The Harry Potter stage play coming to London’s West End has significantly shifted gears from when we last heard about it. Now it explores the life of Lily and James Potter.
The Daily Mail* reports that the show is called “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” and will open on the West End next summer at London’s Palace Theatre. Tickets will go on sale this fall.
According to the report, “The Cursed Child delves into what happened to Harry’s parents — Lily Evans Potter and James Potter — before they were killed by Lord Voldemort, forcing an infant Harry to be raised in miserable circumstances by his mother’s sister, Petunia, her horrid husband Vernon and their spoiled son Dudley.
J.K. Rowling “hammered out” the play with John Tiffany, who The Daily Mail says is directing.
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Update (June 26): Rowling took to her Twitter on Friday morning to issue some comments about the new play and confirmed the title and opening date. She did not describe the play’s plot, but she did say it “it is not a prequel.” Nonetheless, this writer still believes The Daily Mail’s report that it’ll focus on Lily and James, because “it is not a prequel” is not a very specific description.
Here are a few highlights:
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
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 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
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
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When we first heard about this Harry Potter stage play it was billed as a show that would “explore the previously untold story of Harry’s early years as an orphan and outcast.” Fans were rightly confused by this idea, because very little happened to Harry as he was growing up at the Dursley home prior to receiving his Hogwarts letter. We even tried to research what Rowling had previously shared about Harry’s life under the cupboard but came up empty on results.
Now, the play sounds much more interesting, and The Cursed Child could potentially include several characters who fans have been clamoring to hear more about. For example, this play sounds like a perfect places to introduce fans to stories about The Marauders.
This new idea is also brilliant because we may finally get a detailed look at what happened on that fateful night when Lily and James Potter were killed. Maybe the show will climax at the moment Voldemort tries to kill Harry but is instead blocked by Lily’s love.
The only lingering issue is the name. “Harry Potter and The Cursed Child” is redundant.
We can’t wait.
*The Daily Mail is a tabloid, but we trust them because they originally broke the news about the stage play in December 2013.
And now, relive all of Lily and James Potter’s moments in the Potter film series: