Photo credit: Matt Holyoak

Dame Shirley Bassey, whose iconic glamour and powerhouse vocals helped inspire the character of Celestina Warbeck in the original Harry Potter stories by J.K. Rowling has officially stepped into the Harry Potter universe. Audible and Pottermore Pubishing announced that the legendary singer has recorded three original songs for Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions, each performed with a 17-piece big band.

The first track, You Stole My Cauldron But You Can’t Have My Heart, composed by Ashley Griffin, will appear in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Full-Cast Edition), set for release on December 16, 2025.

Dame Shirley Bassey said, ‘I’m honoured to have been an inspiration for the original character of Celestina Warbeck in the Harry Potter series. Bringing her music to life in this ambitious project from Pottermore Publishing and Audible was a joy, and I hope these songs throughout the audiobooks offer a truly magical listening experience for fans worldwide.’

Two additional songs will debut with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Full-Cast Edition) on April 14, 2026 with A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love, also composed by Griffin and You Charmed the Heart Right Out of Me, composed by Kezia Tomsett

Bassey recorded her vocals at Miraval Studios in France, while the big-band arrangements were performed and captured at Abbey Road Studios in London, adding a rich, classic shimmer befitting Celestina Warbeck’s status as Harry Potter’s beloved ‘Singing Sorceress.’

The new recordings mark the first time Dame Shirley has lent her voice to official Harry Potter music, bringing a long-imagined character fully to life for fans around the globe.

Listen to an exclusive snippet below:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is now available to listen on Audible, as a full-cast edition, followed by monthly releases of books two to seven:

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets releases 16^th December 2025
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban releases 13^th January 2026
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire releases 10^th February 2026
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix releases 10^th March 2026
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince releases 14^th April 2026
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows releases 12^th May 2026

Head to stories.jkrowling.com to listen to an exclusive preview.

In April 2024, Pottermore Publishing and Audible announced a brand-new co-production of the original Harry Potter stories, revisiting the beloved listening experience for the first time ever.

Today, additional names included in the line-up of 200 performers have been revealed:

• Bill Nighy as Professor Slughorn
• David Holmes as Stan Shunpike
• Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Professor Trelawney
• Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù as Sirius Black
• Anna Maxwell Martin as Rita Skeeter
• Mackenzie Crook as Kreacher
• Stephen Mangan as Nearly Headless Nick
• Tracy-Ann Oberman as Madam Hooch
• Millie Gubby as Luna Lovegood
• Jude Farrant will play Draco Malfoy in audiobooks one, two and three, with Maximus Evans continuing the role in audiobooks four through seven
• Jake Sigsworth will play Neville Longbottom in audiobooks one, two and three, with Archie Mountain continuing the role in audiobooks four through seven

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will debut on 4th November 2025 from Audible, followed by monthly releases for books two to seven.

All seven audiobooks are available to pre-order. For more information, head to HarryPotter.com.

In April 2024, Pottermore Publishing and Audible announced a brand-new co-production of the original Harry Potter stories, revisiting the beloved listening experience for the first time ever.

Today, it was announced that the lineup for the full-cast audio production of over 200 performers will include:

• Golden Globe Award winner Hugh Laurie as Albus Dumbledore
• Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA Award winner Matthew Macfadyen as Lord Voldemort
• Academy Award winner and Emmy Award winner Riz Ahmed as Professor Snape
• BAFTA Award nominee Michelle Gomez as Professor McGonagall
• Laurence Olivier Award and Critics Choice Award nominee Cush Jumbo OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) as the narrator
• Frankie Treadaway, Max Lester, and Arabella Stanton will play Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger respectively in audiobooks one, two and three
• Jaxon Knopf, Rhys Mulligan, and Nina Barker-Francis will assume the roles of the beloved trio (Harry, Ron, and Hermione respectively) beginning in audiobook four, carrying through to the epic conclusion

Additional cast members will be announced this autumn.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will debut on 4^th November 2025, with the following release dates for books two to seven:

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets releases 16^th December 2025
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban releases 13^th January 2026
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire releases 10^th February 2026
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix releases 10^th March 2026
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince releases 14^th April 2026
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows releases 12^th May 2026

From today, all seven audiobooks are available to pre-order. For more information, head to HarryPotter.com.

Production is officially underway on the HBO Original Harry Potter television series, heralded by the first picture of Dominic McLaughlin in costume as Harry.  Set to premiere in 2027 on HBO and HBO Max, filming is taking place at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the UK, with the series set to roll out globally.

New cast members include Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Louise Brealey as Madam Hooch, and Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander. The creative team features top talent behind the scenes, including Adriano Goldman (Director of Photography), Cate Hall (Hair and Makeup), and Mara LePere-Schloop (Production Design), among others.

