Last month, Olivier Award winner Noma Dumezweni was introduced as the new Hermione Granger for J.K. Rowling’s upcoming Harry Potter stage play. Despite her credentials, the casting was criticized by some on Twitter. Now that Emma Watson has endorsed the casting though, that can finally stop.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which Rowling wrote with Jack Thorne, will tell the story of Harry’s youngest son. Dumezweni will star as an adult Hermione, while Paul Thornley is playing Ron Weasley and Jamie Parker is Harry.
Dumezweni’s casting was criticized because she is a black actress. Rowling told fans on Twitter that she never specified the character as white, so there’s nothing wrong with this.
Over the weekend, WAtson also voiced support for Dumezweni, writing that she “can’t wait to see” her playing the role she had in the Harry Potter movies.
Dumezweni thanked Watson for her support.
The Cursed Child will be staged at the Palace Theatre in London and opens in July. You can already buy tickets here.