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When it comes to the Harry Potter universe, J.K. Rowling can't stop, won't stop, and we're not complaining. While the author may be content to leave Harry Potter's story be for now, there's still plenty for Harry Potter fans to look forward to. In an effort to keep it all straight, we've put together this handy guide of what's out and what's coming up for Harry Potter fans.
Upcoming Harry Potter-Related Books
When Harry Potter and the Cursed Child made its official premiere in London's West End, J.K. Rowling said she that "Harry is done now," following the character's reappearance in Cursed Child. While she may be ready to put Harry's story to rest, it's unlikely that she has any intention of abandoning the universe entirely. Her involvement in the Fantastic Beasts spinoff and the sequels that are lined up for the years to come are evidence of that.
In the meantime, new versions of the original Harry Potter books do occasionally find their way onto shelves...
Harry Potter: Film Vault: The Complete Series: Special Edition Boxed Set
In September 2020, Harry Potter fans who just can’t get enough of the movies and everything that went into bringing J.K. Rowling’s words to the screen will be able to take a deep dive in the immersive Harry Potter: Film Vault: The Complete Series boxed set. Split up into 12 volumes, this special edition box set features concept art, photographs from behind the scenes, and other key information about each of the eight films in the franchise. Best of all, you can already preorder the collection here.
Order Of The Phoenix Illustrated Edition
Ever since the illustrated version of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was released in October 2019, fans around the world have been anxiously awaiting the release of the fifth book in the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. And while we won’t see the title in bookstores in 2020, there’s a chance we may see all those great illustrations from Jim Kay at some point in late 2021, especially if you consider the fact that there was a two-year break between the release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
In February 2020, Jim Kay revealed in an Instagram post that he was hard at work on illustrating The Order of the Phoenix but the process was moving slower than he had hoped due to his constant battle with depression. He's also since expressed gratitude for all of the support he's received. He occasionally shares some amazing Potter-related sketches on his Instagram, so be sure to give him a follow if you want to keep up on his progress illustrating Order of the Phoenix. There haven’t been any further updates as of January 2021.
Harry Potter Hogwarts House Editions
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the original publication of the first Harry Potter book in the U.K, Bloomsbury -- the publishing house for the books in the United Kingdom -- began re-releasing each book in the series with special house covers. Over the course of the past few years, every book up through Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has received the House Edition treatment with four unique versions of each title. Whether you are a Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, or even a Slytherin, there is a special edition of each of the first six books featuring your preferred house crest and color scheme.
Everything up through Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix can be picked up on Amazon, while the Half-Blood Prince can be purchased through Bloomsbury or Amazon UK for the time being. And with the sixth entry in the series just having been released in January 2021, expect to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at some point in the near future.
Upcoming Harry Potter Movies
Fantastic Beasts was originally discussed as a planned trilogy, but then in November 2016, J.K. Rowling announced that the story would be spread out over five films. Producer David Heyman confirmed to us that they're aiming to release one film for the series every two years. While that was the case for the 2018 release of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, it appears that the third movie in the franchise won’t see the light of day until at least fall 2021, but even that window is up in the air due to the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic. Anyway, here’s what we know so far…
Fantastic Beasts 3
Production on Fantastic Beasts 3 was originally supposed to get underway in summer 2019, but then shooting was delayed to fall 2019 before shifting once more to spring 2020 so that J.K. Rowling could work on the script of the movie that star Dan Fogler said was going to be bigger than the first two combined. Production on the third movie in the franchise that will eventually consist of five titles got underway in early 2020 but was almost immediately put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The cast and crew eventually returned in September 2020, but the production had another setback a few months later when Johnny Depp was asked to resign prompting the hiring of Mads Mikkelsen to portray the villainous Grindelwald. The movie is currently scheduled to land in theaters on July 15, 2022.
Harry Potter HBO Max Series?
In addition to Fantastic Beasts 3 there is reportedly another Harry Potter project in the works, instead of taking a theatrical route, this one -- if it actually pans out -- will be coming to HBO Max in the form of a television series. In January 2021, The Hollywood Reporter released a report stating that very early discussions were happening for a live-action series set within the Harry Potter universe, but there has been no word as to what the story will be about or even a confirmation from Warner Bros, who has denied that any Harry Potter TV show is currently in development at the studio or HBO Max
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Movie?
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the eighth official story in the Harry Potter series, is a two-part play written by Jack Thorne based on an original story by J.K. Rowling that follows Harry Potter, and his son, Albus Severus Potter as the young Potter prepares to attend Hogwarts. Set 19 years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the play debuted in London’s West End in 2016 before heading to Broadway in 2018, where it remains a hit.
