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The calendar will soon switch to January and Paramount+ will say goodbye to the holidays and ring in the new season: awards. The road to the Oscars is now in full force, and Paramount+ will bring glitz and glam to its Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers on Sunday, Jan. 7 with the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, celebrating the best of this past year’s film and television, including “Maestro,” “Barbie,” “The Color Purple,” “Succession,” “The Bear,” and more.

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Find out what The Streamable has for our top picks this month and check out the full list of everything coming to the platform this January!

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BroadwayCon has announced the Tony Award-winning Harry Potter and the Cursed Child cast has joined the BroadwayCon 2019 lineup. As part of the Spotlight series, the panel will feature Jamie Parker Harry Potter, Noma Dumezweni Hermione Granger, Paul Thornley Ron Weasley, Poppy Miller Ginny Potter, Sam Clemmett Albus Potter, Alex Price Draco Malfoy and Anthony Boyle Scorpius Malfoy, moderated by Melissa Anelli Co-Founder of BroadwayCon and author of Harry, A History on Friday, January 11, 2019 at 145 p.m.

Like any magic worth an incantation, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, opening on Broadway at the Lyric Theater tonight, depends on unspoiled illusions, a delight in life’s wonders and the skills to present it all as if no one had ever even considered its combinations before, much less pulled them off. I won’t spoil any illusions – the production itself handles the rest. Cursed Child is a marvel, a shape-shifting play that effortlessly incorporates music and choreographed movement, classic storytelling and fresh perspectives, a look that incorporates World War II-era Britain and Victorian spiritualism with Hollywood’s latest flash. In a Broadway season of award-worthy revivals, this tale of whatever happened to The Boy Who Lived feels bracingly, piercingly new.

A year after sweeping Britain’s Olivier Awards, this two-part, five-hour adventure into the Potter universe and the bonds and breaks of family and friendship arrives on Broadway with all its enchantments intact,...

Despite a star-studded cast of A-listers that includes Chris Evans and Michael Cera, Brian Tyree Henry‘s performance is being singled out in the Broadway revival of “Lobby Hero.” David Rooney (Hollywood Reporter) even goes so far as to say, “The terrific Brian Tyree Henry [is] the production’s standout performance, showing a radically different range from his streetwise looseness on FX’s ‘Atlanta.'” Might all of this industry acclaim help Henry earn an Emmy nomination for “Atlanta” Season 2?

See ‘Atlanta’ season 2 reviews: Does ‘Atlanta Robbin’ Season’ avoid the sophomore slump?

Don’t forget, Henry is already on Emmy’s radar as he was nominated last year for guest starring on “This Is Us.” (He lost to co-star Gerald McRaney.) But at the 2018 Emmys all eyes will be on whether he can nab a Best Comedy Supporting Actor nomination as up-and-coming rapper Paper Boi on “Atlanta.” According to Gold Derby’s Emmy odds,...

With Harry Potter and the Cursed Child set to make its Broadway debut this spring, producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender unveiled the elaborate new marquee at the newly-restored Lyric Theatre. The marquee reveal comes as the producers get ready for their big opening, with previews starting March 16 and the play's official opening set for April 22. The marquee was created by Cursed Child set designer Christine Jones and International Scenic Supervisor Brett J. Banakis, which features a massive 150-foot, 50,000-pound wing spanning from the marquee to the top of the theater, while the iconic nest with child sits atop the theater. Here's what Jones and Banakis had to say about the marquee in a joint statement.

"It is a thrill to have the Lyric as a canvas, both inside and out, for our production. One of the many gifts the Lyric Theatre provided us is over 200 feet of frontage on 43rd street,...

With preview performances beginning March 16, rehearsals are now underway for the stateside production of London’s megahit, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” Having won 22 major theater awards in the U.K. since its opening in 2016, many believe the Broadway production of “Cursed Child” will garner similar praise when it officially opens at the Lyric Theatre on April 22. Though much of the original cast has crossed the pond with the show (Jamie Parker as Harry Potter, Noma Dumezweni as Hermione Granger, Paul Thornley as Ron Weasley, Poppy Miller as Ginny Potter, Sam Clemmett as Albus Potter, Alex Price as Draco Malfoy, and Anthony Boyle as Scorpius Malfoy), there are still many new faces. As such, the cast is hard at work rehearsing, some stepping into well-worn shoes while others try their roles on for the very first time. For a glimpse at what a Broadway rehearsal really looks like and...