The series is written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner, with Mark Mylod directing multiple episodes. Executive producers include J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and David Heyman.

Tom Felton, known to millions as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, is stepping back into the wizarding world—this time, live on Broadway.

Felton will make his Broadway debut in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at New York’s Lyric Theatre for a strictly limited run, beginning Tuesday, 11 November 2025 to 22 March 2026.

This historic moment marks the first time a member of the original film cast has reprised their role in the award-winning stage production. Felton is the same age as his character in the production.  Set nineteen years after the Battle of Hogwarts, Cursed Child follows Harry, Draco, and their children as a new chapter begins at Hogwarts.

Tom Felton said:
“Being a part of the Harry Potter films has been one of the greatest honours of my life. Joining this production will be a full-circle moment for me… I am thrilled to be able to share Draco’s story with the greatest fan community in the world.”

Fans can sign up for early ticket access ahead of the presale on Tuesday, 10 June at 11 a.m. ET. General sales begin Thursday, 12 June.

The HBO Original HARRY POTTER television series has cast screen newcomers Dominic McLaughlin in the role of Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.

Francesca Gardiner (Showrunner, Executive Producer) and Mark Mylod (Director of multiple episodes, Executive Producer) said:

‘After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron. The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen. We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It’s been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there.’

About the Series

The series will be a faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter books by author and executive producer J.K. Rowling. Each season will bring Harry Potter to new and existing audiences, streaming exclusively on HBO Max where it’s available, including in upcoming launch markets Germany, Italy and the UK.  The original classic films will remain available to watch around the world.

HBO has announced the following actors as series regulars for the Harry Potter TV series:

• John Lithgow – the six-time Emmy®, two-time Tony Award winner, and BAFTA and Oscar® nominee – will take on the iconic role of Albus Dumbledore.
• Paapa Essiedu, Emmy® and BAFTA nominee, will portray Severus Snape.
• Nick Frost, BIFA nominee, has been cast as Rubeus Hagrid.
• Janet McTeer, winner of both a Tony and an Olivier Award, and a nominee for the Oscar® and Emmy®, will play Minerva McGonagall.

Additionally, the following actors will appear in guest or recurring roles:

• Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell
• Paul Whitehouse, BAFTA winner, as Argus Filch

Francesca Gardiner (Showrunner and Executive Producer) and Mark Mylod (Director of multiple episodes, Executive Producer) said:

“We are happy to announce the casting of John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, Nick Frost, Luke Thallon and Paul Whitehouse to play Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Hagrid, Quirrell and Filch. We’re delighted to have such extraordinary talent on board, and we can’t wait to see them bring these beloved characters to new life.”

About the Series

The series will be a faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter book series by author and executive producer J.K. Rowling. Exploring every corner of the wizarding world, the series will feature an exciting and talented new cast to lead a new generation of fandom and will be full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters Harry Potter fans have loved for over twenty-five years. Each season will bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new and existing audiences and will stream exclusively on Max where it’s available globally. The original, classic and cherished films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch around the world.

The producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions – announced today one new international production of the multi award-winning play. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will launch in the Netherlands in 2026.

The Netherlands production is to be performed in Dutch and produced by Stage Entertainment. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in the Netherlands will be performed as the reimagined, one-part version of the play and mark the ninth production of the critically acclaimed show.

Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender, producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child said “We are thrilled to be launching a new production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The story of Harry Potter resonates with so many people around the world, and we are excited to be able to share our play with new audiences in the Netherlands. We look forward to collaborating with our producing partner Stage Entertainment to bring the magic of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to new countries.”

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is now playing in London, New York, Tokyo and Hamburg. School productions continue in the UK and US, as does the touring version which moves to Los Angeles early 2025.  For further details about all productions and all the latest news go to the website here.

HBO, in association with Warner Bros. Television, has named Francesca Gardiner (HBO’s “Succession,” “Killing Eve”) as writer (showrunner) and executive producer and Mark Mylod (HBO’s “Succession,” “Game of Thrones” and “The Last of Us”) as executive producer and director of multiple episodes of the upcoming original Harry Potter series.

The series will be a faithful adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books and will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail and characters Potter fans have loved for over twenty-five years, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain available to watch globally.

Produced in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television, the series is executive produced by J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts; and David Heyman for Heyday films.

Pottermore Publishing and Audible have announced a brand-new co-production of the original Harry Potter stories, revisiting the beloved listening experience for the first time ever.

Scheduled for late 2025, these full-cast audio productions will bring these iconic stories to life as never heard before, offering immersive audio entertainment through high-quality sound design, a full range of character voices, and real-world sound capture.

