‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II’: JK Rowling announces release of 8th book

Potterheads rejoice! “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II,” the eighth book in JK Rowling’s highly successful series, will be released both in print and digital on July 31.

The new novel is from the new stage play of the same name and will include a Special Rehearsal Edition. It will pick up right after the conclusion of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” when Harry and wife Ginny, and his friends Ron and Hermione, waved goodbye to their children at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts.

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The “Cursed Child” will be published in print and digital editions simultaneously after the play’s world premiere.

“Theatre previews allow the creative team the chance to rehearse and explore scenes further before a production’s official opening night. ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ opens for previews several weeks before its official first performance on Saturday 30 July and the Special Rehearsal Edition of the script book will later be replaced by a Definitive Collector’s Edition,” the announcement on the Pottermore website reads.

The play, written by Jack Thorne and based on the original story by Rowling, Thorne and John Tiffany, will open in London’s West End. Jamie Parker, Paul Thornley and Noma Dumezweni will play Harry, Ron and Hermione respectively in the play.

In December after the initial casting was announced, some people reacted strongly against Dumezweni’s casting. Detractors claimed the Swaziland-born English actress shouldn’t play Hermione as the muggle was white in the film version (Emma Watson) and in the books.

Rowling shut down the haters by tweeting she loved “black Hermione.”

Meanwhile, Potterheads can’t contain their excitement over the new announcement. The fans took to Twitter to express their joy.