Skip to main content

Get ready, Potterheads: JK Rowling’s eighth Harry Potter book is coming July 31

harry potter weasley clock daniel radcliffe
Warner Bros.
No, seriously — there’s really another Harry Potter book coming out.

The next installment in the monumental series will hit shelves this summer as the eighth book in the order. Scholastic announced today that it will publish the script book based on J.K. Rowling’s latest story about the beloved wizard, called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II. The book comes from a play Rowling worked on with Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, set to be released at 12:01 a.m. on July 31, 2016 — just in time to kick off Harry’s “birthday.”

Although it will only have been nine years since the release of the most recent installment in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the latest story is set 19 years after the events of the book. A grown-up Harry will be busy working at the Ministry of Magic and raising three school-age children with his wife, Ginny Weasley. At the same time, his past will cause problems again, and it sounds like his youngest son, Albus, will be affected as well. Darkness will ominously come from “unexpected places,” according to the synopsis from Scholastic.

Scholastic shared the news of the book’s upcoming release in a tweet, giving fans a chance to see the cover.

The Scholastic version of the book will retail for $30, and the script will also be published as an eBook by Pottermore. It’s hard to say whether or not Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will manage to attract midnight lines at bookstores like its predecessors routinely did. But the real question is: Will this new adaptation offer the same magical escapism as the original, page-turning series that swept the world and inspired a multi-billion dollar film franchise?

We’ll have to wait till this summer to find out.

Those who can get tickets to the world premiere of the play will get a chance to find out what happens a few precious hours before readers do; Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will debut on July 30 in London’s West End.

Editors' Recommendations

Stephanie Topacio Long
Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…
10 best stop-motion animated movies of all time, ranked
Coraline crawls through a dark tunnel.

Stop-motion animation is one of the most creative and beloved subgenres -- and it only seems to get better with time. The greatest movies in this category showcase the hard work and artistry of the inventive minds behind these stories, which often take a long time to commit to film. Each frame is a painstakingly crafted work of art, all aimed at creating immersive worlds full of unforgettable narratives and characters.

From obscure modern classics like The Wolf House to genre-defining masterpieces like The Nightmare Before Christmas, the best stop-motion animated movies highlight the full potential of the medium to deliver complex stories alongside gorgeous and distinct visuals. The craftmanship on display in these films is a testament to the power of animation and those who boldly push the genre's boundaries to create enchanting realities.
10. James and the Giant Peach (1996)

Read more
The 50 best anime on Hulu right now
Gintama anime key art featuring Gintoki leading the supporting cast of the series.

Even when it's not the primary destination, Hulu is still easily among the best mainstream platforms to stream some of the best anime available. It's an especially great supplement for audiences already fans of the streamer's live-action originals, boasting impressive diversity in its anime offerings across film, TV, and various genres.

For customers who aren't subscribed, the Disney Bundle is more than worth consideration to back up Hulu's anime library. This package deal gives viewers countless hours of content through Disney+, ESPN+, and the base ad-supported Hulu plan. Fans will have access to all the Star Wars, Marvel Studios, National Geographic, and sports content they could hope for on top of Hulu's anime catalog.

Read more
Nuggets vs Mavericks live stream: Can you watch for free?
Nikola Jokic squares up a free throw on the court.

Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks take on Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets today. Playoff seeding implications aside, it's always a must-watch event whenever two of the greatest international players of all-time do battle.

This one is set to start in about one hour, at 3:30 p.m. ET, and will be televised on ABC in the United States. If you don't have cable or you're looking to finally cut the cable cord, there are a bunch of different ways you can watch a live stream of the game online.
The Best Way to Watch the Nuggets vs Mavericks Live Stream

Read more