J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros have made it pretty clear that there are presently no plans for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to be made into a movie. In early 2017, a rumor began circulating that there was a plan to make a Harry Potter and the Cursed Child movie years from now, when the original Harry Potter stars were close to the age of their respective characters in the 19-years-later setting of the play. Though the rumor seemed viable, given that it put plenty of distance between now and when this potential trilogy would take place, J.K. Rowling promptly shut down speculation on the idea, stating that it is "NO TRUTH" to the rumor. So that's that. (Again.)
It may also be fair to speculate that a Harry Potter and the Cursed Child stage production world tour would happen before a feature adaptation is made, and with new productions popping up around the world in places like Melbourne and San Francisco in 2019, as well as future plans in Hamburg, Tortonto, and Tokyo, it could be some time before we see the play make the jump to the silver screen.
And More...
Beyond books and movies, there are other ways for Harry Potter fans to get in on the magic. Pottermore.com, the official Harry Potter website, allows fans to register to get sorted into a Hogwarts house, be assigned their wand, and be sorted into their Ilvermorny house (for those aspiring witches and wizards who want to know where they'd be sorted in the North American wizarding school). The most recent addition to Pottermore was the highly (massively, hugely) anticipated Patronus test, which allows fans to take a quiz that will determine their Patronus. J.K. Rowling mentioned on Twitter that she created that test herself, so it's about as official as it gets, short of real magic. You must be logged in to take the test.
Theme Parks
Like any major franchise, Harry Potter has found its way into the world of theme parks with multiple areas in a number of different Universal parks around the world. Since the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort in 2010, two more themed areas like it have opened in Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan, with a section slated to open at Universal Studios Beijing in 2021. By adapting the films and novels from J.K. Rowling, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter aims to recreate iconic locations and scenarios from the beloved fantasy series.
Hogwarts Mystery
Fans of Harry Potter and video games have had plenty of options over the years, but not since now have they had such a diverse lineup of titles to choose from. Before LEGO Dimensions was abandoned in late 2017, players were about to access various locations and situations from the iconic franchise, but that’s not all. In 2018, the mobile game Harry Potter Hogwarts Mystery was launched on mobile devices. The game, which was released by Portkey Games, allows players to create their own character and experience the life of a Hogwarts student. Over the course of the player’s seven-year journey at the school of magic, they’ll choose their house, learn spells, and solve all sorts of mysteries that await.
The game can be downloaded from the Hogwarts Mystery website or on the Apple and Google Play stores.
Wizards Unite
Much like Pokemon Go, which was released several years earlier, Wizards Unite is an augmented reality mobile game that puts Harry Potter fans in the middle of the magical world of wizardry. Throughout the course of the game, players are able to establish themselves as an official member of the wizarding world and gain access to all sorts of spells, potions, and skills as they advance and upgrade their character.
The game can be downloaded on the Wizards Unite website or on the Apple, Google Play, and Galaxy stores.
Hogwarts Legacy Video Game
Besides mobile games and various LEGO games over the years, there hasn’t been a proper Harry Potter game since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 back in 2011. That will all change in 2022 with the release of the long-awaited Hogwarts Legacy role-playing video game under development at Warner Bros.-owned Avalanche Software. According to a January report from GamesRadar,, the game was originally scheduled to be released at some point in 2021, but now won’t come out until some point in 2022 due to delays.. Not much is known about the game outside of the fact it is an RPG set in the 1800s, but more details will surely be available in the coming months.
Recently And Previously Released Harry Potter Books
With so many of the classic Harry Potter novels and other books tied to the series receiving updated versions (and illustrated editions) in recent years, some might have fallen through the cracks. With that in mind, here is a list of all the major updates this cherished franchise has received in recent years.
Quidditch Through The Ages Illustrated Edition
Since first appearing in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Philosopher's Stone in the United Kingdom), Quidditch Through The Ages has been a fan-favorite of Harry Potter enthusiasts, and now thanks to a soon-to-be-released illustrated version, the history of the wizard world’s favorite sport will reach a new audience. With illustrations by Emily Gravett and text from J.K. Rowling, the updated version was published in October 2020 by Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom and Scholastic in the United States.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard Audiobook
In March 2020, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, the 2007 collection of children’s stories from J.K. Rowling was given the audiobook treatment with a star-studded cast including quite a few actors from the Harry Potter film franchise. With Warwick Davis, Noma Dumezweni, Jason Iassacs, and Jude Law, who provides insights as the voice of one Albus Dumbledore, all providing their voices to this well-written and acted audiobook, there’s no reason for diehard fans to miss this one. And best of all, The Tales of Beedle the Bard is available for free for Audible members.
