As easy as J.K. Rowling can conjure up a fantastic world, she just crushed another. Addressing rumours that had begun to swirl online, the author tweeted that there will not be a trilogy of movies based on the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Here’s her tweet:
I know a lot of people are looking for reasons to be cheerful today, but there is NO TRUTH to the rumour about a #CursedChild movie trilogy!
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 20, 2017
The rumours began last year but resurfaced again on the Unofficial Universal Orlando Podcast. There, theme park insider Jim Hill said that Warner Bros. had talked to Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson about returning to their characters once the Fantastic Beasts films were completed. He also suggested, after three films based on the play were completed, the younger characters could spin off into their own new stories.
But, thanks to Rowling, we can put a fork in that.
Though… can we really? While Hill’s statements may not be true today, I think it’s foolish to think Warner Bros. wouldn’t want something like that to happen. If Rowling okayed it today, I’d bet they’d get to work on it tomorrow. I think the truth of the situation is that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child still has a long life remaining on the stage. It’s coming to New York next year after its smashing London run and will surely tour from there. The whole story was conceived for that medium and Rowling and her co-writers surely want people to experience it that way.
Rowling also, very specifically, used the word “trilogy”. She didn’t deny rumours about a movie or even two. Just the trilogy. She’s a very gifted writer and there’s no way she didn’t consider those words very carefully.
For now though, I think these current rumours can be put on the shelf for a least a few more years. There are four Fantastic Beasts films on the way and lots of chances to see Cursed Child on the stage. What happens in 10 or 15 years is difficult to say at the moment.
[EW]