Fans of the original Stephen Fry and Jim Dale audiobooks will be delighted to learn that their iconic narrations will remain available. But now, they will be joined by these new full-cast editions where almost every character in Harry’s world will have their own unique voice, giving listeners another way to hear the magic on Audible.

Head to Wizarding World for more information and exclusive video.

Pottermore Publishing and Audible have announced an extraordinary milestone – over one billion hours of the Harry Potter stories have now been listened to on Audible globally, since the audiobooks were first made available there seven years ago!  Mind you, that’s just a number (even if it is a massive one)! What’s immeasurable is the love that fans have for these stories.  To help you visualise that figure, in one billion hours you could hypothetically:

• Take the iconic train journey from King’s Cross to Edinburgh 222 million times
• Listen to Harry Potter books 1-7 read by Jim Dale 8,547,009 times
• Go through Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry more than 14,000 times!

Stephen Fry, who narrates the UK English editions of the audiobooks, says: ‘These statistics are astonishing. Almost every day someone will come up and tell me how important the audiobooks have been in their lives, and it means the world to me.’  Jim Dale, narrator of the North American editions, says: ‘Especially rewarding for me has been the opportunity to touch the lives of so many young people, and the knowledge that my spoken words have brought both comfort and support when needed, and, of course always, so much magic!’

Jennie McCann, Pottermore’s MD, explains: ‘We’re so delighted how many listeners have made a permanent place in their lives for these audiobooks. The original recordings that were released on CD are cherished versions of these incredible stories, so we took great care when remastering them to deliver the best sound quality for the new generation of listeners. We’ve since produced and released editions in an array of further languages and continue to add to that list each year both on Audible and via other platforms.’  Diana Dapito, Head of Consumer Content at Audible, says ‘the evergreen popularity and insatiable appetite for the Harry Potter audiobooks on Audible is both staggering and, at once, not at all surprising.’

We’d love to hear your stories of listening to Harry Potter on audio – share your listening love on social media using the hashtag #HarryPotterxAudible #HearTheMagic

Harry Potter’s fifth year at Hogwarts featuring magical locations, iconic story moments and favourite characters, including Tonks and Luna Lovegood are brought to life by award winning illustrators Jim Kay and Neil Packer.

The illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has been nearly two years in the making.  As the project unfolded, Jim Kay decided it was time to bring in guest collaborator and dear friend, Neil Packer, to help bring a new dimension to the story.  The book is now available via Bloomsbury in the UK, and Scholastic in the US.

This latest edition in the series will be the last to be illustrated by Jim Kay.  After nearly ten years of extraordinary commitment and five spellbinding books, Jim is ready to pass the illustration baton on to future creative collaborators.

Opening at the newly refurbished CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto, this is the sixth production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to open worldwide. With an all-Canadian cast critics have described the play as ‘jaw-dropping’, ‘dazzling’, ‘heart-felt’, ‘mind-boggling’ and ‘like nothing you have ever seen before’.

The theatre had a full make-over for the show, owner and co-producer David Mirvish said: “I love the intimacy of it. No matter where you’re sitting watching this show, you’re going to be a part of it. You have nothing to hold you back, you feel drawn in. So the designing of creating a theatre inside a theatre was really brilliantly done, and all those people who thought that out really deserve a lot of credit.”

Producer Colin Callender went on to say: “It is the most beautiful theatre. It looks gorgeous and all the work that’s been done in preparation for the show has simply turned it into a magnificent theatre. It always was a magnificent theatre, but now it’s just glorious.”

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child continues to invite fans to return to the magic.  With all seven productions now open, in six countries, on four continents, from Saturday, 25 June 2022, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will have actors performing live on stage somewhere around the globe continuously over a 24-hour period. That’s 288 cast members making 310 spells happen live on stage all in one day.

Harry has a new look! The global digital publisher of the Wizarding World, Pottermore Publishing, has brought its cover art bang up to date with a dynamic new suite of designs for the Harry Potter eBooks and audiobooks.

Bringing both iconic and lesser-known scenes from these beloved stories alive in thrilling detail for fans and new readers alike, the new cover art invites the next generation of readers and listeners to jump into the action and discover the Harry Potter books on their phones, tablets, e-readers and other devices.

The new covers, as created by design team Studio La Plage, bring to vivid colour scenes from the books, some never before depicted, such as Harry’s Great Lake task in Goblet of Fire, as well as giving new perspectives on iconic moments such as Harry’s first Quidditch match.

Jack Bedford, Associate Creative Director of Studio La Plage, said: ‘We wanted to retain the essence of what readers know and love most about the Wizarding World.  The new covers celebrate the moment before the action, asking the question ‘what happens next’?  We can’t wait to share them.’

