We’re thrilled about the actress cast as Hermione in ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’

There is some VERY exciting news out of the Wizarding World. As you know — because at this point you live and breathe everything Harry Potter — there’s a brand new stage show coming our way in 2016, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. It’ll pick up the HP story sometime after the epilogue of Deathly Hallows, with all our favorites returning, like Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The cast list for this new play has just been announced, and we’re grinning from ear to ear.

Jamie Parker will play Harry, with Paul Thornley playing Ron. As for whip-smart Hermione to round out the trio, that role is going to Noma Dumezweni. She’s a British, award-winning stage actress. Born in Swaziland to South African parents, Dumezweni is also a woman of color, which means she’ll add much-needed diversity to Harry Potter’s legacy.

Throughout the course of the Harry Potter books, Hermione’s ethnicity is never clearly defined, however the jacket cover of Prisoner of Azkaban does depict her as white, as do the films, which have been called out for their lack of diversity in the past.

However, author J.K. Rowling was quick to point out on Twitter that Hermione’s ethnic background was never specified in the books, and that she’s thrilled with the theatrical casting choice.

We’re also thrilled about the immensely talented Dumezweni joining the Wizarding World. A veteran of London’s theater scene, she has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and won an Olivier Award (England’s Tony) for her role in A Raisin in the Sun. She also appeared in two episodes of Doctor Who with the Tenth Doctor.

And in a few short months, she’s going to be our new Hermione Granger. While specific plot details about the play are still locked away in a Gringotts Vault, one thing is already crystal clear: Cursed Child is going to be amazing.

(Image via HarryPotterThePlay.com.)