J.K. Rowling's Blog, page 8

First look at Fantastic Beasts: the Crimes of Grindelwald

With exactly one year to go until the next Fantastic Beasts film is released in cinemas, Warner Bros. has revealed the film’s title: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, alongside a sumptuous ensemble photo of key cast members.  Featuring the first look at Jude Law as a young Albus Dumbledore, as well as other new and returning central characters, you can head over to Pottermore for a closer look at each of the characters in the photo.

David Yates returns to direct Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, which is out in cinemas on 16 November 2018.

 

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Fantastic Beasts Illustrated Edition published today

Newt Scamander’s Hogwarts Library classic Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has been brought to life with stunning illustrations by award winning artist Olivia Lomenech Gill. The colourful new edition is now published by Bloomsbury in the UK and Scholastic in the US

The award-winning artist has reimagined every beast in the textbook with a variety of different techniques, such as charcoal sketches and watercolours. You can see Olivia in action here.

Proceeds from the sale of these books will go to Comic Relief and J.K. Rowling’s own international children’s charity Lumos, which both help some of the world’s most vulnerable young people to have better lives.

To find out more and read an exclusive interview with artist Olivia Lomenech Gill, head over to Pottermore.

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British Library opens doors to Harry Potter exhibition

Harry Potter: A History of Magic opens today at the British Library in London. Based on the school subjects studied by Hogwarts students, the exhibition combines centuries-old British Library treasures, including some of the oldest items in the Library’s collection, with original material from publisher Bloomsbury and J.K. Rowling’s own archives, going on display for the first time.

From today, visitors to the exhibition will have the chance to take in items such as the Ripley Scroll – a alchemical manuscript that describes in 6 metres of detail how to make the Philosopher’s Stone, from the 1500s, as well the tombstone of the real Nicolas Flamel, among many more.

Julian Harrison, the exhibition’s lead curator, said:

“We’re thrilled to welcome visitors and Harry Potter fans alike to Harry Potter: A History of Magic. We’ve loved discovering the magical traditions that lie behind the Harry Potter books, and we’ve encountered so many amazing artefacts along the way.

“The exhibition takes visitors on a fascinating journey through the history of magic – from mermaids to crystal balls, from broomsticks to garden gnomes! It’s been enormous fun choosing the exhibits.”

Today also sees a regional roll-out of a panel based version of the exhibition at 20 public libraries around the country, shining a light on each one’s local connections to magic and folklore, so people around the country can experience the exhibition too.

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British Library exhibition to open in New York in 2018

The British Library announced yesterday that its Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibition will be travelling to a new home at the New-York Historical Society, where it will open in October 2018.

Harry Potter: A History of Magic will unveil rare books, manuscripts and magical objects from the British Library’s collection, capturing the traditions of folklore and magic at the heart of the Harry Potter stories. Exploring the subjects studied at Hogwarts, the exhibition will include original drafts and drawings by J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter illustrator Jim Kay – all on display for the first time.

And as it travels from London to New York, the exhibition will evolve to include US-specific artefacts and items from the collection of US Harry Potter publisher Scholastic.

‘We are so excited to be taking a major exhibition on tour to New York for the very first time,’ says the British Library. ‘Harry Potter: A History of Magic promises to be a stunning exhibition capturing the traditions of folklore and magic across the world, which are at the heart of the Harry Potter stories. We’re delighted to be able to share this exhibition with fans across the pond following its run here in London, especially as we have the opportunity to develop the exhibition for a US audience in collaboration with US publisher Scholastic.’

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Harry Potter brought to life with Kindle in Motion

Pottermore revealed on 5th September that the 2015 illustrated print edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, featuring magnificent illustrations by award-winning artist Jim Kay, is now available as a Kindle in Motion eBook. Featuring never-before-seen animations, this is the first time that Jim Kay’s Harry Potter illustrations are available in a digital format.

The Kindle in Motion edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone can be read on any device with the Kindle app.

You can see Jim Kay’s beautiful illustrations brought to life, on pottermore.com. With moving portraits of Albus Dumbledore, flying snitches and fluttering keys this really is magic in motion.

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Cast announced for Cursed Child Broadway premiere

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will have its Broadway premiere in the Spring of 2018 at the redesigned Lyric Theatre in New York. And we now know that seven actors from the award-winning original West End company will be reprising their roles from the London stage.

Jamie Parker will bring his Harry Potter to Broadway, while Noma Dumezweni returns as Hermione Granger and Paul Thornley reprises the role of Ron Weasley. Poppy Miller (Ginny Potter), Sam Clemmett (Albus Potter), Alex Price (Draco Malfoy) and Anthony Boyle (Scorpius Malfoy) will join them in New York to bring their characters to a new audience. The production also announced today 28 new actors joining the cast.

“We have assembled an extraordinary cast for Broadway,” said director John Tiffany. “Our Cursed Child family is growing with 28 brilliant new actors bringing their unique talents to our production. I also can’t wait to dive back into it with seven of our original London cast members reprising their thrilling performances for New York audiences. The adventure continues…”

Tickets will go on sale on 12 October 2017 through registration only, and ticket buyers must register with Ticketmaster Verified Fan between 1 and 5 October 2017 to have the chance to purchase tickets.

Further details will be released soon. Visit www.HarryPotterThePlay.com to sign up for the mailing list to stay up to date with the latest news and updates.

