Image copyright Simon Annand Image caption (L to R) Dumezweni, Parker and Thornley will play adult versions of Hermione, Harry and Ron

The eagerly anticipated, two-part play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has cast its lead characters.

Jamie Parker, currently starring in the West End show Guys and Dolls, will star as an adult Harry in the production, set 19 years after JK Rowling's books.

Noma Dumezweni, who recently stepped in at the last minute to replace Kim Cattrall in Linda at the Royal Court, will play Hermione Granger.

London Road star Paul Thornley completes the trio as Ron Weasley.

"I'm so excited with the choice of casting for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," Rowling said.

Image copyright Twitter

"I can't wait to see Jamie, Noma and Paul bring the adult Harry, Hermione and Ron to life on stage next summer."

Rowling went on to address the casting of a black actress as Hermione, saying the character's ethnicity "was never specified" in her original books.

"Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever," the author tweeted in response to a user's question.

"White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione."

Jack Thorne's two-part play - based on an original new story by Rowling, Thorne and director John Tiffany - sees Harry as both a father of three school-age children and an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe played the leads in the Harry Potter films

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted," reads a synopsis for the show.

Parker's other stage credits include being an original member of Alan Bennett's The History Boys at the National Theatre - a role he reprised on the big screen in 2006.

The 36-year-old has since been seen in such musical productions as Assassins and High Society.

Dumezweni, 45, won a best supporting actress Olivier award in 2005 for her role in A Raisin in the Sun.

The actress, who was born in Swaziland to South African parents, also starred alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor and Audrey Tautou in 2002 film Dirty Pretty Things.

Stage regular Thornley recently featured in Simon Pegg's romantic comedy Man Up and also appeared in ITV drama Life Begins opposite Caroline Quentin.

Previews of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child begin on 7 June at the Palace Theatre, with both plays set to open on 30 July.

Image copyright Debra Hurford Brown Image caption The play has been written by (L to R) Jack Thorne, JK Rowling and John Tiffany

The casting announcement has generated significant interest on social media, something Dumezweni jokingly highlighted on her Twitter page.

"Um... So. Just seen my feed BLOW UP," the actress tweeted on Sunday night. "What's THAT about?!"

On his own Twitter feed, Thorne said he was "so happy" the leads had been announced, describing them as "brilliant".

"Noma, Jamie & Paul will be the most brilliant three," he wrote in a follow-up post. "We're very lucky to have them."

The writer went on to "assure all doubters" that Thornley is "ginger in his soul" - a riposte to those who have suggested Ron should be played by a red-haired actor.

Parker, meanwhile, thanked his followers for the "flood of support" he has received and said he would "do [his] best for you & this phenomenal team".