‘Harry Potter’ Play Produced By J.K. Rowling To Look At Life Before Hogwarts

A new stage play based on J.K. Rowling Harry Potter series is in the works. The play will be co-produced by Rowling and will examine Harry Potter’s life as an orphan before he is adopted by the Dursley family and enters Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Rowling announced she is working on the play, which is a prequel of sorts to the super successful Harry Potter books and movie franchise and will open in London’s West End within two years time.

According to the Daily Mail, Rowling will not write the playwright. However, she will collaborate in the process and act as co-producer.

Producers Sonia Friedman (The Book Of Mormon, Chimerica) and Colin Callender (Lucky Guy, The White Queen) are reportedly involved in the production.

In a statement on Friday, Rowling said over the years she has been approached many times about creating a play based on her uber popular Harry Potter series, but the vision presented by Friedman and Callender is the strongest one yet.

“(It) was the only one that really made sense to me, and which had the sensitivity, intensity and intimacy I thought appropriate for bringing Harry’s story to the stage. After a year in gestation, it is very exciting to see this project moving onto the next stage.”

Warner Bros., the studio that brought Harry Potter to life on film, is also reportedly involved in the stage production.

J.K. Rowling’s seven book series has sold more than 450 million copies since she first wrote Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone on a manual typewriter.

The books were later made into eight films starring Daniel Radcliffe in the main role and have earned about $8 billion in the international market.

A director and writer have not selected at this time, and there is no release date for the new Harry Potter play.