- The Harry Potter and the Cursed Child stage play has seen a 300% increase in revenues in the past year despite controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling.
- There are no confirmed plans to adapt The Cursed Child for screen, but it could happen in the future.
- A television series is currently being developed to adapt the seven original Harry Potter novels.
Even with controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling due to some of her personal opinions, the Harry Potter franchise remains highly successful. The stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, continues to break records and bring in substantial profits for Rowling, despite threats of boycott from fans.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child premiered in 2016 in London’s West End and has become one of the most significant new shows in recent years. The play expanded internationally and debuted on Broadway in 2018. Like most theater productions, the stage play faced significant challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it has come back strong and continues to deliver significant profits.
As reported by Deadline, HPTP Holdings, the parent company for Rowling’s theatrical interests, saw revenues of £14M in the 12 months leading up to March 2023. This marks a 300% increase from the previous year. Among this total, £5.3M came from Europe, £4.6M from the United States, and £4.1M from the rest of the world.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child takes place 19 years after the original saga, focusing on Albus Severus Potter, Harry and Ginny’s son, during his first year at Hogwarts. Albus forms a close friendship with Scorpius Malfoy, Draco Malfoy’s son, and the two embark on a dangerous adventure through time using a time-turner.
While Warner Bros. Pictures attempted to capitalize on the universe created by Rowling with the Fantastic Beasts series, this saga was less successful, leading to its cancellation. A TV series is currently in the works to adapt the seven original Harry Potter novels. David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, has expressed interest in adapting The Cursed Child for the screen, leaving the possibility of a screen adaptation featuring Albus and Scorpius open.
Fans of the Harry Potter franchise can look forward to a new adaptation of the original novels coming to television in the coming years. The original Harry Potter movies are available for streaming on Peacock and HBO Max, depending on the region. To experience Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, fans will need to attend the stage play in theaters.