Predictions! discussion

I know it's a play, but what do you guys think?
It was recently announced it is a sequel that will take place 18 years after the Deathly Hallows. What do you guys think it will be about? Who is the Cursed Child?
Could it be Albus?

Ugh, I want to see this play so much! It annoys me that I can't. How did they come up with the plot anyway? I don't have any information.

Well, hearing the phrase "Cursed Child", the first person that comes to mind is indeed Albus. He is the one that will most likely have to struggle with a lot of internal emotional conflicts, considering he has the most famous Gryffindorian parents and yet he might have landed in Slytherin. But we don't know that for sure, do we?

It's possibly it's just an entirely different child that Harry finds somewhere or one of his children end up befriending. Since Albus is a very obvious choice, maybe this is the case?

Argona wrote: "Ugh, I want to see this play so much! It annoys me that I can't. How did they come up with the plot anyway? I don't have any information.

Well, hearing the phrase "Cursed Child", the first person ..."

I agree completely with your points.
Albus did seem to be the most important child of Harry in terms of plot, and the timeline would definitely fit.
Even if he isn't the Cursed Child himself, I think he will definitely be involved with them in some form, if not being the main character.
I also agree, I wish it wasn't a play! I mean, it's cool and all, but ultimately not enough people get to watch it. A book can be bought by anyone, but a play? Limited time, seats, availability, so many complications.

Indeed. But I find it a little unfair that Albus gets all this attention because of his resemblance to his father. What about the other two? I think Harry has to try very hard to avoid any favoritism. I am afraid the magical world might not be very helpful by focusing too much attention on one kid, creating rifts among the children and technically cursing all three of them!

Argona wrote: "Indeed. But I find it a little unfair that Albus gets all this attention because of his resemblance to his father. What about the other two? I think Harry has to try very hard to avoid any favoriti..."

I completely agree, I thought the same things myself! Like James is just Fred and George and Sirius, and isn't really given much attention.
Lily is given even less. So far, it seems to be all about Albus.

Of course, we haven't seen much of the children yet, but so far that's how it seems.

I completely agree with your point, I hope JK balances it out!

Maybe Lily or James is the Cursed Child? I don't think it's likely, but it is possible I suppose.

I agree, they need to be more balanced - I have no idea who the cursed child will be, but at the moment, it seems most likely that Albus is the cursed one...

Although I agree in that by focusing in one child they end up punishing all of them...

The Bookworm wrote: "I agree, they need to be more balanced - I have no idea who the cursed child will be, but at the moment, it seems most likely that Albus is the cursed one...

Although I agree in that by focusing i..."

True, very true... Unless the cursed child turns out to be someone completely different (ie. not in the Potter family)

UPDATE: IT WILL BE RELEASED AS A BOOK!!!

Yes, it will be in script form, but at least everyone will be able to read it. This, I think, is a very good thing.

And oh, the potential...

But who is the Cursed Child? We've had a synopsis but it's still not clear...

He's a middle kid and he's a Slytherin.

violetnese wrote: "He's a middle kid and he's a Slytherin."

How do you know he is a Slytherin?
Just to confirm, we are talking about Albus, right?
That's so interesting, I didn't realise his house had been *confirmed*... where did you hear that?

I am not sure where you found out he was a Slytherin, but I read a fic, and it also had Albus as a Slytherin! And here's the official synopsis:
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband, and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

You won't believe what I found:
His(ALBUS SEVERUS POTTER) initials A.S.P. make the word Asp,a type of snake. Coincidentally, the serpent is the symbol of Slytherin house.

Paridhi wrote: "You won't believe what I found:
His(ALBUS SEVERUS POTTER) initials A.S.P. make the word Asp,a type of snake. Coincidentally, the serpent is the symbol of Slytherin house."