The seven cover designs will be adopted in all territories across the digital Harry Potter eBooks and audiobooks from 31^st May 2022.  Each cover places the characters at the centre of the action, and incorporate small details from the stories to delight and intrigue.  Take a closer look at the cover artwork for each book and see what you can spot!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in Melbourne has sold over 1 million tickets!

The show has broken the record for the most tickets sold of any stage play in Australia despite being closed for months due to Covid-19 restrictions. Over half the attendees were first time theatre goers, demonstrating how the show has brought the magic of the wizarding world to a whole new audience.

This wonderful milestone is ahead of the opening of the reimagined one-part production scheduled for later this month.

Last night the cast and filmmakers came together for the world premiere of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore at the Royal Festival Hall in London. They were joined, on the red carpet, by a number of fans and influencers from around the world to celebrate the release of the third Fantastic Beasts film.

 

 

 

 

You can watch the livestream from the red carpet here:

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore will be released on the 8^th of April in the UK and the 15^th of April in the US. Visit WizardingWorld.com for more news, updates and details about the upcoming film.

 

(Photos by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Warner Bros.)

The cover design for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – The Complete Screenplay, written by J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves, has been revealed.

On the 19 July, the perfect accompaniment to the third Fantastic Beasts film is set to be published globally. The English language publishers are Little, Brown (U.K.), Scholastic (U.S. and Canada), and Pottermore Publishing (eBook).

The cover features the magnificent Hogwarts castle, framed by the setting sun and gliding over the lake is a majestic and fiery phoenix, signifying Dumbledore himself.

In the official screenplay, readers can explore every scene of the complete original script, and go beyond it with special features including behind-the-scenes content and commentary. Fans can read about director David Yates’ vision for the film in his foreword, and illuminating insights from producer David Heyman and key cast members including Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law.

The book is also enhanced with behind-the-scenes content from the multi-award-winning production design team, including costume designer Colleen Atwood, graphic design studio MinaLima and others.

Visit WizardingWorld.com for all the latest news and updates about Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is a spellbinding adventure delivering the magic and excitement of the wizarding world that has been enchanting movie audiences around the globe for 20 years.

Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world.  Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers.  But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines?

You can watch the latest trailer here:

The film releases in the UK on 8 April and 15 April in the US. Following this, the screenplay of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore will be published in the English language by Little, Brown (U.K.), Scholastic (U.S.) and Pottermore Publishing (ebook) on 19 July 2022. More languages will follow on that date.

Visit WizardingWorld.com for all the latest news and updates about Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.

 

 

The film is released on 8^th April 2022 in the UK, shortly followed by the U.S. on the 15^th April 2022 and is directed by David Yates.

As always, wizardingworld.com have the full story, https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/watch-the-first-trailer-for-fantastic-beasts-the-secrets-of-dumbledore

Following the successful re-openings of Melbourne and London, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has returned triumphant to the Lyric theatre New York in its new reimagined format, while in Hamburg, Harry Potter und das verwunschene Kind celebrated its German-language two-part premiere last Sunday.

The Broadway production, which has been boldly reimagined for its big comeback, opened to great critical acclaim, with the New York Times proclaiming it ‘Streamlined and still magical…this new version remains ravishingly entertaining’ and Broadway News calling it ‘A theatrical accomplishment of a very rare order.’  Theatremania wrote of the newly-staged, singular performance: ‘The show delivers spectacularly. Jamie Harrison’s illusions regularly receive showstopping applause, the kind which might make the actors jealous were it not for the fact that their performances are integral to making the magic seem real. If you suspend your disbelief just a little bit (it’s not hard considering the level of artistry at work) you’ll feel like a kid again, witnessing incredible wonders onstage.’

Potter fans also welcomed the one-part version, with Leaky Cauldron declaring: ‘the joy and inspiration hold true.…the Cursed Child team (cast, creative, and crew) has completely given their hearts to re-mounting something still bewitching to behold. The magic feels as fresh as it did on its original opening day, April 22, 2018, and the play itself commands both stunned awe and breathless reverence from an audience of 1500+ theatergoers.’

Meanwhile in Germany, the long-awaited opening of the original version at the newly refurbished Mehr! Theatre am Großmarkt in Hamburg –  the first non-English language production of the eighth story in the world – received an equally rapturous reception. Broadway World declared:‘HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD is a modern theatrical masterpiece. The art of making theatre reinvented. It gives you shivers down your spine, laughter, and also some tears.’

The two-part original will also be reimagined as a singular performance for theatres in San Francisco, Toronto and Tokyo in 2022, with Melbourne adopting this version in May 2022.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is now playing in London, New York, Melbourne and Hamburg.  For further details about all productions and all the latest news go to the website here.