Harry Potter Books 1-4 Illustrated Editions
We still don’t know exactly when the illustrated version of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be released, but in the meantime, there’s never been a better time to catch up on the first four entries in the beloved fantasy series. This run of the special editions started in 2015 with the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which was followed up by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in 2016 and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in 2017. Illustrator Jim Kay was given an extra year to prepare Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which hit shelves in 2019.
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them Illustrated Edition
Those of us who already own about five copies of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them found an excuse to buy one more when the fully illustrated edition was released in November 2017. The color illustrations came from artist Olivia Lomenech Gill, and used a variety of artistic techniques to depict the beasts. Nearly a year later in October 2018, fans saw the release of The Tales of Beedle the Bard: The Illustrated Edition which included masterful work by Lisbeth Zwerger who brought J.K. Rowlings collection of short stories to life in great detail.
In addition to a re-release of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, an audiobook edition for the textbook was released the same day the new edition of the book came out. Eddie Redmayne narrates the book. Normally, we would've hoped that Jim Dale -- narrator of the U.S. versions of the Harry Potter books -- would be back for this, but having the textbook narrated by Newt Scamander himself is far too perfect to complain. Based on Audible's page, the audiobook clocks in at just under two hours.
A History Of Magic Illustrated
Fans who clamored for a proper illustrated version of A History of Magic were in for a treat with the October 2018 release of the companion book from the special exhibition of the same name. In addition to beautiful drawings of the wizard worlds’ greatest moments, the book also included original drafts and drawings from J.K. Rowling, as well as exclusive material only seen in this updated version of the book.
Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them Screenplay Book
Not to be confused with the reference guide by which the film Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is loosely inspired, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them: The Original Screenplay includes the shooting script for Fantastic Beasts. Those hoping for a novel will be disappointed, but the book is actually a really great bonus to the film, as it includes some descriptions and insights to certain scenes that are really left to interpretation in the actual movie. Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them: The Original Screenplay hit shelves the day the film arrived in theaters (November 18), and can be purchased in hardcover and ebook. The screenplay for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald has also been published as a book.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child script book
Following the debut of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a script book for the play was published, allowing Harry Potter fans to read both parts of the play. To be clear, this book is not a novel, however it does contain the full play, for those who aren't able to get to London to see it, or for those who want to relive the theatrical magic in script form.
Pottermore Essays and eBooks
J.K. Rowling occasionally drops new writings on Pottermore.com, and hopefully, that won't cease anytime soon. Also, the Harry Potter site released a series of e-books in 2016, which include essays from J.K. Rowling, some new, some previously published on Pottermore.com. Those are out now, and include:
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists
Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies
Previously Released Movies
Since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 concluded the original film franchise in July 2011, there have been two more movies based on the wizarding world created by author J.K. Rowling, with hopefully many more on the way.
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them arrived in theaters on November 18, 2016. The film is both a spinoff and a prequel to the Harry Potter stories. It centers on Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), the wizard and magizoologist responsible for penning the titular textbook that would go on to be studied by Harry, Ron and Hermione, not to mention countless other Hogwarts students. The story is set in the 1920s, seventy years before Harry Potter attended Hogwarts. Fantastic Beasts follows Newt as he visits New York for what's supposed to be a short stay, but ends up stuck there for longer when his collection of beasts gets loose in the city. (Vague spoilers ahead!)
Magic and mayhem ensue, as do the introduction of numerous key characters, including former MACUSA auror Tina (Katherine Waterston), her legilimens sister Queenie (Alison Sudol), No-maj Jacob (Dan Fogler), MACUSA auror Percival Graves (Colin Farrell) and Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller). The film also features a crucial appearance by Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp).
Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is now available on home video.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald
Two years after audiences (or non-book readers) were introduced to Newt Scamander, they were thrown back into the world of wizards with the November 2018 release of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, which served as another prequel to the Harry Potter story. With the evil wizard Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) released into the world, it is up to Scamander, Tina, Queenie, and Jacob to stop him before his plan of world domination can be carried out. Making an appearance here is a young Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law), who turns to Scamander to help save the day once and for all.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is now available on home video.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a very active place and anything can change in an instant, so make sure to check back for any and all updates regarding Fantastic Beasts 3, that mysterious HBO Max series, and various editions and re-releases of the classic books and assorted materials.
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