The much-anticipated Harry Potter TV reboot has stirred a heated debate online—particularly among Indian fans—after HBO revealed the cast lineup on Monday night. At the center of the storm is the announcement that Italian actress Alessia Leoni has been chosen to play Parvati Patil, a supporting but culturally significant character in J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world.
While some fans welcomed the broader representation in the reboot, many were quick to criticize what they see as yet another instance of Hollywood’s mishandling of South Asian roles. On Reddit and X (formerly Twitter), users voiced frustration over what they perceive as a pattern of casting biracial or ethnically ambiguous actors in explicitly Desi roles.
“I’m tired of seeing half-white actors cast as Desi characters,” wrote one Reddit user, summing up a common sentiment. Another added, “I’ll take back my words if she’s actually Desi, but that name doesn’t give me much hope.” One X user expressed disbelief: “Why cast someone who just looks brown when there are so many talented Indian actresses who could play Parvati? This isn’t diversity—it’s laziness.”
This isn’t the first time the reboot has been embroiled in casting backlash. Earlier this year, the show received flak for casting Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, with critics arguing that changing the race of such an iconic character from the original films was unnecessary and jarring. That controversy resurfaced larger discussions around staying true to the original character descriptions versus updating them for modern audiences.
Adding fuel to the fire is the nostalgic attachment many fans feel toward the Patil twins. In the original film series, Parvati and Padma were portrayed by Shefali Chowdhury and Afshan Azad—both British teens of Bangladeshi origin who were discovered in a local casting search. Many fans felt this casting choice, while not perfect, at least aimed for regional authenticity. Leoni’s selection, however, is seen by some as a step backward in terms of meaningful representation.
Alongside Leoni’s casting, HBO unveiled several other roles in the upcoming series. Katherine Parkinson will step into the shoes of Molly Weasley, with Lox Pratt and Johnny Flynn cast as Draco and Lucius Malfoy, respectively. Leo Earley joins as Seamus Finnigan, Sienna Moosah takes on Lavender Brown, Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby will portray Petunia and Vernon Dursley, and Bertie Carvel will play Cornelius Fudge.
For many South Asian fans, the uproar over Leoni’s casting is about more than just a single character. It’s part of a wider call for genuine inclusion—one that goes beyond superficial representation to honor cultural specificity and lived experience. As the series moves into production, it remains to be seen whether HBO will respond to the backlash or stick to its current casting decisions. Either way, the debate has made one thing clear: representation, especially when it comes to beloved franchises like Harry Potter, is no longer something audiences will stay silent about.