Wow, I didn't notice that! I don't know if it's coincidence, or JKR is sending us some hints...
And that synopsis looks awesome.
"Past and present fuse ominously" this means we will be getting lots of references to HP... and Voldemort... right? Hopefully.
"Darkness comes from unexpected places." That could mean so many things... so many awesome things...
I need to know!!! What do you think?

So excited that it's gonna be released as a book!
Also, loving the fusing of past and present, I can see so many cool allusions to HP. Can't wait to see all my favourite characters to life and to delve into that magical world once again! I'm hoping that I'll be able to see the play sometime this year, I hear it's booked up already.
predictions: lots of digging up of past content and unanswered questions!

Hi All
I just re-re-read the Harry Potter series, and I am so stoked about this play (especially since my local bookstore just sent me a 'do you want to pre-order this book?' email), however, I am a little scared about the format. I know this is in play form, and not really a book, but does anyone know if we can expect a straight-up scripts, and will a little scene-setting be done? I am not sure how enjoyable reading a 'script' would be :/ (maybe I am afraid to get too excited :P)

Asma Saeed wrote: "Hi All
I just re-re-read the Harry Potter series, and I am so stoked about this play (especially since my local bookstore just sent me a 'do you want to pre-order this book?' email), however, I am ..."

Hi! I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure it is in script form. Sorry if that disappoints you, I might be wrong, but I think so...
I agree that it is slightly scary because we're so used to our beloved novels, but I've read quite a few plays, and I've enjoyed them just as much most of the time. It will be odd reading a Harry Potter story in script form, I admit, but I'm still very excited...
After all, a new Harry Potter story (if it counts as a Harry Potter story- I'm going to say it does) is always good, right?

Still, I'm sure the script will be good and anyway the play will definitely have lots of awesome setting to watch, so I guess we have that to look forward to anyway

I'm also pretty sure it is in script form and I personally hate reading plays (Shakespeare would be ten times more enjoyable in a book form none of his plays can get above a 3 stars for me because of that) but I have extremely high hopes for this still as its Harry Potter and maybe JK can still create an amazing story and convey it in a script format. I just have really high hopes for this and am trying not to treat this as the next coming of Christ just in case I'm not blown away from the format but still excited!!!
And do you guys think that Albus will be the Harry and Rose will be the Hermione and someone else will be like Ron? Who would be Ron??? A new character, Scorpius, someone we knows kid???

Reyna wrote: "I'm also pretty sure it is in script form and I personally hate reading plays (Shakespeare would be ten times more enjoyable in a book form none of his plays can get above a 3 stars for me because ..."

I personally don't mind script form but I can definitely understand why some would dislike it and would want to stick to novels.
I do think JK can pull it off, though, even for those who don't like scripts. I am so so so excited...
I'm not even thinking about the possibility it will be bad, because I'm too excited. If it is, I won't be happy :(
And I'm not sure who the 'ron' would be... there may not be one! JK may want to differentiate Albus from Harry and so make his friend's not exactly the 'same'. Also I think Harry is also a main character, judging from the blurb, so I think that means we will see a lot of scene changes? If Harry's working at the ministry, hopefully we will get loads of new info about the ministry and world of the future...

Arch wrote: "Reyna wrote: "I'm also pretty sure it is in script form and I personally hate reading plays (Shakespeare would be ten times more enjoyable in a book form none of his plays can get above a 3 stars f..."

Yeah, that would be cool, i would love to see some more of the ministry, its all very interesting. I don't think there will be a character like Ron (and I hope so too - i would like some diversity and originality), but if you are referring to Albus' best friend, i too am anticipating that detail highly. Maybe Albus will inherit James' cheeky gene? that would be fun :)
I would love to see JKR change the way the world sees scripts, as some plays are actually very good, but i can totally understand why people are put off plays, Shakespeare in particular. She did it with children's books, maybe she can create a new genre for children'splays (obviously that is a genre, but its pretty unexplored...)