 

 

 

 

After 49 weeks of closure, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has reopened its doors at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre. The show had been suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions, but now with new safety measures in place it’s time to turn the theatre lights back on and let the magic begin again.

To celebrate the first production returning, the Melbourne company arranged a special surprise for the audience… Each audience member was gifted a wand as they arrived at their seats.  As the curtain call completed, the cast invited the audience members, to join them in raising their wands up in the air to mark the show’s return.

Watch the full wand raising moment here.

Teachers can continue to post videos of themselves reading aloud from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books, as well as her original fairy tale The Ickabog, to their students currently prevented from attending school again following the latest lockdown restrictions across the United Kingdom. This follows J.K. Rowling and her agents The Blair Partnership relaxing the usual copyright permissions required.

Teachers anywhere in the world who are having to teach remotely are permitted to post videos of themselves reading from Harry Potter books 1-7 and The Ickabog onto schools’ secure networks or closed educational platforms from today until 31^st March 2021, at which point it will be reviewed.  A full set of Guidelines for Teachers are downloadable here for The Ickabog and Harry Potter books 1-7.

J.K. Rowling’s first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, has been awarded the 30from30 award at The British Book Awards, also known as The Nibbies.  The 30from30 award is a one-off prize honouring the best and most influential book from the past 30 years, and is chosen from past winners of the Awards

The Nibbie was awarded at a virtual event on Monday 29^th June.  In her acceptance video, J.K. Rowling said, ‘It’s particularly meaningful because the first award Harry ever won was a Nibbie.’ She added, ‘Since childhood, books have been my greatest refuge, and nothing makes me prouder than to think that my books have been that for other people.  So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.’

The Bookseller, the book trade magazine and organiser of the Awards commented; ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was the book that lived. It changed everything for everyone, and is the rightful winner of this one-off award.’

Well-known faces from the Wizarding World and beyond have lent their voices and passion for the stories they love by filming themselves reading from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Sorcerer’s Stone in the US) for families to enjoy while they are confined at home. 

Daniel Radcliffe, Stephen Fry, David Beckham, Dakota Fanning, Claudia Kim, Noma Dumezweni, and Eddie Redmayne are amongst the cast of narrators, with more surprises and special appearances to come. Each will be reading different sections of the book, with its themes of family, friendship, courage and overcoming adversity, to families around the world. 

First-up is Daniel Radcliffe, a face instantly synonymous with Harry Potter, reading Chapter One, ‘The Boy Who Lived’. 

Starting today (5^th May), all seventeen chapters of the book will be released between now and the middle of summer.  Videos will be posted weekly on Harry Potter At Home, the online resource of free initiatives designed to help bring the magic of Harry Potter to children, parents and carers in lockdown

An audio-only version will be streamed for free on Spotify and Spotify Kids for children.

To enjoy the latest readings click here.

 

J.K. Rowling and her Wizarding World partners have launched Harry Potter At Home today to help children, parents, carers and teachers confined at home during the Covid-19 outbreak.

WizardingWorld.com is hosting Harry Potter At Home, a hub of information and activities for parents, children and carers to discover the magic of Harry Potter, by reading or listening on their own or together with loved ones, whilst staying at home. Explore the hub for a wealth of creative and craft activities, quizzes, puzzles and more. There will also be a weekly email newsletter bringing fresh ideas into inboxes each Friday. 

Read here for more details on the Harry Potter At Home initiative.

In addition, partnerships with Audible and library book supplier OverDrive are bringing Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone free to homes during April. The audiobook can be streamed for free via the Audible Stories platform, whilst the eBook and audiobook can be borrowed in over 20 different languages worldwide via the OverDrive library services.

More #HarryPotterAtHome ideas are currently in development, and will be announced soon – keep an eye on www.harrypotterathome.com for more details.

Stars from the Wizarding World including Jude Law, Warwick Davis, Noma Dumezweni, Jason Isaacs, Evanna Lynch, Sally Mortemore and Bonnie Wright have joined forces to record individual stories from J.K. Rowling’s Hogwarts Library book The Tales of Beedle the Bard: the first time the book has been brought to life in audio, which is also supporting J.K. Rowling’s international children’s charity Lumos.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard was first referenced in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the fictional fairy tales all wizarding children grew up with.  Within this collection of fables was the origin story of the Deathly Hallows, ‘The Tale of the Three Brothers’, which taught Harry about the three most powerful objects in the wizarding world.

These funny and captivating tales are accompanied by explanatory notes from Professor Albus Dumbledore (narrated by Jude Law). His illuminating thoughts reveal the stories to be much more than simple moral tales

The Tales of Beedle the Bard was originally handwritten and illustrated by J.K. Rowling as a limited edition of only seven copies, one of which was sold at auction in 2007 in aid of charity. Published the following year, the book has helped raised money for her international children’s charity Lumos ever since.

