Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Published on July 31, 2016, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child serves as a direct sequel to the original novel series, though it arrived first as a stage play before becoming a script book. Written by Jack Thorne based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Thorne himself, this 352-page work picks up nineteen years after the final battle at Hogwarts. The narrative centers on Albus Severus Potter, the youngest son of Harry, who now heads the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. When Albus arrives at school and receives his Sorting Hat decision for Slytherin instead of Gryffindor, he struggles with the weight of his father's history. This tension drives a plot where father and son must confront dark forces that threaten to rewrite the past. The production premiered at London's Palace Theatre on June 7, 2016, earning critical praise for its visual effects and acting while sparking mixed reactions among long-time fans. It quickly became a global phenomenon, selling over 6 million tickets across multiple international runs. The Broadway version opened at the Lyric Theatre in April 2018, winning six Tony Awards including Best Play, while productions launched in Melbourne, San Francisco, Hamburg, Toronto, and Tokyo throughout the following years. Originally designed as two separate parts shown on one day or over two nights, most versions now run as a single three-and-a-half-hour show. Only the West End currently maintains the original split format until September 2026.[edit]