Harry Potter will return – in stage play form

It’s been nearly 20 years since the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (or The Sorcerer’s Stone, depending on where you live) – but still, the Boy Wizard is finding new ways to return to our lives. JK Rowling has announced that Harry Potter will live on in a stage play, due to run next year, by the name of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

The play will see JK Rowling collaborate with writer Jack Thorne and director john Tiffany, who’ll all help tell a brand new story from Potter’s life at Hogwarts. Don’t expect Daniel Radcliffe and others to reprise their roles, however; they’ve all grown up, moved on, and probably wouldn’t look quite right in a school uniform anymore anyway. Annoyingly, there are no other details as of yet concerning Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, except the title; there’s no clue as to where it’s set, who will feature, and when it takes place (does it occur between two of the novels? And if so, which ones?) Rowling did confirm, however, that it’s not a prequel – so we can scratch off that possibility. Rowling’s explained via Twitter below:

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

Another interesting addition to the creative team, as listed on the play’s official website, is lauded musician Imogen Heap; she’ll be providing the play’s music. Will it differ much from John William’s iconic film score?

What do you think about a continuation / embellishment / extension of Potter’s story? Will you be getting tickets to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child? Let us know in the comments section below.