For more information about The Tales of Beedle The Bard audio edition go to wizardingworld.com.

Teachers can now post videos of themselves reading aloud from the Harry Potter books to children prevented from attending school because of the Covid-19 virus. This follows J.K. Rowling and her agents The Blair Partnership relaxing the usual copyright permissions required.

Teachers anywhere in the world are permitted to post videos of themselves reading from Harry Potter books 1-7 onto schools’ secure networks or closed educational platforms from today until the end of the school year (or the end of July in southern hemisphere). A full set of Guidelines for Teachers are downloadable here.

The open licence for teachers is the first of several initiatives being planned to help bring Harry Potter to children at home, which will be announced shortly – watch this space for more details! 

#HarryPotterAtHome

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child official opened at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco yesterday, bringing the eighth story to Harry Potter fans on the West Coast.

The cast and crew from Cursed Child were joined by producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callendar, who were thrilled to be there and very excited about the show opening in the city. “To actually be working here and have a show in this absolutely amazing place is, for me, one of the highlights of my life,” said Friedman.

J.K. Rowling, who couldn’t attend the opening delivered a special letter to the San Francisco production which said, “I couldn’t be prouder that the play’s now opening in one of my favourite cities!”

San Francisco is now the fourth production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to open, with Hamburg and Toronto set to open in 2020. Hamburg will be the first non-English language production.

For more about the opening weekend and latest news about the production go to WizardingWorld.com and the Cursed Child website.

Last night Harry Potter and the Cursed Child unveiled its new creative approach with a bold Times Square billboard takeover. Passers-by and assembled fans watched in wonder as every screen in Times Square lit up in the show’s colours before being engulfed in darkness, Dementors and an ominous Dark Mark…

In the new posters and front-of-theatre artwork, an adult Harry ‘casts’ a magnificent lightning bolt, but within the spell’s glow is the looming threat of a Dark Mark. The prophetic new tagline – ‘Sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places’ – was written by J.K. Rowling for the original play description and lends further intrigue to the image.

The new design celebrates Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’s place as the eighth story in the canon by incorporating J.K. Rowling’s name and the iconic lightning-bolt logo. This logo was originally designed by legendary Harry Potter illustrator Mary GrandPré over 23 years ago, and has continued to be used across books, films and many official Harry Potter projects all over the world since.

Visit Pottermore to find out more.

The producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child have announced two further locations for the award-winning show.

From the West End to the West Coast, the next US production of Cursed Child will begin in Autumn 2019 at the Curran in San Francisco, California. Built in 1922, the Curran has housed some of the biggest productions in theatre history and is one of the leading live entertainment venues in North America.

Producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender said, “The beautiful and historic Curran in San Francisco is the perfect theatre for the next North American company of Cursed Child. We are delighted that ATG and Carole Shorenstein Hays have worked their magic to provide the ideal West Coast home for the production.”

And what’s more, today saw the announcement of the first non-English version of the play, with the Mehr! Theater am Großmarkt in Hamburg set to host its German premiere from the spring of 2020. In preparation for this, the venue will undergo an extensive redesign starting in May 2019.

Friedman and Callender added, “We know Harry Potter has millions of German speaking fans and so we’re very proud that we are able to bring our beautiful production to Germany. The Mehr! Theater am Großmarkt in Hamburg is a unique space, and we’re delighted and grateful to have the opportunity to design and create a perfect, bespoke new home for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in Germany.”

Information on performance dates, tickets, casting and all further details for both productions will be announced in the coming months. Visit www.HarryPotterThePlay.com  to sign up for the mailing list to stay up to date with the latest news and updates on Cursed Child around the world.

Original London Cast

Wizarding World fans in Australia have lots to look forward to, as the producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child have announced that tickets for the upcoming Melbourne production will go on sale at on 6^th August. Fans who sign up to the mailing list by 29^th July will receive priority booking access before tickets go on general sale the following week. It was also confirmed today that preview performances at the Princess Theatre will begin on Wednesday January 16^th 2019.

With all this news, producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender said “We’re so thrilled that Melbourne is Cursed Child’s next home and can’t wait to move into the gorgeous Princess Theatre soon. Our design team have been working closely with the Princess to renovate and redesign parts of the theatre – to not only make it more comfortable for audiences but add an additional touch of magic to the beautiful landmark. We look forward to sharing more production news over the coming months.”

