Harry Potter Movies Stars Tweet Support of Cursed Child Casting
By Ani Bundel
The stars of the original Harry Potter franchise took to twitter to defend the casting in the new Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and especially of Noma Dumezweni as Hermione.
Despite Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling coming down firmly in support of a person of color playing Hermione in the new Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and officially making the “racebent Hermione” tumblrs canon with one swoop, the debate and the hate continued on Twitter for most of the day yesterday. Rowling continued a full-throated defense of her new, older set of the “Golden Trio.”
@johngreen Thanks! John (director) cast my three first choices so I'm very happy! His decision, though, because Writers. Don't. Do. Casting.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 21, 2015
When some accused her of flip flopping, she pointed out she never had any control over who they cast as Harry, Hermione and Ron in the original movies.
@upmeli Writers. Don't. Cast. Movies. Ask. John. Green.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 22, 2015
But with the continuing Twitter horror show refusing to abate, some of the cast of the original eight Potter movies felt they couldn’t sit on the sidelines either. (Especially with one of the major “complaints” being that Hermione’s casting being different from the movies was to blame.)
Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy was rather stark.
Oh no, Jo, it's a PR disaster - you've alienated all the racists. Hopefully there's an audience left somewhere x https://t.co/XeZEE44xLM
— Jason Isaacs (@jasonsfolly) December 21, 2015
Chris Rankin, who played Percy Weasley had this to say:
I think our new Harry, Ron and Hermione are looking excellent :) also very glad they didn't cast lookalikes. Can't wait to find out more!
— Chris Rankin (@chrisrankin) December 21, 2015
And those are the ones who played the characters of questionable morals! Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom pointed out that he technically “didn’t match” the books description of his character.
And Neville Longbottom was blonde. I really don't care. Good luck to her. https://t.co/0JNjK3Pe0V
— 🇺🇦Matthew Lewis🇺🇦 (@Mattdavelewis) December 21, 2015
And Evanna Lynch, who was eviscerated by some because she did fit their image of Luna Lovegood, also pointed out that this was a dumb way of evaluating an actor’s ability to portray a character.
But I think my personal favorite set of tweets came from Rohan Gotobed, who played Young Sirius Black int he flashbacks of the Potter films.
I've never seen Hermione as a person of colour, but if Noma Dumezweni is a great actress (as by all accounts she is) it won't matter. (1/3)
— Rohan Gotobed (@Rohan_Gotobed) December 21, 2015
I've always seen Ron as more freckled with a slightly different face and hair, but if Paul Thornley is a good actor, then it won't matter
— Rohan Gotobed (@Rohan_Gotobed) December 21, 2015
I've always seen Harry as a little more scrawny, not as confident, but if Jamie Parker is a good actor, then it won't matter. (3/3)
— Rohan Gotobed (@Rohan_Gotobed) December 21, 2015
As for the original “golden trio,” neither Daniel Radcliffe nor Rupert Grint are on Twitter. But Emma Watson is, and she very ostentatiously retweeted some of the above, including Matthew Lewis’ tweet. Clearly she supports the new Hermione as well.
Next: British parents complaining about Harry Potter in schools
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child begins previews at the Palace Theater in May of 2016.