The latest Harry Potter book? It seems like 2007 all over again!
Potter writer J.K. Rowling is finally launching new material set in the original universe – although it’s not really what fans were expecting.
We’ve assembled a detailed listing of everything a Muggle (the name for a non-magical human) should know about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child before its release this weekend.
1. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a play, not a book.
The book launched on July 31 will be a script with new ideas from Rowling that increase the Harry Potter universe. Separated into Part 1 and Part 2, the script book will show how Harry has been dealing with life after defeating Voldemort.
2. Cursed Child originates from the mind of JK Rowling – but she didn’t write it.
Despite the fact that Rowling has been involved with the project all over, Jack Thorne in fact penned the script with help from Rowling and the director of the play, John Tiffany.
3. The play comes about 19 years following the closing of the seventh book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
The play will pick-up exactly where Rowling left off – at platform 9 and 3/4 as Harry and his wife, Ginny Weasley, say goodbye to their son Albus as he heads off to his 1st year at Hogwarts.
The epilogue scene both in the books and the movies left fans with all the question of whether 11-year-old Albus is going to be sorted into Gryffindor or Slytheryn. Look to the play to easily answer that question!
4. The plot revolves around an “overworked” Harry and his son, Albus Severus because they struggle with the Potter legacy.
19 years soon after defeating Voldemort, Harry Potter has become just as anyone else – and over-worked government worker. The story finds Harry struggling with the stresses of working being an Auror (basically similar to a investigator in the Wizarding World) as well as being the father of three children.
His son, Albus Severus – known as after Dumbledore and Snape – may even be struggling with the pressure to live up to the men he has been named after along with the legacy his father left behind at Hogwarts. It will lead him to make exciting friendships and discover himself inside middle of transforming history while they know it.
The play may also offer a glance into life post-Voldemort for the Wizarding World 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts.
5. The play starts officially when the book comes on July 31, but it’s been going previews in London since June first week.
The expectation for what might be seen as being the eighth Harry Potter book has been creating to the fever pitch these last couple of months. Quick reviews, from fans and critics, have already been heralding it as being a great inclusion to the rule.
The play has recently been obtaining excellent reviews for another surprise – the star playing Hermione is black! Noma Dumezweni was cast to play the fan-favorite Hermione while in the play to combined responses previously in the year with a lot of fans, as well as Rowling, applauding the casting.
And she’s got some big hitters in her camp – which includes the OG Hermione, Emma Watson, Watson raved about Dumezweni’s overall performance following she attended a showing, afterwards praising the actress on social websites.
6. The Good News, all your favorites have returned!
Correct, the story will even reveal how Ron, Hermione – and also Draco Malfoy – are doing! The important players in the series now all have children heading to Hogwarts and is going to be found all over the play.
But you won’t need to book a trip to London to view the actors walk into their popular roles! Cast pictures were introduced prior to previews of the Potters and the Weasleys appearing for a family picture.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will celebrate Harry and Rowling’s birthday by dropping July 31 in books shops nationwide.
