J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” parts one and two, the 8th “Harry Potter” story, is about to reach audiences around the world on 31st July 2016. As the date draws near, Pottermore has begun to unveil the first looks at some of the key characters via a new series of character portraits. And in costumes, no less.
“He simply is Harry now. There’s a kind of relief in watching him, he gets it so right.”
Dressed as they will appear in the “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” play, the adult Harry Potter will be played by English actor and singer Jamie Parker.
For the first time ever, Harry Potter is without his trusty Hogwarts robes. Instead, is a suited up for his employment at the Ministry of Magic. In speaking about Harry’s more adult clothes, Jamie said, “He’s wearing a suit because he’s a Ministry man, but he’s not just a bloke in a suit, that’s way too anonymous. And it sounds strange but we talked around a lot of different suits, because there are suits and suits, and a lot of them we put on and we went, ‘Mmm it’s just not right.'”
Jamie also dons on the world-famous Harry Potter lightning bolt scar and iconic glasses.
Author J.K. Rowling, on the other hand, praised Jamie for getting it “so right”, adding that he “simple is Harry now”.
Poppy Miller, who has previously appeared on stage in productions of “Macbeth” and “Twelfth Night”, as well as while some film and TV work (“Line of Duty”, “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll”, “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”) will play Ginny Potter.
Thrilled with her new look as Ginny Potter, Poppy pointed out that her favourite part of her transformation so far – the “fabulous haircut”. “As this is Ginny’s hair, it’s obviously red and quite sleek,” she explained, adding that she also gets to wear a gorgeous, hand-knitted jumper.
Poppy’s look was met with approval from J.K. Rowling, who said, “I think a lot of people would like to have Poppy’s Ginny for a mother. Kind and cool, exactly as I imagined her.”
Last but not least, Albus.
Sam Clemmett, with experience in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s productions such as “Lord of the Flies”, and “Wendy and Peter Pan”, has taken on the role of Harry Potter’s youngest son, Albus Severus Potter.
Hogwarts-robed-up as Albus, Sam Clemmett is convinced that Albus’ robes were hand-me-downs from his character’s elder brother. “This is what Albus wears at the start of the show. I had the idea he was wearing James’s – his older brother’s – hand-me-downs. So I wanted him to feel quite uncomfortable, and be able to play with his clothes,” Sam said.
Note: Just in case you’ve forgotten, Harry and Ginny are married and have 3 children – James Sirius, Albus Severus, and Lily Luna.
As for Sam’s role as Albus, J.K. Rowling is still pretty tightlipped about it. “There’s much I could say about Sam-as-Albus, but we’d be into spoiler territory so quickly I’ll just say we couldn’t have cast better,” she said.
Our take? There’s not much to say about Sam Clemmett as Albus Potter, considering the fact that this is only our second glimpse as any of Harry Potter’s children, the first being the final scene in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2”.
But props to J.K. Rowling and the “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” production team for getting the adult Harry Potter and Ginny Potter so spot on!
The official synopsis is as follows:
“It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry 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. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.”
“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” will be published as a “special rehearsal edition” script book a day after the play opens in London. The special rehearsal edition script book will later be replaced by a Definitive Collector’s Edition.
Pottermore is expected to reveal more new images of some of the other characters from the “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” play this week.
Meanwhile, the other Harry Potter spin-off, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them“, starring Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, is expected to hit cinemas on 18th November 2016.
Source: Pottermore.