With dozens of castings announced and new projects coming down the pipeline each week across television, film, and theater, it can be near-impossible to keep up. Luckily, Backstage is here to help. Every Friday, we’re rounding up the week's industry news you shouldn’t miss so you can be sure you're firmly in the know! Broadway’s “Harry Potter” project finds its cast.Following its critically acclaimed (and very sold-out) run in London, seven original company members in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” will transfer with the show to Broadway. The play by Jack Thorne, based on the original story by “Harry Potter” creator J.K. Rowling, will begin previews at the Lyric Theatre in March 2018, with an official opening set for April 22, 2018. The cast will include West End stars Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni, Paul Thornley, Poppy Miller, Sam Clemmett, Alex Price, and Anthony Boyle. Jim Carnahan is heading up casting.

After wowing audiences on London's West End this summer, the hit stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is looking to cross the pond. Producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender have revealed they are in "detailed talks" to bring the stage play to a "totally transformed" Lyric Theatre in New York in the spring of 2018. Discussions are said to be in the final stages, with theatre owner Ambassador Theatre Group (Atg) financing a huge multi-million-dollar transformation of the New York's Lyric Theatre. Here's what producer Sonia Friedman had to say about the play's move to Broadway.

"The moment we opened in the West End, the inevitable question was 'when are you going to Broadway? So we brought the creative team to New York in September this year to look at many of the beautiful theatres in New York City."

The producers revealed to Pottermore that the Lyric Theater will...

It's true what J.K. Rowling said: "Whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home." Over the weekend, Matthew Lewis—who played Neville Longbottom in the eight-part Harry Potter film series—became the latest cast member to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London. After the show (written by Jack Thorne, John Tiffany and Rowling), Lewis met some of the actors backstage and posed for pictures with Anthony Boyle, Sam Clemmett, Poppy Miller, Jamie Parker and Paul Thornley. "A giant congratulations and an even bigger thank you to these guys and the rest of the cast of #CursedChild. To be in the movies was a dream come true but it became work and...

Earlier this week, a rumor surfaced that Warner Bros. was trying to get a movie version of the new stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child off the ground, with the studio reportedly even reaching out to Daniel Radcliffe to return as Harry Potter himself. Those rumors were never confirmed by Warner Bros. or author J.K. Rowling, who co-wrote the play, but today we have word that the studio officially denied the rumor. Here's what a studio spokesperson had to say in a brief statement.

"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a stage play, with no plans for there to be a film."

This statement, which was sent to The Huffington Post, doesn't come as a huge surprise, since J.K. Rowling shot down rumors that a movie adaptation was in the works back in March. After all, the Harry Potter saga will continue on the big screen with...

We're seeing double! Rupert Grint attended a showing of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London Thursday and went backstage afterwards to meet his stage counterpart Paul Thornley. Grint, who played the dimwitted-but-loveable Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movies, was nothing but smiles when meeting the adult version of his character. Thornley appeared just as elated to meet Grint, and we have to assume that they made plenty of jokes about using Time-Turners to get to this precise moment. Grint isn't the only Harry Potter alum to visit the stage version of a character; Emma Watson also has been spotted taking in a showing of the London play. After her visit she also went backstage to meet the...

J.K. Rowling‘s much-anticipated “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” West End play opened for previews on Monday and critics have flocked to the Palace Theatre London to see how this latest live installment stacks up to the famed Harry Potter films. Starring Jamie Parker (Harry), Noma Dumezweni (Hermione), Paul Thornley (Ron), Anthony Boyle (Scorpius), Sam Clemmett (Albus), Poppy Miller (Ginny), Alex Price (Draco) and Cherrelle Skeete (Rose), the play is set to officially open this Saturday. Theater-goers are handed badges reading “Keep the secrets” as they leave the show, which hints at the lengths the creators are going to keep spoilers under wraps.

