'Harry Potter' Play Cast Revealed, Black Actress to Play Hermione

By Tequan Wright First Posted: Dec 21, 2015 03:07 PM EST

The three actors set to portray the iconic trio of protagonists in the stage production "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" have been announced.

Actors Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni and Paul Thornley have been cast as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley, respectively, in the upcoming London play.

The official announcement was made via Twitter:

We’re thrilled to confirm Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni & Paul Thornley will play Harry, Hermione & Ron #CursedChild pic.twitter.com/s1rsDbrXMO

— Harry Potter Play (@HPPlayLDN) December 21, 2015

The selection of Dumezweni, an Oliver Award-winning English actress of South African descent, drew particular attention from the "Potter" fandom. Some expressed disapproval that she was chosen to play Hermione, who was portrayed by a white actress in the movies, while others celebrated the casting or seemed unperturbed by it.

So there will be a Harry Potter play but this time Hermione is black? how did that even happen? she changed her skin color? :/ — erica (@cleverselena) December 21, 2015

Since we're discussing accuracy when racists want to complain about a Black Hermione. pic.twitter.com/eVeGat2kcE — Bougie Black Girl (@BougieBlackGurl) December 21, 2015

Series author J.K. Rowling, who also helped pen the play's script, expressed her approval for the cast on the Pottermore website.

"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," Rowling said.

She later took to Twitter, pointing out that Hermione's ethnicity was never specified in the books.