Hermione is played by a Black actor in the stage show, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Harry Potter fans have been discussing the possibility of a Black actor being cast to play Hermione in the recently-announced HBO television series.
The TV series will feature a different cast to the films, with each season promising to be “authentic to the original books” and bring Harry Potter to new audiences. T
he series will be available on Max – currently branded as HBO Max – a streaming service from Warner Bros, the production company behind the original films starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.
This has led to a lot of speculation about who will be cast in each role. In the acclaimed stage show written by Rowling, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, Hermione is played by a Black actor,
Many have wondered if the upcoming HBO series will follow suit.
One person tweeted: “I hope @jk_rowling makes Hermione black again. First it’ll piss all the racists off but also I love Ron and Hermione being mixed race couple. . Her skin colour has nothing to do with her character.”
Another said: “I wouldn’t be surprised if Hermione is black in the new Harry Potter reboot TV series.”
Calling out the usual mob who get angry at this sort of thing, a third wrote: “‘I hate race swapping characters to pacify snowflakes feelings…’ Funny now the same people who like that s**t, are the same ones complaining Hermione might be black in the new Harry Potter series… Ironic huh.”
But someone else suggested if show creators decided to cast a person of colour in the role of Hermione it could be problematic in regards to some of the terminology used in Harry Potter.
They wrote: “The writers on the HBO Harry Potter series when they realize that the new Hermione actress is going to be black and they need to find a way to justify her being called a ‘mudblood’ and being laughed at for being anti-slavery.”
Meanwhile, another suggested the show could make a real statement by casting a transgender actor in the series, tweeting: “I want them to hire a black trans actress as Hermione in the new Harry Potter series.”
Rowling has been criticised in the past for her views on the transgender community.
So far, there has been no comment from HBO or producers about any casting choices, with the series still in the very early stages of development.
Related links:
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HBO boss responds to concerns about JK Rowling being involved in Harry Potter reboot series
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