You’d think with National Theater director Rufus Norris (“Broken”) and stars Tom Hardy and Olivia Colman on board, the movie adaptation of the British musical stage phenomenon “London Road” would be a cinch for a North American pickup.

Well, while you have to give Hardy points for joining this ambitious sung musical—and pulling off his role, which is small—the London subject matter may be too arcane for a crossover arthouse hit. But I am happy to report that BBC Worldwide North America is bringing the movie, which debuted at last fall’s Toronto International Film Festival, to theaters in September.

In fact this ground-breaking theater musical helped to put Norris on the map—and landed him the directorship at the National. The debut film by writer Alecky Blythe, with music by Adam Cork and lyrics by Alecky Blythe and Adam Cork, “London Road” features an ensemble mostly comprised of its original stage cast, who had the necessary chops to deliver it.

Read More: National Theater Directors Nick Hytner and Rufus Norris Hit the Movies

Astonishingly, the play used Blythe’s verbatim transcripts from people she interviewed who were involved in tracking a serial killer of prostitutes on London Road—she edited them into a sung musical, which the actors had to execute precisely. BBC Films backed the film, with the National Theatre executive producing; by the time they shot it, Norris had been appointed as the next director, in a clear vote for innovation.

The National, in one of its “experimental provocations,” threw Blythe together with composer Adam Cork in a kind of shotgun marriage in a workshop to write and compose together. And then Alecky went back to Ipswich in 2006 and started meeting people, and it built up from there. Norris decided to turn the hit play into a workable movie, altering the structure and adding one key song that performs the feat of moving the viewer into a musical.

Norris could only have pulled off the low-budget movie with actors who knew the material inside out, but they did add several cinema players to help get it made: Colman and Hardy. When “London Road” hits theaters, do check it out. You’ve never seen anything quite like it.

Related storiesTIFF Review: Musical 'London Road' Starring Olivia Colman, Paul Thornley, Tom Hardy, MoreWatch: First Trailer For Musical 'London Road' Starring Olivia Colman & Tom HardyTom Hardy Joins Musical 'London Road,' Ryan Reynolds Visits 'Woman In Gold' & More...

Over the past few days, we've gotten our first look at iconic Harry Potter characters as played by new actors in the upcoming stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which the first audiences will get to see in previews starting June 7. Back in February, the full cast was announced, but aside from the main trio of Jamie Parker (Harry Potter), Noma Dumezweni (Hermione Granger) and Paul Thornley (Ron Weasley), it was never confirmed who the other cast members are playing, until these reveals started earlier this week. Today we have the third and final batch of photos and character reveals which feature Alex Price as Draco Malfoy and Anthony Boyle as his son Scorpius.

Much like the offspring of Harry Potter and Hermione and Ron Granger-Weasley, Draco Malfoy's son is about to start his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As we can see...

Over the past couple of days, we've gotten our first look at several of the main players in upcoming play Harry Potter and The Cursed Child. There's Harry Potter (Jamie Parker), his wife Ginny (Poppy Miller), and their son Albus (Sam Clemmett), who you can see here. Then there's Ron Weasley (Paul Thornley), Hermione Granger (Noma Dumezweni), and their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley (Cherrelle Skeete), who you can see here.

Now thanks to Pottermore we have our first look at Draco Malfoy, who is being played by Alex Price, and his son Scorpius, who is being played by Anthony Boyle. As you can se,e they were perfectly cast in their roles as they definitely look the part. According to J.K. Rowling, "Scorpius is going to do nothing to turn girls off the Malfoy men." So I guess he's going to be a hit with the ladies.

Here's the synopsis for...

Yesterday, we gave you a first look at the adult Harry Potter (Jamie Parker), his wife Ginny Potter (Poppy Miller) and their son Albus Severus Potter (Sam Clement) in the highly-anticipated stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The play debuts with previews in London starting June 7, with the first official performance set for July 30. As we get closer and closer to this play's debut, today we have even more photos which reveal the Weasley family, Ron (Paul Thornley), Hermione (Noma Dumezweni) and their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley (Cherrelle Skeete).

