“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” has sold more than 2 million copies since its July 31 release, Scholastic announced on Wednesday.
Written by Jack Thorne, based on a story with John Tiffany and “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling, “Cursed Child” is a script book for the West End play, which serves as the eighth installment in the wildly popular fantasy series.
“Eager fans of all ages gathered at midnight parties in bookstores and libraries to get their copies of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,’ bringing communities together to celebrate the magic of reading and the power of great storytelling,” Ellie Berger, president of Scholastic Trade, said in a statement. “It’s an incredible start and all the signs are indicating continued strong sales for this exciting release.”
Rowling broke “Harry Potter” fans’ hearts over the weekend when she announced that “Cursed Child” would serve as the final installment in the boy wizard’s story.
“He goes on a very big journey during these two plays and then, yeah, I think we’re done,” she said. “This is the next generation, you know. So, I’m thrilled to see it realized so beautifully but, no, Harry is done now.”
“Cursed Child” 19 years after where the last book in the series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” left off. Harry is a grown man, a father of three and an overburdened employee of the Ministry of Magic. His youngest son Albus never wanted to inherit his family’s legacy, as he and his dad are confronted with darkness from unexpected places.
The West End play, starring Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni and Paul Thornley, officially opened at the Palace Theatre in London on July 30.