Producers of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child", which is set to open in June, announced today that Swaziland-born actress Noma Dumezweni would play the role made famous by Emma Watson in the film series.
Creator Rowling gave her seal of approval in a tweet, writing: "brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever. White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione."
However, some Twitter users pointed out lines from "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", in which the character's "white face was sticking out from behind a tree."
"We don't need silly little 'concessions' that draw attention to matters of race in literature and entertainment."
Others were unimpressed by the race debate.
"People crying about Hermione's skin colour within a fictional universe where people ride brooms to defy gravity. Stay mad," said Andrien Gbinigie.
Dumezweni won a prestigious Olivier Award, which recognise the stars of London theatre, for her role in the play "A Raisin in the Sun". She has also appeared in British TV shows "Shameless", "Doctor Who" and "Eastenders".
The play is set 19 years after the conclusion of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" -- the seventh and final novel of the series -- with Harry working for the Ministry of Magic, the government of Britain's Magical community in the saga.
"It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn't much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children," said the play's synopsis.
"As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places."
The film versions have also broken records, taking in seven billion dollars at the box office.