The photos, which offer our first look at the actors in their official costumes, debuted on Pottermore, where these cast members also shed new light on the story and their characters. Paul Thornley revealed that the play opens as the Weasley daughter is about to follow in her parents' footsteps by attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Here's what...

After getting a glimpse of Harry Potter's family, it's time to meet the Granger-Weasleys. Another batch of new cast photos show Harry's pals Ron Weasley (Paul Thornley) and Hermione Granger (Noma Dumezweni) along with their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley (Cherrelle Skeete) in the London stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The photos, released on Pottermore, reveal the characters in full costume with wands in their hands. Loyal Potterheads know that Ron and Hermione have another son, Hugo, but he isn't old enough yet to attend Hogwarts during the play's first act. But while the youngest child of the...

After getting a glimpse of Harry Potter's family, it's time to meet the Granger-Weasleys. Another batch of new cast photos show Harry's pals Ron Weasley (Paul Thornley) and Hermione Granger (Noma Dumezweni) along with their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley (Cherrelle Skeete) in the London stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The photos, released on Pottermore, reveal the characters in full costume with wands in their hands. Loyal Potterheads know that Ron and Hermione have another son, Hugo, but he isn't old enough yet to attend Hogwarts during the play's first act. But while the youngest child of the...

Yesterday we got our first look at Harry Potter, Ginny, and their son Albus in the upcoming new play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Today we get to meet the Granger-Weasley family, which includes Ron Weasley played by Paul Thornley, Hermione Granger played by Noma Dumezweni, and their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley, who will be played by actress Cherrelle Skeete. When talking about the characters Thornley says:

"It’s 19 years later when the play begins. Ron is married to Hermione Granger and they’re now the Granger-Weasleys. Our magnificent daughter Rose Granger-Weasley is about to start at Hogwarts, which is obviously a big day for everyone."

In an interview with Pottermore, Skeete talked about her character Rose explaining:

"Rose is ambitious, obviously her mum is Hermione so she’s got a lot to live up to. I think they’re quite similar in the fact they put a lot of pressure on themselves.

It's not often I get to write about my first love, theatre, but thanks to the buzz surrounding Harry Potter And The Cursed Child Parts One and Two, I get to do just that today. Why is everyone talking about this production? Well, because it's based on a story "Harry Potter" creator J.K. Rowling had a hand in writing and is an officially-sanctioned sequel to her now-classic books about the boy wizard. Those books famously gave way to eight movies, and now this new story she's written is getting the stage treatment.

The play, coming to the Palace Theater London in July, will be the eighth story in the Potter series and it takes place 19 years after the events depicted in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows. Basically, it's set in the same period as that epilogue scene at the end that depicted Harry, Ron, and Hermione as adults with...

Yesterday, Pottermore delighted us all with the first photos from the upcoming play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and now today, we get our first glance at the Granger-Weasley family. In a post today, Pottermore revealed character portraits for Ron Weasley (Paul Thornley), Hermione Granger (Noma Dumezweni), and their child Rose Granger-Weasley (Cherrelle Skeete). Over the winter, there was some ridiculous controversy surrounding the casting of a black Hermione Granger, even though Hermione's race was never specified in the books. J.K. Rowling herself went on to endorse the casting decision on Twitter.  But based on the beautiful photos below, it's hard to imagine that anyone could hate on this family. Paul Thornley as Ron Weasley (Credit: Pottermore)   Noma Dumezweni as Hermione Granger? (Credit: Pottermore)  Cherrelle Skeete as Rose Granger-Weasley? (Credit: Pottermore)  The whole family (Credit: Pottermore)...

Following on from a first look yesterday at the Potter family, today comes photos of the cast members playing the Granger-Weasley family in the upcoming stage production "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child".

The photos show off Paul Thornley who plays a now adult Ron Weasley, Noma Dumezweni as Hermione Granger and Cherrelle Skeete as their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley. These follow on from yesterday's pics of Jamie Parker as Harry, Poppy Miller as Ginny, and Sam Clemmett as their son Albus.

