Harry Potter magic hit Asia on Sunday morning, as aspiring witches and wizards crowded into bookstores to get their hands on the first copies of a new play that imagines the hero as an adult. I was super excited when I saw the new book coming out and ten my mom suggested we come here. Scholastic – Rowling’s longtime publisher in the US and Canada – plans to release a “Definitive Edition” of the story in early 2017, which will contain fine-tuned tweaks made through Cursed Child’s preview run, including the play’s “perfected, definitive” script and final stage directions. There are no make this story into a movie at this time.
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In New York City, the Strand Book Store expected more than 400 people on Saturday night, spokeswoman Whitney Hu said.
The latest instalment picks up from the end of The Deathly Hallows, when Harry Potter, now a 37-year-old father-of-three and an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, farewells his son Albus for his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Within the United States and United Kingdom, users will be able to choose from iBooks [Direct Link], Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Google, Kobo, and WHSmith (exclusively in the U.K.) as e-book options. Chief merchandising officer Mary Amicucci said that the love for Potter is “truly multigenerational”.
Reviews have been glowing, with Daily Telegraph critic Dominic Cavendish saying that “British theatre hasn’t known anything like it for decades”.
“Twenty years ago, Harry Potter turned a generation onto reading”.
“Cursed Child” is not a novel, and it’s not primarily written by Rowling.
He said there was nothing quite like the Harry Potter series. But she added: “For those who grew up on – and with – Harry Potter, it will revive a powerful addiction to Ms. Rowling’s brand of poignant truth”. Rather, it is the script of a play that is being staged in London as of June 30.
“He goes on a very big journey during these two plays and then, yeah, I think we’re done”, the author told journalists. “This is the next generation, you know”, said Rowling, who later appeared on stage during a standing ovation at the end of the show. “I’d like as many Potter fans to see it as possible”, she explained to THR.
“Oh God, this is one of the biggest things I’ve ever done”, said Jenny Reid, 36, who had come from Virginia, United States, just to see the play.
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She said: “It is the most extraordinary fandom so I’m kind of not surprised they didn’t want to spoil it for each other but I’m so happy we got here without ruining it”.
