The script of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” will be released in book format at midnight on July 31.  Fans of the wizard are planning to gather to receive their copy and celebrate with their traditional release parties.

It has been almost ten years since J.K. Rowling brought Harry Potter’s final adventure to the public. For people who grew up reading the adventures of the young wizard, a decade means nothing. This Saturday, fans are gathering outside bookstores Barnes & Noble. They will stay until midnight to buy their own copy of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” wearing their black robes and maroon-and-gold ties.

"British theatre hasn’t known anything like it for decades," said The Telegraph. Image credit: @JK_Rowling
“British theater hasn’t known anything like it for decades,” said The Telegraph. Image credit: @JK_Rowling

Bookstores and employees around the country are excited to bring back the beloved midnight-release parties. The book will be released during Rowling and Harry Potter’s birthdays, on July 31. Everyone is expecting big celebrations with customs, food, and props to bring back the old days.

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts I and II” is at preview stage in London’s West End. It has been praised by critics. The stage play was scheduled to officially premiere on July 30, while the release of the script was set to be published on July 31.

When the announcement of the literary release was made, Rowling rushed to clarify that it is a script of stage production and not a novel. However, it is seen as the eighth part of the adventures of the magician.

The play was actually written by Jack Thorne, an English screenwriter, and playwright who has worked on TV shows like ‘Skins’ and ‘This Is England.’ Thorne created the story along Rowling and John Tiffan. It is set nineteen years after the events that occurred in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”.

According to a synopsis of the story, published on the play’s official website, Harry Potter is now an employee at the Ministry of Magic and has three kids. Albus Severus, the youngest one, has to deal with a family legacy he did not ask for, encountering hard and dark times with his father.

Even in script format, Harry Potter has managed to break sales records once again

Most booksellers thought that sales would not be as high as they were in the past since The Cursed Child is not an actual novel. Even after a decade, Potter fans are excited to acquire a new chapter of their favorite story, and the market demand is higher than ever expected.

Book distributors such as Barnes & Noble announced that The Cursed Child is the most pre-ordered book since “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” in 2007, which has sold over 450 million copies worldwide.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child 2
“The stage design by Christine Jones is ingenious,” said The Times. Image credit: @HPPlayLDN.

Amazon also reported record-breaking pre-order numbers for “Cursed Child,” affirming that it could be the most important book of the year. While most excited readers are between 20 and 30 years old, many see the new release as an opportunity to introduce “the boy who lived” to the new generations.

Source: Huffington Post