6 Reasons Potterheads Can’t Wait For ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’

Therese

Harry Potter fans couldn’t quite believe it when J.K. Rowling announced that the Wizarding World was far from over. They were, in fact, getting an eighth book in the form of a play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, as well as a soon-to-be released film prequel, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. When we heard the news, we laughed, we cried…we asked J.K., “Are you a real-life angel?” Suffice to say, this is what Potterheads have been waiting for since closing the final chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

So why exactly do we love this latest installment of J.K. Rowling’s story? Let us count the ways.

The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is being touted as the official eighth story; it’s the continuation of events at the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. If you recall, we last see Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron sending off their children to Hogwarts. Well, 19 years is a long time, and we can’t wait to see the adult versions of the characters we grew up with, what they’re like as parents, what their kids are like, and what dark magic is waiting in store for them since the demise of You-Know-Who.

The Script is Available July 31 in e-Book Form

For fans who are unable to watch the play in London, copies of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (which is essentially the play’s script in book form) will be made available. This will allow fans to have an entirely different experience than what they’re used to, which makes it all the more exciting. If you need to get your hands on it sooner, Pottermore will have a digital copy available July 31, one day after the play premieres in London. Speaking of the play…

The London Play is Canon

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child premieres July 30 at the Palace Theatre in London’s West End — and it’s already getting rave reviews. The play is in two parts and is five hours long. Rowling herself says she considers the play canon. So not only is the Cursed Child the official eighth story, it’s also the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage.

The Cursed Child is a Mystery

Who is the Cursed Child? Part of the excitement of this new story will be discovering answers to new mysteries. Reading over the play’s description just piques our interest:

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.

Potterheads Know How to #KeepTheSecrets

Despite the many previews and events leading up to the play’s official premiere, Harry Potter fans have been cautious about revealing spoilers. Just one glance at the #KeepTheSecrets hashtag on the Twitterverse will reveal some vague, yet very positive reviews about the Cursed Child.

Where Will the Potterverse Take Us Next?

There’s been books, movies, amusement parks, and now a play. So many exciting possibilities for a fandom that spans across continents, races, languages, and fans young and old. Where will J.K. Rowling take us next? All we know is, we want front row seats next time.

Therese
Therese is a staff contributor at Fandom.