In 1997, the world was introduced to Harry Potter, the orphaned boy who was whisked off to magic school when he turned 11. Over the next ten years, author J.K. Rowling wove a breathtaking story of spells and sorcery, prophecy and romance, and the importance of bravery in all its forms. Along the way, the sales of Harry Potter books tallied in the hundreds of millions, and spawned a blockbuster film series. Now, here we are almost 20 years after the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and it feels like perhaps we’ve entered a brand new phase of the fandom. While the final volume of Harry’s story was published in 2007, and the conclusion to the film series was released in 2011, Harry Potter still trends on social media on a regular basis, and creates major news stories around the world. As we happily drink in the new facets of the fandom, the question arises: is this a new age of Harry Potter?
Earlier this year, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opened on London’s West End. Coinciding with the opening, the production’s rehearsal scripts were released as a hardcover book. Stamped in multiple places on the book is a seal designating the script as belonging to J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. The appearance of this seal signals a shift in the fandom as we are given more and more information about the storyworld Rowling meticulously crafted in the Potter books; it seems that after years of longing to know more about the Wizarding World, we’re going to get our wish.
Just days from now, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them will be released in cinemas around the world, kicking off a brand new series of films, set decades before Harry and his friends were even born. Not only are we getting the chance to see a new period within this world, we’re going to be immersed in an entirely new setting: a magical America. In the Potter books, we knew that the Wizarding World extended beyond just the United Kingdom, but we saw very little of this for ourselves. We already know that Fantastic Beasts will take place primarily in New York City in the 1920s, but with the recent confirmation that Johnny Depp has been cast as the infamous Gelert Grindelwald for a number of the follow-up films, came the news that the timeline of this new series will span about 19 years. This story, originally announced as a trilogy, is now set to be told over five films, setting it apart as more than a standalone spinoff. With Grindelwand and a young Albus Dumbledore in the mix, you can expect a truly epic story fresh from Rowling’s own pen.
Speaking of new lore from Rowling, since 2011, the Harry Potter community has seen a steady stream of fascinating stories, histories, and character profiles on Pottermore. Originally an interactive experience taking users through the books one chapter at a time with games, puzzles, and competitions, Pottermore has always been revered for the tantalizing glimpses beyond Harry’s story that were unlocked as progression rewards. In 2015, however, the site did away with much of the interactive components (eventually reinstating the Sorting quiz in 2016), flattening the site into an easily accessible encyclopaedia of sorts; full of new writing from Rowling, as well as Potter news.
While Pottermore originally featured new information and stories about characters from within Harry’s story – especially those only on the periphery – in 2016, it published a slew of new information about the Wizarding World in the USA. After a rich history of magic in North America was laid out, Pottermore published an account of how the first magical school in the states, Ilvermorny, came to be. Showing that she can still weave an exciting tale of magic, intrigue, and friendship, Rowling’s account of the school is some 5,000 words, and introduces brand new characters, creatures, and lore. Rowling’s Wizarding World has grown.
Across the pond, in London, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child continues to thrive, with tickets being released for as far away as February 2018. By all accounts, the production is a spellbinding marvel, with enchanting theatre craft, nuanced performances, and a captivated audience. The announcement of the two-part play’s scripts publication brought about celebration within the Potter fandom. When the big night came, the world saw a joyful return of midnight bookstore release parties – costume contests and Wizard Rock made glorious, welcome comebacks. A new addition to these celebrations were the new parents who grew up reading Harry Potter, and had brought along their young children to experience the magic for themselves. One of the most revered experiences in the fandom had come full circle. Despite the fans’ mixed reactions to the script itself, the opportunity to reconnect where it all began – in a bookstore – was magical.
Famously borne of musings upon a delayed train, Harry Potter began as a scrawny boy wizard, and eventually grew into the worldwide phenomenon credited with turning an entire generation back to reading. Though the story concluded nine years ago, it feels like we truly are entering a new age of Harry Potter. And I couldn’t be more excited for what comes next.