Jack Thorne wrote the play from an original story he created with author J.K. Rowling. The story follows a now grown up Harry who has become an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic along with a husband and father of three school-age children. As he 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.

Yesterday brought us our first look at the Potter family of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, featuring Jamie Parker as Harry, Poppy Miller as Ginny, and Sam Clemmett as their rather unfortunately named son Albus. Today it’s time to meet their best friends, the Granger-Weasleys. Paul Thornley plays Ron Weasley and Noma Dumezweni is Hermione Granger, and Cherrelle Skeete plays […]

The post ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ Photos: Meet the Granger-Weasleys appeared first on /Film.

It's time to meet the Granger-Weasleys! Yesterday, fans got their first looks at Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley, and their son Albus, in images from the "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" stage play that starts previews in London on June 7.

(Update: Check out the Malfoys in the third batch of photos over here.)

Today's Pottermore pics show Ginny's bro/Harry's best friend Ron Weasley (Paul Thornley) and the great Hermione Granger (Noma Dumezweni), along with their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley (Cherrelle Skeete), who is about to start at Hogwarts (like Albus Potter).

Check out individual images below (with their wands!), along with thoughts about the characters from the stars and author J.K. Rowling.

Rose Granger-weasley

It sounds like young Rose is more like her mother than her father (which, let's be honest, is probably a good thing). As actress Cherrelle Skeete put it, "Rose is ambitious, obviously her mum is Hermione...

In the second set of Charlie Gray's Harry Potter and the Cursed Child portraits, joining the previously announced Paul Thornley as Ron Weasley and Noma Dumezweni as Hermione Granger is Cherrelle Skeete who will play Rose Granger-Weasley. Previews for Part One of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will begin on 7 June with previews of Part Two starting 9 June 2016. The Official Opening performances of Part One and Part Two will take place on Saturday 30 July 2016. BroadwayWorld has a first look below...

After our first look of Harry and family, we now get a glimpse of the Granger-Weasleys that will appear in the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, set to open in London this summer. Ron Weasley (Paul Thornley) and Hermione Granger (Noma Dumezweni) are now married and have a daughter, Rose Granger-Weasley (Cherrelle Skeete). The producers of the play revealed that the story will focus on Harry's youngest son Albus, the "cursed child" who has to deal with his legacy. Cursed Child is set 19 years after the events of Deathly Hallows and though written for the

read more...

Next week, fans in the U.K. will get to see a brand new Harry Potter story unfold when the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opens for previews on June 7, ahead of its first official performance on July 30. Actors Jamie Parker (Harry Potter), Noma Dumezweni (Hermione Granger) and Paul Thornley (Ron Weasley) were cast in December, with the full cast announced in February, although it was never confirmed which characters the other actors are playing. Today we have new photos of some of these actors in character, along with details on their roles.

Pottermore revealed new photos of Jamie Parker as Harry Potter, alongside Sam Clemmett as Albus Severus Potter and Poppy Miller as Ginny Potter. The photos below reveal some of the actual costumes these actors will be wearing, along with a glimpse at Harry Potter's infamous scar. Here's what Jamie Parker had to say about his costume.

This summer sees the debut of the highly anticipated stage production "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" which follows the Boy Who Lived deep into adulthood.

Jamie Parker stars as a now middle-aged Harry, father of three alongside Poppy Miller as his wife Ginny and Sam Clemmett as their son Albus. Noma Dumezweni and Paul Thornley play the middle-aged Hermione and Ron in the project which will officially premiere in London's Palace Theater on July 30th with previews beginning later this month.

The script book based on the play will hit shelves on July 31st. You can check out the first photos of the actors in the roles of Harry, Ginny and Albus below:

Harry, Albus and Ginny Potter from #HarryPotterPlay #CursedChild. 1st public preview in one week's time! pic.twitter.com/0JyvEqtcyJ

— Harry Potter Play (@HPPlayLDN) May 31, 2016

#HarryPotter, 19yrs later. Played by Jamie Parker in #HarryPotterPlay #CursedChild 1st public preview in one week!