I agree, there is likely to be lots of original characters considering this is Rowling... I'm sure she'll do a great job. But I would love to see a throwback to a mini-Ron-ish, just as a little generational joke about how some things never change.
But yes, I need to know who Albus' best friend is (apart from Rose, because it was obvious those two wer close). I also want to see who James' best friend is, and how he's doing!
Out of curiosity, do you think Albus will be in Gryffindor? Or slytherin?
Also, I can't help but think how cool it is that Cursed Child will be published in the SAME YEAR that Albus (canonically) goes to Hogwarts!

I really want James to be the main character. He probably won't, but I feel like he'd be such a fun protagonist because from what we saw in the epilogue, he had basically the same personality Harry's dad.

I think that Albus will be in Gryffindor, mainly because where we last left off he did NOT want to be in Slytherin and was quite happy about being told he could "choose" Gryffindor. But Harry also told him it'd be fine if he was Slytherin, so his feelings may have changed on the long train ride.

Hannah wrote: "I really want James to be the main character. He probably won't, but I feel like he'd be such a fun protagonist because from what we saw in the epilogue, he had basically the same personality Harry..."

James would be a great main character, I agree! But I don't think he will be the main character, as the blurb mentions Albus (I think) not him.

Yeah, that's a good point. Albus will probably be in Gryffindor BUT you can never know with Rowling!

Ok, so I found out JK Rowling responded to a question on twitter (Will Cursed Child make me cry?) Her response was basically yes ("If it doesn't, we'll be checking your vital signs")....

Is it bad this makes me more excited?

So do we think this means someone could die? Hopefully not, maybe they're happy tears... except usually it's not happy tears... Anyone got a clue on what's going to be the 'cry' factor?

Oh no, anymore Harry Potter has already cause me enough hurt in my heart and I never even cried for that! What's this going to make me do...But I'm also so excited now!!

I totally agree... I know I should be worried, but it just makes me more excited...
Hopefully JKR won't kill anyone from the original series because it is just cruel to give us a sequel and then kill characters in it :p
Then again, another student death may be too far as well. Hmm... I don't know what will be so sad...
I just realised: will Luna be in it? Or Neville? Or any of the extended Weasley family? I hope they are, but I'm not sure what role they would play.

Wait, why would there even be a death? What is the actual plot of this play?!? It sounds like so far all we know is Albus goes to school and Harry is an Auror so who would be killed? Are we going to be introduced to a final villain because why else would we have this new story if there wasn't a new threat? Any thoughts, because I don't think JKR is just going to give us a play on the daily lives of Albus and Harry Potter...

Reyna wrote: "Wait, why would there even be a death? What is the actual plot of this play?!? It sounds like so far all we know is Albus goes to school and Harry is an Auror so who would be killed? Are we going t..."

I don't actually know what the plot is, nor do I know the villain. But I'm 100% sure it's not a mundane/daily-life-of-Harry-Potter play, because the synopsis talks about past and present fusing together ominously, and some things from Harry's past coming back.

I think maybe it will be like some cult who still believe in Voldemort returning or continuing his work, or maybe some rogue death eaters from the war. I'm not sure how that would connect to Albus, but yeah. As for the deaths, I'm not sure, but apparently something in the play is 'cry-worthy'!

Personally I'm imagining the villain will be a new threat, but linked to Voldemort in some way. I'm not really sure, there are quite a few possibilities... What do you think about that idea?

I hope that the enemy is not Voldemort- we've had so much of him as a villain that I would like to see another one come to be.
not sure why it would be cry worthy but I guess we don't really have enough information at the present time...

Just out of curiosity, have you guys seen the casting photos they've released? They've released Harry, Ginny, Albus, as well as Ron, Hermione and Rose. If you guys want to see the photos but can't find them I'll be happy to link them to you.
What do you guys think of the photos and the cast? Furthermore, it's now confirmed Albus is 'The Cursed Child'.... I mean we pretty much guessed it, but why is he cursed? I also find it strange they decided not to include James and Lily (and Hugo I suppose). Are they not in the play? James is in Hogwarts, so I'm expecting he should be...
But what are your thoughts?