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Two new books for British Library’s exhibition

Harry Potter UK publisher, Bloomsbury and the British Library are creating two magic-filled books to accompany this autumn’s exhibition Harry Potter: A History of Magic at the library in London, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Both books will publish in the UK on 20th October 2017- the day that the exhibition opens its doors to visitors in London.

Harry Potter: A History of Magic will be the official book of the British Library’s exhibition.

A collaboration between Bloomsbury and the brilliant curators of the British Library, the book promises to take readers on a fascinating journey through the subjects studied at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – from Alchemy and Potions classes through to Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures.

Each chapter showcases a treasure trove of artefacts from the British Library and other collections around the world, beside exclusive manuscripts, sketches and illustrations from the Harry Potter archive. There’s also a specially commissioned essay for each subject area by an expert, writer or cultural commentator, inspired by the contents of the exhibition including Steve Backshall, the Reverend Richard Coles, Owen Davies, Julia Eccleshare, Roger Highfield, Steve Kloves, Lucy Mangan, Anna Pavord and Tim Peake, who offer a personal perspective on their magical theme.

Readers will be able to pore over ancient spell books, amazing illuminated scrolls that reveal the secret of the Elixir of Life, vials of dragon’s blood, mandrake roots, painted centaurs and a genuine witch’s broomstick, in a book that shows J.K. Rowling’s magical inventions alongside their cultural and historical forebears.

Another book, Harry Potter: A Journey Through a History of Magic will showcase selected items from the exhibition, aimed at a family audience. It too explores the subjects studied at Hogwarts, and will contain spellbinding facts and information behind the real history of magic, alongside activities inspired by these subjects, creating a rich and rewarding book for families to enjoy for years to come.

Pottermore, the global digital publisher of Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, will simultaneously publish eBook versions of both books. The eBook edition of Harry Potter: A History of Magic also features enhancements allowing readers to navigate the contents of the exhibits in a variety of exciting and innovative ways.

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J.K. Rowling talks to CNN about her charity Lumos

Earlier this week (10th July), J.K. Rowling spoke in depth to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour about why she was compelled to set up her own non-profit organisation, Lumos, named after the spell in the Harry Potter books that brings light to the darkest of places.  Lumos helps some of the world’s most disadvantaged children with the goal to end the harmful institutionalisation of children.

During the interview, J.K. Rowling talked movingly about how there are estimated to be 8 million children living in orphanages or other institutions around the world and how shockingly 80% of them are not actually orphans. These children are voiceless and, hidden from the world, they are vulnerable to abuse and neglect:

“These children are so hungry and thirsty for any kind of one-on-one attention that they will run and cling to total strangers…It’s a window in to why the figures show us that these institutions are often centres of trafficking, and horrendous exploitation.  And when you have witnessed the attachment disorders of these children – which have been brought about entirely by being institutionalised – you realise just how vulnerable they are to unscrupulous people.”

The author went on to explain the overwhelming reason these children are placed in institutions is poverty.  She highlighted some of the ways in which Lumos helps to transform these systems of care, working with experts on the ground, to provide support in the community and social services so that children can return to their families:

“…so the family, themselves might need day care, so we will repurpose the institution for a day care centre.  But the child’s going home every night.  The institution is often a major local employer so many people, who are not bad people, have huge vested interest in keeping the institution going.  We can retrain these people to be district nurses, social workers and carers and foster carers and so forth. …So far Lumos has retrained 30,000 professionals across 34 countries.  And we’ve got 18,000 children out of institutions.  There are cases where a child can’t go home.  We estimate 20% are orphans.  We would firstly look in the extended family – can we support the grandmother or the aunt to take the child?”

Lumos is committed to making family care for all children a global reality by 2050.

In addition, J.K. Rowling called on well-meaning donors and volunteers, who are inadvertently propping up the system of orphanages around the world, to donate and volunteer differently following a recent report by Lumos on the situation in Haiti published in The Guardian.

“One of the things that Lumos has taught me is be very, very careful how you give.  Because even if you are giving with the best of intentions, you may inadvertently be doing harm.  Very, very well-meaning donors, who are inadvertently propping up a system that we know, with nearly 80 years of hard research shows that even a well-run institution, even an institution set up with the best possible intentions, will irrevocably harm the child.”

To learn more about Lumos visit www.wearelumos.org

 

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New illustrations for Fantastic Beasts library book

Publishers Bloomsbury and Scholastic on Monday revealed two striking covers for the fully-illustrated edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which hits bookshops later this year.

Award-winning fine artist Olivia Lomenech-Gill, who has previously won the English Association Picture Book Award, has lent her skill to this new edition, which publishes on 7th November. Bloomsbury’s jacket features the Occamy while a Griffin appears on Scholastic’s. For more exclusive images of the beautifully illustrated beasts, head over to Pottermore.com

Proceeds from the sale of these books will go to Comic Relief and J.K. Rowling’s own international children’s charity Lumos, which both help some of the world’s most vulnerable young people to have better lives.

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Filming for new Fantastic Beasts adventure underway

Principal photography starts today on an all new adventure set in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, the second in a five-film series that began with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.  The as-yet-untitled film opens in 1927, a few months after Eddie Redmayne’s Newt Scamander helped to unveil and capture Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald.  J.K. Rowling has written the screenplay and David Yates returns to direct.

Nods to the Harry Potter stories are promised, and the film is set to take fans to new corners of the wizarding world, it was revealed today, moving from New York to London and on to Paris.

The new adventure is being filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, which has been the cinematic home of the Wizarding World since the first Harry Potter film.

For more Fantastic Beasts news, head over to Pottermore…

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