Shocking Revelation: Marvel Star Slams Harry Potter Franchise Over Controversial Cast Choice, Breaking the Internet!

MCU star Anthony Mackie has expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of diversity and representation in the casting of the Harry Potter franchise. In an interview with Inverse, Mackie shared his criticisms of the cast and their failure to include significant roles for young Black actors. He specifically mentioned the absence of such roles throughout the series, while discussing his upcoming film Spark, which highlights the underappreciated contribution of Claudette Colvin to the Civil Rights Movement. Below is Mackie's complete comment:

Harry Potter's Diversity Criticisms Explained

Harry Potter did not have any Black friends. Frodo journeyed through the entire universe without encountering a Black individual. I envision Frodo experiencing life in the hood - a concept that I intend to transform into a skit if I ever get the opportunity to perform on Saturday Night Live.

Although the Harry Potter franchise has achieved remarkable success, it has faced criticism in recent years for its lack of diversity in casting. Essentially, the majority of the main characters are portrayed by white actors, resulting in limited representation for non-white actors. Notably, figures like Dean Thomas and Kingsley Shacklebolt, who are two significant Black characters in the franchise, are relegated to minor roles with only a few lines each throughout the span of eight movies.

Content: It's important to acknowledge that Harry Potter, despite its relatively young age, reflects the time period in which it was created. This is not meant to criticize the individuals involved for any potential racial biases, but simply to note that during the early 2000s, there wasn't a focused effort to ensure diversity and representation in entertainment. Although the Fantastic Beasts spinoff movies have made improvements in this area, they too have faced similar criticisms.

With the recent announcement of a Harry Potter TV show, it is highly likely that the franchise will attempt to address the criticism regarding its lack of diversity. Race does not define the central characters' journeys, and as demonstrated successfully by Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, reimaging Hermione as a young Black woman wouldn't alter her role in the story. While there is nothing wrong with continuing to enjoy the Harry Potter franchise, it is important to recognize that its casting choices may become more noticeable as progress is made towards on-screen representation.

Source: Inverse