J.K. Rowling's HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD's 'Epic' Story to Be Staged in Two Parts

Big news on the HP front today! J.K. Rowling took to Twitter to reveal that her upcoming play with Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, will be staged in two parts.

Producer Sonia Friedman told the Daily Mail that Part 1 and Part 2 of 'CURSED CHILD' will run concurrently, playing consecutive days each week and on the same day on weekends. She explained the the story is "too long to be told in a traditional length and it became inevitable that it had to be in two parts."

In a Pottermore interview with Rowling's collaborators Thorne and Tiffany, the pair expanded upon why 'CURSED CHILD' will be split in two.

"Obviously I loved it when we decided to tell this story in two parts," Thorne said, "because I got to spend more time with the characters and what an honour that has been. It continues to be unbelievable and amazing that I've been given this extraordinary chance to bring Harry Potter to the stage. As a fan, who just devoured the books and the films, this couldn't be more exciting for me."

"I've never worked on anything quite like this before," Tiffany told Pottermore. "Usually in theatre you're adapting existing material or creating an entirely new play. With the Cursed Child we have been given the unique opportunity to explore some of the most cherished books and beloved characters ever written, yet work with J.K. Rowling to tell a story from that world that no one yet knows -- it's exhilarating."

He added, "It shares a scale and ambition with all the Harry Potter stories so in order to do this justice we have decided to present the play in two parts."

Coming to the West End's Palace Theatre next summer, 'CURSED CHILD' centers on the literary icon's parents -- Lily and James.

Although official details are scarce, BWW previously reported that the story will follow Lily Evans Potter and James Potter before they were killed by Lord Voldemort. It will likely take a closer look at Lily's fraught relationship with her sister Petunia, who was forced to raise Harry with her husband Vernon after the Potters were murdered.

Severus Snape could also play a key role; he and Lily were friends as children, went to Hogwarts together and were both members of the Order of the Phoenix. James' fellow Marauders -- friends Remus Lupin (werewolf), Sirius Black (Harry's godfather) and Peter Pettigrew (the backstabbing rat) -- might also appear in the plot.

Responding to a fan question about whether 'CURSED CHILD' is a prequel, Rowling responded: