JK Rowling, the author of the hit Harry Potter books, has announced that she will collaborate with producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callendar on a stage prequel to the novels.
The new production, which will undoubtedly have Potterheads waving their Nimbus 2000s with excitement, will follow the story of the boy wizard before he discovered his magical abilities and headed off to Hogwarts, at a time when he spent most of his life imprisoned in the cupboard under the stairs of his uncle and aunt’s house.
While Rowling, whose books have sold more than 450 million copies worldwide and been translated into 77 languages, will not script the show, but will work closely with an as yet not chosen playwright to create the piece.
Speaking about the play, Rowling said: “Over the years I have received countless approaches about turning Harry Potter into a theatrical production, but Sonia and Colin’s vision was the only one that really made sense to me, and which had the sensitivity, intensity and intimacy I thought appropriate for bringing Harry’s story to the stage. After a year in gestation it is exciting to see this project moving on to the next phase. I’d like to thank Warner Bros. for their continuing support in this project.”
In choosing to work with Friedman and Callendar, Rowling has chosen two producers with impressive pedigree. Friedman is one of the most prolific producers in the West End, counting recent hits such as The Book Of Mormon and the transfer of the Globe’s Twelfth Night and Richard III among her productions. Callendar has worked across both stage and screen, with recent projects including the BBC adaptation of Wolf Hall and Nora Ephron’s Broadway hit Lucky Guy.
If all this talk of Potter productions has got you more excited than a Hogwarts first year on a trip to Diagon Alley, you may need a calming potion. The project will move into development next year so won’t reach the stage for a while.