Harry Potter fans were left distraught and emotionally upset when the seven-book series concluded in 2007 and its movie adaptations were completed in 2011. The fandom faced serious withdrawals over the years, and has utilized various coping methods to deal with the pain. While some read the entire series again (probably for the 15th time), others opted to watch the entire movie series countless times.
Based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is the eighth installment of the series, but it is only available in a play script version that is written by Jack Thorne and directed by John Tiffany. The play will be presented to fans July 30 in London’s West End, while the script book will be available to purchase at midnight on July 31, which happens to be Harry’s birthday.
“I’m so excited. It comes out on Harry’s birthday, which is just classic J.K. Rowling,” said Megan McLeod, an avid Harry Potter fan. “I have waited so long for this moment … like, my whole adult life.”
Pottermore suggests the script book will focus primarily on Harry’s youngest son, Albus, and the unwanted legacy that lies before him. Overworked employee of Ministry of Magic, husband and father of three Harry Potter faces a constant battle between burying the past and moving on or the opposite. In the midst of it all, fans can expect to see dark truths the father and son pair will learn and explore.
Tickets for the play went on sale in October and quickly sold out, but 20 tickets have been sold every Friday since to entice and excite fans for the epic story that lies ahead. Rowling says, the “epic nature of the story” has caused the story to be split that some fans will be lucky to see at once while some will have to wait.
“I’m considering buying a ticket abroad to go see the play,” sophomore Miranda Gardner said. “I keep telling myself it’s all J.K-approved, so I just have to be happy I’m getting more of a look into the world we all love so much.”
Fans who are not able to see the play in London have requested the book format. The Blair Partnership that represents Rowling notes the fans’ “massive demand” led to the creation and release of the new book. While the book has not been released yet, it has remained at the top of the best sellers list on Amazon for weeks.
Bloomsbury, the UK publisher of the series, intends to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first novel, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” in 2017 by releasing four new editions of each book that correspond to each of the four houses within Hogwarts — Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.