People look forward to the summer months for many reasons, whether it be getting a break from school or the chance to see some of the biggest movies of the year. This particular summer, however, fans in the U.K. will get to experience a brand new Harry Potter story live on the London West End stage when Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opens for previews at the Palace Theatre in London on June 7, before its first official performance on July 30. While we await any further details about this long-awaited stage play, a new preview has surfaced that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the rehearsal process.

The video, which was posted at the official Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Facebook, features author J.K. Rowling visiting the rehearsals, and while we do see a number of actors practicing some sort of maneuvers with their wands, it's difficult to figure out what exactly is happening.

The Harry Potter brand continues to branch out as author J.K. Rowling offered an update from rehearsals for the London stage play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” on Monday. Rowling’s followers were treated to a sketch of wand designs for Hermoine (played by Noma Dumezweni), Harry (Jamie Parker), Ron (Paul Thornley), Draco and Harry’s wife Ginny — which look a bit different from their designs in the blockbuster movie series: Exciting morning at rehearsals for #CursedChild. What do you think of our wand designs? #HarryPotterPlay pic.twitter.com/Vg1wAmi11Y – J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 18, 2016 The play,...

Ever since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 closed out the beloved Harry Potter movie and book franchise, fans have been clamoring for more from this magical universe. Last year, author J.K. Rowling announced that she is creating a new stage play entitled Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which debuts in London this summer and has been officially confirmed as the eighth story in the Harry Potter canon. Many have assumed that, eventually, this new story will be turned into a movie by Warner Bros., but J.K. Rowling shot down those claims on her Twitter page. Here's what she had to say, when responding to a fan who heard it was being turned into a movie.

"You heard wrong, I'm afraid. #CursedChild is a play. #FantasticBeasts will be 3 movies, though!"

A few months after Harry Potter and the Cursed Child hits the London stage, the Harry Potter...

Back in December, we reported that highly-anticipated London stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has cast Jamie Parker as Harry Potter, Noma Dumezweni as Hermione Granger and Paul Thornley as Ron Weasley. We have't heard much about this production since then, but today, Pottermore has revealed the entire cast with the first photo, taken shortly before the first script read-through. Writers J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany joined the cast, creative team and producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for this photo.

The rest of the cast is rounded out by Nicola Alexis, Helen Aluko, Jeremy Ang Jones, Rosemary Annabella, Annabel Baldwin, Jack Bennett, Paul Bentall, Anthony Boyle, Zoe Brough, Sam Clemmett, Morag Cross, Cristina Fray, Rudi Goodman, Claudia Grant, James Howard, Christiana Hutchings, Lowri James, Chris Jarman, Martin Johnston, Bili Keogh, Chipo Kureya, James Le Lacheur, Helena Lymbery, Tom Mackley, Barry McCarthy, Sandy McDade,...

Back in June, author J.K. Rowling announced that she is bringing a new Harry Potter story to the London stage, with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The author later unveiled that this will officially be the eighth story in her beloved Harry Potter series, following her seven books that were all adapted into hit movies. The play will debut this summer on London's West End, but for fans who won't be able to see this story unfold themselves, Pottermore has announced that the script will be available for purchase this summer.

The Special Rehearsal Edition of the script for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I and II will be published simultaneously in digital and print editions following the play's world premiere this summer, and will comprise of the version of the play script at the time of the play's preview performances. Theatre previews allow the creative team...

Harry Potter and The Cursed Child is the new two-part stage play that will continue the wizard's story starting in London's West End next year, taking place nineteen years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2. You can read some details about the story right here, but now the production has officially cast actors to play Harry, Hermoine, and Ron. Check out the announcement from its official Twitter account:

We’re thrilled to confirm Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni & Paul Thornley will play Harry, Hermione & Ron #CursedChild pic.twitter.com/s1rsDbrXMO

— Harry Potter Play (@HPPlayLDN) December 21, 2015

First of all, it's awesome that they cast a black actress as Hermoine. This is art we're talking about — no one should have to justify a casting decision like that. But before any fans start freaking the hell out about this, check out what J.K. Rowling herself has to say:

Canon: brown eyes,...