Update: They've also released a picture of Draco and Scorpius, so this pretty much confirms they're going to play big roles. All of this just leaves me wondering what the plot is: does anyone have any idea?

I have absolutely no idea about the plot besides knowing that we're catching up on both Harry and Albus. I feel like JK specifically wants us to know nothing, kind of like how the Deathly Hallows had no pre-release copies and the inside flap where a synopsis would go simply said "Now presenting the seventh and final installment of the epic story of Harry Potter," or something like that. She wants us blind!
I really like the cast photos. The man who plays Harry actually resembles older Harry in my head a lot and the woman who plays Ginny as well. Movie Albus is still stuck in my head so I want to be able to see play Albus so I can acknowledge he's Albus too. I think Rose is cute and Hermione looks very professional as always and then the Mapfoy's look perfect. I really hope Scorpius is a redeeming Malfoy... But my favorite cast picture is suprisingly Ron's. In that picture I see an older Ron who wears funny clothes and for some reason still has that spark of hilarious stupidity. I dunno why but that actor caught Ron perfectly in one picture!!!

And have we considered maybe Albus isn't cursed in the sense we think he is with a spell. Maybe the term cursed child is because Albus is cursed with his family name. He is cursed to bear the weight of being THE Harry Potter's kid and has to live up to unagimaginable expectations. Just a thought I had...

Reyna wrote: "And have we considered maybe Albus isn't cursed in the sense we think he is with a spell. Maybe the term cursed child is because Albus is cursed with his family name. He is cursed to bear the weigh..."

Yes I remember discussing that actually (I think? Somewhere?) and I think it actually makes a lot of sense. I'm almost certain that Albus will struggle with the family name, and it would be quite fitting, almost like the reverse of Harry's issues when he was a child (he didn't know enough about his family) yet in a way mirroring it (both potentially outsiders). It's pretty confirmed that this is a problem for Albus (it says so in the synopsis).

However I'm also not sure it will be the curse referred to because in a way this is a magical world, and 'cursed' implies magic in a way, and because it was the title of the play it might have some greater significance. Also JKR might go for something really surprising as the 'curse'.

I guess that links back to what you said about the plot being kept tightly under wraps... I agree, it seems like we'll only know the plot when we read the script/watch the play!

So yeah, I simultaneously think that theory makes a lot of sense but am also unsure if it would happen. Though now that I think about it, I can't think of many other explanations of why Albus would be cursed... Even if it's not what the title is referring to, I'm pretty sure it will play a big role in the play.

By the way, what do you think Hogwarts will be like? Is McGonagall still going to be headmistress? And do you think we'll see Neville as Herbology teacher? Hogwarts will most likely be in it, right?

I would love to see more of Hogwarts, especially if it has lots of new professors and of course students. I reckon that Neville will be the herbology professor and it is likely that McGonagall will be headmistress. Although I would like Rowling to create some new characters because that is always very interesting to see.
Oh and Hagrid will be there, won't he?
I really hope Hogwarts is the main scene of the play because I would love to see that!
And I love the Idea about Albus having trouble issue of carrying Harry's fame - as Arch says I'm sure we discussed this before elsewhere. At the same time I would probably prefer to see a nee plot which is Albus' problem - I would prefer in some ways not to be dragged into Harry's past because I really want to explore more of a new story and plot!

Yeah more Hogwarts would be cool :D
I actually forgot about Hagrid!!! I really want to see him now, but who would they get to play him on stage? And also... how old is he? Would he retire maybe? I'm not sure! McGonagall must also be nearing retirement age, and I remember reading somewhere that McGonagall had retired by the time James Sirius went to Hogwarts (though I can't remember if that was official, so don't take my word for it).
I agree new plots (and characters) are nice but we do have Fantastic Beasts for that. Truthfully I'm pretty excited to return to Harry's world, and the more references, the better.
Though it did hit me yesterday: no more mystery about Harry's future (well, at least, a big part of it). No more speculating or writing theories, we're going to know a lot more. I just hope it's not too strange with Harry as an adult, considering we know him best as a kid/teenager... Is it just me who thinks that?

