Harry Potter reboot making 'concerted effort' to cast more actors of colour
Topics: Harry Potter, Warner Bros, TV And Film
Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros.
Topics: Harry Potter, Warner Bros, TV And Film
The Harry Potter TV series reboot is reportedly making a ‘concerted effort’ to cast more actors of colour.
Earlier this month, the rumours were confirmed to be true and the Harry Potter movie franchise is getting a reboot in the form of a TV series from Max (formerly HBO Max). It will once more be inspired by the novels of the controversial J.K. Rowling.
In a press release (via GameSpot), Warner Bros. Discovery said, “Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world.”
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With such a rabid Wizarding World fanbase, whatever happens, some corners of the internet will be displeased. Whether it's the recasting of the heroic trio of Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasely) or Emma Watson (Hermione Granger). Not to mention the late greats Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid) and Alan Rickman (Severus Snape).
At this time the cast for the reboot series hasn't been confirmed. However, as reported by TheMix.net, during The Hot Mic podcast, Jeff Sneider claimed that WB Discovery would be making a “concerted effort to cast more people of colour” in the series.
What’s more, Sneider also claimed that the rebooted TV series came about following complications with the original cast when wanting to make a movie adaptation of the London stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
In particular, it is claimed that Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe allegedly did not want to work with J.K. Rowling regarding her comments on the Trans community. WB reportedly tried to buy out Rowling to pursue the movie adaptation, but an agreement could not be made. Plans then evolved into making the TV series reboot instead.
There is also talk that WB wanted the reboot to be set in America as well as France, but Rowling shot down that proposal to ensure that her property remained true to its British roots.
Sneider then went on to talk about the concerted effort to cast more people of colour, in particular, Hermione Granger. In the third novel, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Hermione is described as having a “white face”. Obviously, in the movies, she was portrayed by Caucasian actress Emma Watson
However, in the London stage play, and with the blessing of J.K. Rowling, Hermione is played by BAME actress Noma Dumezweni. Following the recasting of Dumezweni to play Hermione, she was met with racial abuse on social media and Rowling leapt to her defence by saying: “Hermione can be a Black woman with my absolute blessing and enthusiasm,” adding that actress Dumezweni was “the best actress for the job”.
It’s worth keeping in mind that we know very little about the Harry Potter TV series reboot at this time, so it’s important to take unconfirmed rumours with a pinch of salt until proven otherwise.
This is not the first time that fans have been aggrieved by casting choices in The Wizarding World. In relation to today’s story, some fans are angered at the prospect of Hermione not being played by a Caucasian actress.