The highly anticipated West End production of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” (the eighth installment of J.K. Rowling’s wizarding franchise) has been cast, it was revealed yesterday to much excitement. Harry Potter will be played by Jamie Parker, Ron Weasley by Paul Thornley, and in a surprising casting turn, Hermione Granger will be played by Noma Dumezweni. The production, which has the heroic trio played by adults, is set to premiere at London’s Palace Theatre in summer 2016. The major surprise in this casting lineup is, of course, Dumezweni, a 45-year-old black actor—if only because Hermione is instilled in audiences’ minds as Emma Watson. The Swaziland-born Dumezweni is a regular in London’s theater and arts scene, appearing in over a dozen productions and winning a Laurence Olivier Award along the way for “A Raisin in the Sun” in 2006. She can currently be seen in Penny Skinner’s “Linda,...

Harry Potter is all grown up. The cast of the upcoming stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has officially been revealed. Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni and Paul Thornley will lead the cast as the beloved gang of wizards, Harry, Hermione and Ron. "I'm so excited with the choice of casting for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," said author, J.K. Rowling. "I can't wait to see Jamie, Noma and Paul bring the adult Harry, Hermione and Ron (respectively) to life onstage next summer." And while Harry and Ron's adult counterparts have similar looks to the onscreen actors before them,...

Harry Potter is all grown up. The cast of the upcoming stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has officially been revealed. Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni and Paul Thornley will lead the cast as the beloved gang of wizards, Harry, Hermione and Ron. "I'm so excited with the choice of casting for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," said author, J.K. Rowling. "I can't wait to see Jamie, Noma and Paul bring the adult Harry, Hermione and Ron (respectively) to life onstage next summer." And while Harry and Ron's adult counterparts have similar looks to the onscreen actors before them,...

Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni and Paul Thornley will lead the cast as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley when Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opens in London's west end next summer. Previews begin at the Palace Theatre in London on June 7, 2016, and four special preview performances will be held at the end of May 2016. Here's what author J.K. Rowling had to say about the casting in a statement to Pottermore.com.

"I'm so excited with the choice of casting for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I can't wait to see Jamie, Noma and Paul bring the adult Harry, Hermione and Ron to life on stage next summer."

Jamie Parker is the first actor to play Harry Potter on stage. Jamie is currently playing Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls at the Savoy Theatre, which recently transferred from Chichester Festival due to high critical acclaim. He originated the...

Some of the cast of the the upcoming "Harry Potter" play -- which will depict Harry's life 19 years after the end of the last book (and the life of his son, Albus) -- has been announced, and not everyone is happy. Not because the actor who will play Ron Weasley, Paul Thornley, isn't ginger, but because the actor who will play Hermione, Noma Dumezweni, is black. Because Hermione was played by a white person in the movies (and depicted as white on a few of the book covers), some people can't handle the thought of her being portrayed by a black person. But J.K. Rowling herself has now weighed in, saying she never explictly wrote Hermione as any race: Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever. White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione ???? https://t.co/5fKX4InjTH — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 21, 2015 And Matthew Lewis, who...

Mischief managed? J.K. Rowling shot down any critics who sniffed at a black actress being cast as Hermione Granger in the sequel play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," which picks up the story from after we left the now adult trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the flash-forward of "Deathly Hallows."

Rowling first re-tweeted news about the play's casting:

We're thrilled to confirm Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni & Paul Thornley will play Harry, Hermione & Ron #CursedChild pic.twitter.com/s1rsDbrXMO

— Harry Potter Play (@HPPlayLDN) December 21, 2015

Here's the start of Pottermore's story:

Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni and Paul Thornley will lead the cast as Harry, Hermione and Ron when Cursed Child opens in London's west end next summer. J.K. Rowling told Pottermore: 'I'm so excited with the choice of casting for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I can't wait to see Jamie, Noma and Paul bring the adult Harry,...

