We’ve known that J.K. Rowling was working on a play, but now we know for certain that it will open next year. And that, contrary to earlier speculation, it’s not a sequel.
Rowling revealed that the play was written with Jack Thorne and director John Tiffany, and it will bear the name Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Meaning that, unlike the other Potter projects we’ve heard about, this one is actually about Harry. And “cursed child” seems like a title fitting for a prequel, but that the story isn’t a prequel is the only detail Rowling was willing to give.
Which leaves the possibility of a sequel — set either after the end of The Deathly Hallows’s action, but before the epilogue or after the epilogue. Or there’s a chance that the story takes place contemporaneously with the books, not that there’s a lot of time unaccounted for there. Really, there are only the summers.
She could also be getting very clever, and it isn’t technically a prequel because it takes place in the early period of the first book, with the Dursleys.
Or, to speculate wildly, it is about Harry’s childhood, but it involves time travel. So technically not a prequel, but still in the past.
See, you can deny something and still give us absolutely no information whatsoever.
Rowling revealed all of this on Twitter, apparently to commemorate the UK publication of the first Harry Potter book. Here are the tweets:
Today is a very special day for two reasons. Firstly, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published in the UK 18 years ago!
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 26, 2015
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
It will tell a new story, which is the result of a collaboration between writer Jack Thorne, director John Tiffany and myself. #CursedChild
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 26, 2015
I don't want to say too much more, because I don't want to spoil what I know will be a real treat for fans. #CursedChild
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 26, 2015
However, I can say that it is not a prequel! #CursedChild
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 26, 2015
To answer one inevitable (and reasonable!) question – why isn't #CursedChild a new novel? – I am confident that when audiences see the play
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 26, 2015
they will agree that it was the only proper medium for the story. #CursedChild
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 26, 2015
I've had countless offers to extend Harry's story over the years, but Jack, John and Sonia Friedman are a dream team! #CursedChild
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 26, 2015
It has been a huge pleasure to share with them (and soon, with you!) this untold part of Harry's story. #CursedChild
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 26, 2015
Now, feel free to make your own guesses about what “not a prequel” means and how a play can be the only possible medium for it.
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