The main Harry Potter story may have wrapped up years ago in the books and a few years later in the box-office record setting movies, but author JK Rowling created such an incredible vibrant world that there are still lots of stories that could be told in it. We’ll be seeing one of those new stories playing out on the big screen next year in the David Yates directed Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the screenplay for which Rowling penned herself and which will star recent Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne as lead character Newt Scamander, whose adventures take place decades before the world had ever heard of The Boy Who Lived.
But that won’t be the only new Harry Potter production in 2016 though, as it’s been announced that a stage play is set to open in London’s famous West End next year. Titled Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the play was developed by Rowling alongside John Tiffany and Jack Thorne, with the latter two respectively directing and scripting the theatre production. Cursed Child is said to also take place in the years before the young Harry Potter would realize his destiny, as the official blurb describes:
“What was it like to be the boy in the cupboard under the stairs? This brand new play, which will be developed for the UK theatre, will explore the previously untold story of Harry’s early years as an orphan and outcast. Featuring some of our favourite characters from the Harry Potter books, this new work will offer a unique insight into the heart and mind of the now legendary young wizard. A seemingly ordinary boy, but one for whom Destiny has plans.”
According to the DailyMail, the play will also focus on the “untold story” of Harry’s parents, James and Lily Potter, before they were killed by the evil Lord Voldemort, and may even delve into the troubled relationship between Lily and her muggle sister as well the relationship between the Potters and a young Severus Snape.
And if you’re thinking that all of that sounds like a prequel to you, then JK Rowling would like you to know, in no uncertain terms, that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is most definitely not a prequel! The author took to social media to correct all assumptions as such as every turn – and boy were there a lot of assumptions! – to the point where even she sarcastically started doubting what the play actually was (via Pajiba):
Eventually, through all the shouts of “NOT A PREQUEL” she actually also found time to sort of hint at why this story wasn’t told with the other books.
Tickets for the prequel stage play go on sale soon, and you can sign up for alerts on their availability over on HarryPotterPlayLondon.com.
Last Updated: July 1, 2015
Hugh Lashbrooke
July 1, 2015 at 11:52
I heard it’s a prequel – can you guys confirm?
Kervyn Cloete
July 1, 2015 at 12:19
I was just waiting to see who would be the first one to do this 😀
Hugh Lashbrooke
July 1, 2015 at 12:31
I almost didn’t post it for fear of being lame, but it was definitely worth it…