Lewis (@Mattdavelewis) December 21, 2015
That is now Rowling's Pinned Tweet. And quoting text to support your argument is so Hermione of her.
Rowling also tweeted casting defense from Matthew Lewis, aka the film's Neville Longbottom:
And Neville Longbottom was blonde. I really don't care. Good luck to her. https://t.co/0JNjK3Pe0V
— Matthew Lewis (@Mattdavelewis) December 21, 2015
There were also questions about this Ron being ginger enough, but apparently ginger is a state of mind. Here's one argument:
Noma, Jamie & Paul will be the most brilliant three. We're very lucky to have them. And to assure all doubters - Paul is ginger in his soul.
— Jack Thorne (@jackthorne) December 21, 2015
However, there are now fans literally highlighting text of Harry Potter books to somehow prove that Hermione was meant to be a white girl:
A black actress is cast as Hermione in new Harry Potter play @jk_rowling http://pic.twitter.com/EiFIA3eTcP
— Jenna Abrams (@Jenn_Abrams) December 21, 2015
Other fans are offering the logical defense that she could be going "white as a sheet" as the expression goes, when someone is terrified. But some people will inevitably see this as "PC" and "social justice" and "the end of the world" because it's not what they're used to, even if the author herself loves it. Solution: Don't go see the play!
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