Harry Potter fans are about to feel like they drank some Felix Felicis, because there is all sorts of incredible news coming out of the wizarding world.
The new play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the one so “epic” that J.K. Rowling recently announced it will come in two parts, now has a story for us to start obsessing over.
“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.”
We also now know when this new chapter of the story will take place:
“When we last saw Harry he was waving off his eldest children, James Sirius and Albus Severus, at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. This next exciting chapter in the story will explore Harry’s life after that moment for the very first time.“
J.K. Rowling has always insisted the play would not be a prequel, but fans continued to ask her about it because she has said the new story would explore untold parts of Harry’s life, as well as tell us more about his parents, Lily and James Potter. It all makes sense now. This will be a Harry Potter story, but since his eldest son Albus will play such an important role, we can see how looking back to Harry’s parents will easily fit in–this is a family story.
It was just yesterday we got the first official image for the play.
That’s a pretty fascinating first image–a young boy cowering in a snitch made of twigs that has black wings instead of golden ones.
Before this news, I would have bet anything the child in the photo was Teddy Lupin, the son of the late Remus and Tonks, but it now appears it is Albus Potter. Seeing him hunched up in such a small space is reminiscent of Harry growing up in that small space under the Dursleys’ stairs.
All of this news rings true with the honesty with which J.K. Rowling has always told her story. Harry does not ride off into the sunset, a great hero able to enjoy his days without worry. He cannot escape his past, no more than anyone can, and clearly his son lives with the shadow of his father and of his family name the same way any child of a celebrity might. It would never have made sense to tell a story about Harry that was a continuation of the one told in the books, but it will be fascinating to see how his life can never truly be rid of Voldemort and the things that happened to him. Rowling always treats her audience and her story with respect, devoid of easy outs (wipe a tear for Fred), so it makes sense that Harry’s life would be complicated, as it would be for any of his kids.
Rowling says the two-part play is designed to be seen in one day (matinee and night), or on two consecutive nights. Tickets go on sale on October 28, but you need to pre-register for that before October 26, otherwise you’ll have to wait for tickets to go on sale for the general public on October 30. You can visit the Cursed Child site for all of the information.
I don’t think I am going out on a limb when I predict these tickets will move as fast as a Snitch, so if you are planning on seeing the play try to pre-register before it’s too late.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opens in the summer of 2016 in London’s West End.
What do you think of this news? Cast your best thought spell in the comments.
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HT: Pottermore
Images: Pottermore/Warner Bros.
Why not celebrate Harry’s impending return by making your very own Golden Snitch cupcakes?
