Last week Muggles around the world celebrated the announcement that the planned stage play from the Harry Potter universe had a title and a production date. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child isn’t authored by J.K. Rowling, but she did oversee its script—and she wants to make one thing very clear: As we originally reported, the play is not a prequel.
#CursedChild NOT a prequel. Lots of people asking, so I thought I'd say that again! NOT a prequel!
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 26, 2015
NOT a prequel. Not. A. Prequel. #CursedChild https://t.co/OLAucrEppE
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 27, 2015
Well, obviously I like to keep things mysterious, so I'll just say Prequel. A. Not. It's. https://t.co/gbougs635Q
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 27, 2015
You know what? I'm starting to wonder. Maybe it is. https://t.co/Vh7yaCKP2c
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 27, 2015
.@CNBCWorld It's not a prequel. It really, really isn't a prequel. Not a prequel. Not at all prequelly. It is an anti-prequel. #NotAPrequel
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 28, 2015
The rumor that the play is a prequel probably originates from a Daily Mail report on the play, which made the unverified claim that the play would focus on Harry’s parents, James and Lily, before they were killed by Voldemort on Halloween in 1980.
For the most part, Rowling is keeping mum about the plot. While it has always promised to feature earlier scenes from Harry’s life, the title, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, makes it seem like that the sequel will feature Harry as an adult. The most likely explanation for the rumors of glimpses into Harry’s past is that he encounters a friendless kid who reminds him of himself and causes him to explore his own past through flashbacks, and possibly his parents’ past as well.
The good news is that while fans who want Rowling to write the ultimate history of the Marauders are still out of luck, the new story should be considered canon, even though it was scripted by playwright Jack Thorne.
The story of #CursedChild should be considered canon, though. @jackthorne, John Tiffany (the director) and I developed it together.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 29, 2015
Taken with the wealth of new canon Rowling has been delivering on Pottermore, combined with the upcoming Fantastic Beasts trilogy, it’s a golden age for fans who want to delve deeper into the wizarding world.
And if the new play isn’t a prequel, that means it’s something even better: A complete surprise.
Photo via swruler/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)