The cast has been announced for "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," the new two-part play set to open in London's West End that acts as a sequel to the "Harry Potter" books and films.

Jamie Parker, Paul Thorney, and Noma Dumezweni have been cast as Harry, Ron, and Hermione respectively in the project which has been described as "the eighth story, nineteen years later" with the trio effectively playing grown up versions of the beloved characters.

We’re thrilled to confirm Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni & Paul Thornley will play Harry, Hermione & Ron #CursedChild pic.twitter.com/s1rsDbrXMO

— Harry Potter Play (@HPPlayLDN) December 21, 2015

In this story, Potter is now an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic and father of three school-age children. As he 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.

Ever since J.K. Rowling announced it would be an official Harry Potter sequel, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has been one of London's most anticipated theater events of 2016. Now, the play, which returns to the characters at the heart of J.K. Rowling's series of novels in middle age, will provide yet another perspective on the book series, with the role of Hermione portrayed for the first time by a black woman. According to the Daily Mail and the play's official Twitter account, the Potter sequel will star Jamie Parker as Harry Potter, Paul Thornley as Ron Weasley, and Noma Dumezweni as Hermione Granger.In the films, Hermione was played by Emma Watson, a white woman, but Dumezweni's casting continues a tradition of imagining the character as a woman of color — her race isn't specified in the novels and her status as "Mudblood" in the wizarding world puts her...

Actor, of South African heritage, to play adult Hermione in London West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

A new London stage reimagining of Harry Potter will feature Noma Dumezweni, an actor of South African heritage, in the role of Hermione.

The Palace theatre production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child announced it has cast the three main roles, with Jamie Parker as an adult Harry Potter and Paul Thornley as Ron Weasley.

Continue reading...

Actor, of South African heritage, to play adult Hermione in London West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

A new London stage reimagining of Harry Potter will feature Noma Dumezweni, an actor of South African heritage, in the role of Hermione.

The Palace theatre production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child announced it has cast the three main roles, with Jamie Parker as an adult Harry Potter and Paul Thornley as Ron Weasley.

Continue reading...

Simon Brew Rob Leane Jan 23, 2017

J K Rowling has taken to her Twitter account to once again confirm that Harry Potter And The Cursed Child won't be heading to the movies...

J K Rowling, not for the first time, has iterated that there are no plans whatsoever to bring the hit West End play, Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, to the movies. A rumour this time had sprung up that Warner Bros had been chatting to Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint about reprising their roles for a movie, before spinning the younger characters from Harry Potter And The Cursed Child off into movies of their own.

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Rowling has quickly shot this story down, though, with the following Tweet...

I know a lot of...

Tom Hardy and Olivia Colman have signed on to star in the upcoming musical London Road for director Rufus Norris (Broken).

The project is an adaptation of a stage play that centers around the British community of Ipswich which was devastated when a serial killer murdered five women. Tom Hardy will have a small role as Mark, a cab driver who has just one scene where he sings about a troubling passion he had as a teenager. The Daily Mail reports that the actor is a fan of the play and pursued Rufus Norris for a chance to join the production.

Olivia Colman is playing Julie, the organizer of Ipswich's Neighborhood Watch, who comes up with the idea for London Road in Bloom, hanging baskets full of flowers all throughout the area as she sings away to provide a distraction from the darkness that has taken over the town. Linzi Hateley...

Tom Hardy has scored a small but key role in Rufus Norris' currently shooting film adaptation of the documentary-style musical stage play "London Road" for BBC Films and Cuba Films.

The musical deals with a community in Ipswich shattered when a serial killer murdered five women, and the story follows how they coped with the ensuing frenzy.

"Broadchurch" star Olivia Colman plays the major role of Julie, a Neighbourhood Watch event organiser. Hardy will play a taxi driver who has one scene where he sings about a morbid passion of his youth.

Anita Dobson, Clare Burt, Rosalie Craig, Hal Fowler, Kate Fleetwood, Nick Holder, Claire Moore, Michael Shaeffer, Nicola Sloane, Paul Thornley, Howard Ward and Duncan Wisbey also star.

Source: The Daily Mail...