What do we know about the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play so far? Check out our round-up post, including new character portraits and cast interviews!
About a year ago, the illustrious J.K. Rowling took to twitter to announce that her next project, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, would debut in London in July 2016! The play would be based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany.
I’m also very excited to confirm today that a new play called Harry Potter and the #CursedChild will be opening in London next year.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 26, 2015
Being the massive Harry Potter fans we are, first we flailed ALL over the place. Then we started doing mental calculations about how much of our savings we could clear out in order to make the trip to see this play. And then we started speculating about what Harry Potter and the Cursed Child would be about. Was a prequel? (Ms. Rowling immediately debunked this rumor.) Was Harry the “cursed child”? Would any of the other beloved characters be making an appearance?
In the last year, we’ve gotten more details. We know that Cursed Child takes place roughly 19 years after the ending of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, corresponding with the book’s epilogue.
In September 2015, Ms. Rowling announced that, in order to do justice to the epic nature of the story, Cursed Child would be split into two parts, intended to be seen on the same day (matinee and evening) or on two consecutive evenings:
Due to the epic nature of the story we’ve been working on, Harry Potter & the #CursedChild will be in two parts! @HPPlayLDN
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 24, 2015
In October 2015, we learned the official synopsis and that the story would follow Harry and his son Albus:
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. (via Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Official Site)
Then at the end of the year, we learned that Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni, and Paul Thornley had been cast as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Wesley, respectively. (Black Hermione FTW!!!, via Pottermore)
And as if that wasn’t enough, in February 2016 Pottermore revealed that the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child script would be sold as a book and the eighth official installment of the Harry Potter series!
The book will be out on July 31, 2016, so even if seeing the play isn’t possible for you, we can still enjoy the story. Go HERE to pre-order yours!
There’s so much to be excited about, especially since preview performances are about to start next week! But then things got even better when, this week, the official portraits of the principal actors were revealed! We get to see Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni, and Paul Thornley in their iconic roles, as well as Harry’s wife Ginny (played by Poppy Miller), Albus (played by Sam Clemmett), Hermione and Ron’s daughter Rose Granger-Weasley (played by Cherrelle Skeete), Draco Malfoy (played by Alex Price), and his son Scorpius (played by Anthony Boyle).
Take a look at the images below as well as a behind-the-scenes video of the cast during the character photo shoots:
I am feeling SO MANY feelings right now! Mostly joy and awe at how crazy it is that these actors have embodied the characters I’ve loved (and loved to hate) for so long. I’m also eager to get to know Albus, Rose, and Scorpius. (FYI: Hypable has a great editorial on how these three could potentially be the new HP Trio, and an inter-house one at that!) I’m also HELLA jealous of everyone going to see the play this summer!
For more, take a look at interviews with Mr. Parker, Ms. Dumezweni, and Mr. Thornley below, where they talk about their excitement in portraying these esteemed characters and the production process. Make sure you head over to the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child official website for information about tickets and planning your visit!