Harry Potter fans, brace yourselves—one major project has just announced significant changes.
Though it’s been 17 years since the last Harry Potter book was published, the wizarding world shows no signs of slowing down. Beyond the eight Harry Potter films, we’ve had a spinoff cinematic series (though that seems to have fizzled out) and multiple Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park lands at Universal parks worldwide.
What began at Universal Orlando Resort has now expanded to Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Studios Beijing. Each park features recreations of Hogwarts Castle and the village of Hogsmeade. Orlando also includes Diagon Alley and Gringotts Bank and will soon offer the Ministry of Magic when Epic Universe opens in May 2025.
In addition, we’re expecting a new audiobook reboot of the series on Audible and an HBO TV reboot. The original cast—Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and others—won’t be returning. Instead, new actors will step into the roles of Harry, Hermione, and Ron ahead of the show’s 2026 debut (when it will hopefully fix some of the film series’ biggest plot holes).
Until then, fans can get their Harry Potter fix with “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” Written by Jack Thorne and based on a story by Thorne, J.K. Rowling, and John Tiffany, the play is set 19 years after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It delves into themes of fatherhood, time travel, and the lingering influence of dark magic.
The play debuted in London’s West End in 2016, receiving acclaim for its innovative staging and emotional depth. However, it’s seen plenty of revisions since then. In London, it still runs in two parts, with a total runtime of 5 hours and 15 minutes, including an intermission. When it reopened in New York after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, it was trimmed to 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Earlier this year, the touring production—which focuses on Albus Severus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy, the sons of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy—was cut down to just 2 hours and 50 minutes. Now, the Broadway version will be reduced to match, starting November 12, 2024.
According to a statement from producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender, shared via Playbill, the play was shortened by its original team, including John Tiffany and Jack Thorne. Despite the 40-minute reduction, they assure audiences that “all the magical storytelling, emotion, and spectacle currently seen on stage at the Lyric” will remain.
This announcement comes alongside news of new cast members joining the production on November 12, including Matthew James Thomas as Harry Potter, Sarah Killough as Ginny Potter, Alex Serino as Albus Potter, Rachel Christopher as Hermione Granger, Ayanna Nicole Thomas as Rose Granger-Weasley, and Kristen Martin as Delphi Diggory.
While “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” has been a box office success, it has sparked mixed reactions among fans. Though the special effects have been widely praised, some feel that characters like Harry and Hermione seem out of character. One major plot point has even been criticized for resembling fan fiction in a negative way.
As Movie Web put it, “Instead of feeling like a brand-new story, or an addition to the already existing wizarding world, ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ almost comes across more as an excuse to revisit Harry’s years at Hogwarts.”
Despite this divide, there have been rumors that Warner Bros. considered adapting the play for the big screen. With the original cast approaching the age of their characters in the play, it’s not an impossible idea.
Given the strained relationships between Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and J.K. Rowling—due to her controversial comments on the transgender community—this seems unlikely. With that in mind, there have also been rumors that Warner Bros. has looked into ways to buy Rowling out of the franchise.
Have you ever seen Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?
