JK Rowling sends Harry Potter fans into a froth over cryptic 'Cursed Child' tweet
JK Rowling caused mayhem among Harry Potter fans yesterday after a cryptic tweet that appeared to hint at more material from the prolific writer.
The tweet simply read 'Sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places', with the hashtags #HarryPotter and #CursedChild.
It was featured an illustration of a fanged skull and a snake, a stylish version of Potter villain Lord Voldemort's 'dark mark'.
Sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places #HarryPotter #CursedChild pic.twitter.com/TQb68Wtqiz
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 5, 2019
It was the first message from the author following a lengthy, six-month break from social media, so caused something of a storm, with over 41,000 likes and thousands of comment and retweets.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN? OMG pic.twitter.com/x22ba0Qm1c
— Ca͛pa Invisible ⚯͛ (@capa_invisible) September 5, 2019
Many hoped that it could be signifying a new movie project in the Potter series, perhaps of the stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
However, this was later dashed on the Pottermore website, which added scant clarification, saying: “There is something exciting coming later on from @CursedChildNYC, but it's not a movie...”.
There is something exciting coming later on from @CursedChildNYC, but it’s not a movie… https://t.co/iGoKf7cGSO
— Pottermore (@pottermore) September 5, 2019
In fact, it all turned out to be hyping up a publicity stunt in Times Square in which new visual branding for the show, and a new strapline – which Rowling had already revealed – was unveiled.
It was, to be fair, a bit of a let down from the towering expectation, and even angered some media outlets, Hypable accusing Rowling and show producers of overhyping 'a completely boring branding announcement'.
Ouch.
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The stage show, which picks up the Potter story 19 years after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, finds Harry and wife Ginny (nee Weasley) all grown up and now with children of their own, the eldest of which, Albus Potter, is about to start at Hogwarts.
It launched at the Palace Theatre in London in 2016, before moving to Broadway last year, having won a record-breaking nine Olivier Awards during its West End run.
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Though Rowling has previously said there is no plans to make The Cursed Child into a movie, fans still hold out hope that it will make it to the silver screen in time.