Stay tuned for more updates on Cursed Child in Melbourne https://www.harrypottertheplay.com/au/

Following the exhibition’s sellout run at The British Library in London, tickets go on sale today for Harry Potter: A History of Magic at the New-York Historical Society, which will host the exhibition from October 5 this year until January 27, 2019.

Capturing the traditions of folklore and magic at the heart of the Harry Potter stories, the exhibition features centuries-old treasures, including rare books, manuscripts, and magical objects from the collections of The British Library, the New-York Historical Society, and other museums, as well as original material from US publisher Scholastic and J.K. Rowling’s own archives.

Excitingly, the New York exhibition will display many new artefacts for the first time, and beginning today, tickets for trivia programs and a series of family events associated with the exhibition will also be available.

September 2018 marks the 20th anniversary of the US publication of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and publishers Scholastic kicked off their year-long celebration at the beginning of this year.

To find out more about Harry Potter: A History of Magic at the New-York Historical Society, visit www.harrypotter.nyhistory.org

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has officially opened on Broadway, at the newly refurbished Lyric Theatre, after its magical opening gala performance on Sunday, April 22^nd.

The New York Post reported that ‘Broadway’s never seen anything like it!’, with the New York Times declaring that the play in two parts “…raises the bar for Broadway magic. A remarkable production of all-consuming enchantment.”

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The critically acclaimed production received its world premiere in July 2016 at the Palace Theatre in London where it continues to play to sold out houses.

On Monday 23rd April, a new release of tickets for the Broadway production were made available, for performances up until March 2019. For the latest news and information about Cursed Child on Broadway, head over to the Cursed Child website or www.pottermore.com

With exactly one year to go until the next Fantastic Beasts film is released in cinemas, Warner Bros. has revealed the film’s title: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, alongside a sumptuous ensemble photo of key cast members.  Featuring the first look at Jude Law as a young Albus Dumbledore, as well as other new and returning central characters, you can head over to Pottermore for a closer look at each of the characters in the photo.

David Yates returns to direct Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, which is out in cinemas on 16 November 2018.

 

Harry Potter: A History of Magic opens today at the British Library in London. Based on the school subjects studied by Hogwarts students, the exhibition combines centuries-old British Library treasures, including some of the oldest items in the Library’s collection, with original material from publisher Bloomsbury and J.K. Rowling’s own archives, going on display for the first time.

From today, visitors to the exhibition will have the chance to take in items such as the Ripley Scroll – a alchemical manuscript that describes in 6 metres of detail how to make the Philosopher’s Stone, from the 1500s, as well the tombstone of the real Nicolas Flamel, among many more.

Julian Harrison, the exhibition’s lead curator, said:

“We’re thrilled to welcome visitors and Harry Potter fans alike to Harry Potter: A History of Magic. We’ve loved discovering the magical traditions that lie behind the Harry Potter books, and we’ve encountered so many amazing artefacts along the way.

“The exhibition takes visitors on a fascinating journey through the history of magic – from mermaids to crystal balls, from broomsticks to garden gnomes! It’s been enormous fun choosing the exhibits.”

Today also sees a regional roll-out of a panel based version of the exhibition at 20 public libraries around the country, shining a light on each one’s local connections to magic and folklore, so people around the country can experience the exhibition too.

The British Library announced yesterday that its Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibition will be travelling to a new home at the New-York Historical Society, where it will open in October 2018.

Harry Potter: A History of Magic will unveil rare books, manuscripts and magical objects from the British Library’s collection, capturing the traditions of folklore and magic at the heart of the Harry Potter stories. Exploring the subjects studied at Hogwarts, the exhibition will include original drafts and drawings by J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter illustrator Jim Kay – all on display for the first time.

And as it travels from London to New York, the exhibition will evolve to include US-specific artefacts and items from the collection of US Harry Potter publisher Scholastic.

‘We are so excited to be taking a major exhibition on tour to New York for the very first time,’ says the British Library. ‘Harry Potter: A History of Magic promises to be a stunning exhibition capturing the traditions of folklore and magic across the world, which are at the heart of the Harry Potter stories. We’re delighted to be able to share this exhibition with fans across the pond following its run here in London, especially as we have the opportunity to develop the exhibition for a US audience in collaboration with US publisher Scholastic.’

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will have its Broadway premiere in the Spring of 2018 at the redesigned Lyric Theatre in New York. And we now know that seven actors from the award-winning original West End company will be reprising their roles from the London stage.

Jamie Parker will bring his Harry Potter to Broadway, while Noma Dumezweni returns as Hermione Granger and Paul Thornley reprises the role of Ron Weasley. Poppy Miller (Ginny Potter), Sam Clemmett (Albus Potter), Alex Price (Draco Malfoy) and Anthony Boyle (Scorpius Malfoy) will join them in New York to bring their characters to a new audience. The production also announced today 28 new actors joining the cast.

