The eighth story.
Nineteen years later.
These are strings of words that are being used to describe Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a stage play from Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. I’ll give you a second to catch your breath.
Unlike the upcoming film penned by Rowling called Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them which takes place in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter but some 70 years before Harry blinks into existence, Cursed Child is a true continuation of Harry’s story that picks up where the Deathly Hallows epilogue left off. The official logline reads:
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.
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. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.
This is pretty incredible. The only official post-Deathly Hallows information we’ve received directly from Rowling herself has come in the form of bite-sized tweets and other articles posted on Pottermore, such as this Rita Skeeter column. A full-on, two-part stage play is bound to kickstart Pottermania back into high gear again.
Rowling dreamed up Harry’s next adventure with Jack Thorne (Skins, Let the Right One In) and John Tiffany (Once, Black Watch). The famed author is playing a major role in resurrecting the boy who lived, however she is leaving writing and directing duties to Thorne and Tiffany, respectively. Imogen Heap has been tapped to compose the score.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will premiere at the Palace Theatre in London’s West End in Summer 2016. As mentioned earlier, the play will be broken up into two parts, and thankfully they will release at the same time (unlike the Deathly Hallows theatrical two-parter that had fans waiting a year to finish Harry’s story). The two parts are intended to be seen in order on the same day; for example, you’d see Part 1 at a matinee show and Part 2 in the evening. Alternatively, you can see Parts 1 & 2 on two consecutive evenings. Previews begin in London on June 7 and opening performances go into full swing starting July 30. For those of you who don’t live in the UK or can’t fly out in time (myself included), here’s to hoping that Rowling and company have the tenacity to bring Cursed Child stateside.
As we await more news to come from this exciting announcement, let’s contemplate casting. Do you think Rowling will reel Daniel Radcliffe (who has Broadway experience!) and the rest of the original film actors to take part in this new story? Sound off in the comments section below.
[Via The Play; Pottermore]