Retiring age is different in terms magical world - Dumbledore was well over 100... so hopefully Harris will still be there.

The Bookworm wrote: "Retiring age is different in terms magical world - Dumbledore was well over 100... so hopefully Harris will still be there."

I think you meant Hagrid? :P But yeah definitely, I agree, since wizards live older. But we don't technically know how old McGonagall is, and this is 17 years later... and also Hagrid is half-giant, so I don't know how that affects things?

I am confused on how this book is actually going to be formatted. Like is J.K. going to work at the script and turn it into the normal novel formatting or is it going to be exactly like the script of the play? No matter how exited I am about this book I am scared I am not going to love it as much because 99% of my favorite characters are dead. But I trust J.K.

It's gonna be formatted as a script for a play I believe. I'm usually not too keen on reading plays but I love HP and JK so much I don't care at this point either just really excited!!

Yup it's going to be a script format. I'm super excited because JKR and has never let me down with an HP book, so I'm so so so ready. And while many characters are dead, hopefully there will be references to them (Fred, Lupin, Dobby, Hedwig etc.) because, that would be nice, I think?

I didn't realise this but the first performance of Part 1 of the play has happened!!! It was an early preview performance.
And the early reactions are that it's really, really good, and has loads of plot twists!
I'm just so more excited now that it's been positively received. Of course Part 2 is still yet to be seen, but it looks good.
I also saw a minor spoiler... (apparently it's minor at least... it seemed pretty big to me! Makes me wonder how many other plot twists there will be!) I'm part sad because it got spoiled, but truthfully it is such an awesome thing! I won't say it here in case people don't want to get spoiled, since this thread is spoiler-free, but in a way you could kind of guess it. It's just made all the more eager to read/watch it.

Wow, glad it got good reviews, although I can't wait to judge for myself...

Exactly, Hypable spoiled me.:( But no worries, and yes plot twists are huge. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS!

Paridhi wrote: "Exactly, Hypable spoiled me.:( But no worries, and yes plot twists are huge. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS!"

Sorry you got spoiled :( Were you spoiled a lot or not? Because I saw something on hypable (though it was kind of my fault because they said spoiler warning...) but it wasn't a big twist, just a cool one.

But apparently there are lots of twists, and the plot is very, very unexpected. I'm hoping to not get spoiled anymore, but at the end of the day I don't think the magic comes from the plot but from the characters, in the case of Harry Potter. I mean, if JKR released a story about one of Harry's summer at the Dursleys', I'd still gobble it up xD

I LOVE HARRY POTTER! I adore the Harry Potter series! Since Voldemort is dead maybe a new dark wizard will come? Or Voldemort's followers might do something bad/kill everybody? Albus Severus Potter is involved but his other children are in the book but the blurb says stuff about Albus Potter and Harry, not his other children. I also want to go watch the play since I will be in London then but I want to read the book first!

Book.Llama46 wrote: "I LOVE HARRY POTTER! I adore the Harry Potter series! Since Voldemort is dead maybe a new dark wizard will come? Or Voldemort's followers might do something bad/kill everybody? Albus Severus Potter..."

Who doesn't love Harry Potter? :P
I think personally Voldemort will play some role, as in it could be his followers or something, because of the references to past and present in the blurb... but it could be a new dark wizard, so you have a good point, in my opinion. It could be both?
And yep, by this point I think it's clear that Albus will be the main focus amongst the Potter children. I'm glad the others will be in it, at least, according to you!

4 Days till it comes out!

Joshua wrote: "4 Days till it comes out!"

YOU JUST MADE ME SO EXCITED