“We have assembled an extraordinary cast for Broadway,” said director John Tiffany. “Our Cursed Child family is growing with 28 brilliant new actors bringing their unique talents to our production. I also can’t wait to dive back into it with seven of our original London cast members reprising their thrilling performances for New York audiences. The adventure continues…”

Tickets will go on sale on 12 October 2017 through registration only, and ticket buyers must register with Ticketmaster Verified Fan between 1 and 5 October 2017 to have the chance to purchase tickets.

Further details will be released soon. Visit www.HarryPotterThePlay.com to sign up for the mailing list to stay up to date with the latest news and updates.

Principal photography starts today on an all new adventure set in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, the second in a five-film series that began with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.  The as-yet-untitled film opens in 1927, a few months after Eddie Redmayne’s Newt Scamander helped to unveil and capture Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald.  J.K. Rowling has written the screenplay and David Yates returns to direct.

Nods to the Harry Potter stories are promised, and the film is set to take fans to new corners of the wizarding world, it was revealed today, moving from New York to London and on to Paris.

The new adventure is being filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, which has been the cinematic home of the Wizarding World since the first Harry Potter film.

For more Fantastic Beasts news, head over to Pottermore…

The new West End cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child have been transformed into their characters in a newly released set of portraits by Charlie Gray.

Seen in their wizarding world finest for the first time are Jamie Glover as Harry Potter, Emma Lowndes as Ginny Potter and Theo Ancient as their youngest son Albus; Thomas Aldridge as Ron Weasley, Rakie Ayola as Hermione Granger and Helen Aluko as their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley; and James Howard as Draco Malfoy and Samuel Blenkin as his son Scorpius Malfoy.

The new cast’s first performance at London’s Palace Theatre is on Wednesday 24^th May.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child last month took home a record-breaking nine awards including Best New Play and Best Director.

For more details about Cursed Child, head to the official website, and stay tuned for news on Pottermore

 

It’s a big day for Wizarding World fans in the USA, as it’s confirmed that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will have its Broadway premiere in the Spring of 2018 at the redesigned Lyric Theatre in New York.

The Official Opening  will be Sunday 22 April.  Preview performances, casting and all further details will be announced in the coming months.

Tickets will go on sale in autumn of this year via the official website only, and details of how and when tickets can be purchased will be released soon.

Last month, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child became the most awarded production in the history of Britain’s Olivier Awards, winning a record-breaking nine awards including Best New Play and Best Director.

For more updates and information, you can sign up to the mailing list at www.HarryPotterThePlay.com, and keep an eye on Pottermore.com for the latest news.

The first batch of tickets for Harry Potter: A History of Magic, the exhibition coming to London later this year at the British Library, go on sale today, 3^rd April, at 12pm (BST).

The exhibition opens as part of celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the first publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. From 20^th October until 28^th February 2018, it will be home to items from the Library’s archives, as well as original drafts and drawings from J.K. Rowling, illustrator Jim Kay and Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury. From medieval descriptions of dragons and griffins, to the origins of the philosopher’s stone, the exhibition will take readers on a journey to the heart of the Harry Potter stories.

Head over to Pottermore for a sneak peek at some of the artefacts that will be on show at the exhibition, including a handwritten first draft of the Sorting Hat song from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. 

Here’s where to get your tickets for 20 October – 31 December, and find out more about the exhibition

Image © Warner Bros.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, J.K. Rowling’s screenwriting debut, was released worldwide on Friday 18^th November 2016.  One of the most anticipated movies of the year, it was met with praise from critics, fans and newcomers to the Wizarding World franchise alike, taking almost $700million in global box office sales to date.

Marking our introduction to a new era of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, the film has been a hit across the world, with the biggest openings ever recorded for the Wizarding World franchise in China and South Korea.  In October, J.K. Rowling revealed at a special fan screening in London that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is to be the first of five movies in a brand new, fantastical franchise of its own, following a story arc she has already plotted out.  She said at the event on 13th October 2016: ‘I’ve now done the plotting properly so we’re pretty sure it’s going to be five movies.’

A new and original story by J.K. Rowling, Fantastic Beasts was inspired by the Hogwarts textbook of the same name, written by the author’s character Newt Scamander, the wizarding world’s preeminent Magizoologist.

The film opens in 1926 as Newt Scamander, played by Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne, has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures.  Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident…were it not for a No-Maj named Jacob, a misplaced magical briefcase, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.

On 27^th July 2012, J.K. Rowling participated in the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. In a segment of the ceremony celebrating British children’s literature and the NHS, Jo read an extract from J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. Minutes later large puppet representations of children’s literature villains, including Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter series, filled the stadium.