'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child:' J.K. Rowling announces new play

'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

Just enough time has passed for us to stop cringing at the sight of Tom Felton, who came to be known as the weakling bully Draco Malfoy. Even while working on the "Potter" franchise, Felton dabbled in other films, like "The Disappeared" and "Get Him to the Greek." Felton has been busy since "Potter" wrapped, and he appeared in the World War II movie "Ghosts of the Pacific" and the TNT cop drama "Murder in the First."

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'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

Bonnie Wright began playing Ginny Weasley at age 10, and since leaving the franchise she has been on a steady diet of dramas. Wright appeared in "The Philosophers," followed by "Before I Sleep" with Tom Sizemore.

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'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

The brothers who played the elder Weasleys -- George and Fred -- don't have the trademark ginger hair anymore, but they're still recognizable as the prankster pair. James and Oliver Phelps are still happy to talk all things "Potter," even as they move on to other endeavors. James has been active on stage, and Oliver has been traveling in support of his website, JopWorld.com.

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'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

Evanna Lynch's Luna Lovegood showed up halfway through the "Potter" saga, but her character was so wonderfully strange she's easily among the most memorable. And if there's anyone who's eager for the "Harry Potter" spinoff films, it's Lynch: "Maybe 'Fantastic Beasts' will turn into a long ting like HP did & I can play Luna as an old lady?" she tweeted. "Even if I'm too old to play Luna, can I go through 10 hours prosthetics to play a crumple-horned-snorkack. Please??"

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'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

Devon Murray's Seamus Finnigan was an easy character to love, and fans have missed seeing Murray (and hearing his accent) on the big screen. Murray assured a supporter from his unverified Twitter account in September 2013 that he's "been offered a lead role in a new movie so could be seeing my mug soon :)"

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'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

Jamie Waylett's Vincent Crabbe appeared in the first half of the franchise, and life post-"Potter" hasn't been so easy for the actor. In May 2012, he was sentenced to two years in jail for his participation in the 2011 London riots.

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'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," the first film in the eight-part franchise, was released in 2001. With the upcoming release of highly anticipated movie spinoffs, check in with some of Hogwarts' most memorable students.

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'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

In 2014, Daniel Radcliffe proved on "The Tonight Show" that his talents go far beyond acting; Radcliffe's alsoa pretty great rapper. The "Harry Potter" star will next appear in the 2015 Judd Apatow comedy "Trainwreck."

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'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

Since portraying sharp witch Hermione in the "Harry Potter" series, Emma Watson has broken away from the supernatural with roles grounded in the (mostly) real world. After "My Week With Marilyn," "The Perks of Being A Wallflower" and "The Bling Ring," she showed her sense of humor in Seth Rogen's outlandish summer comedy, "This Is the End." She'll next appear in the 2015 thriller "Regression."

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'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

Rupert Grint kept it fairly low-key after he ended his 10-year run as one of Harry Potter's best friends, Ron Weasley. He took on a risky role with 2013's "CGBG" -- if you need proof that Grint's all grown-up, check out the trailer.

Hide Caption

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'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

By the time the "Potter" movies wrapped, Matthew Lewis -- and his character, Neville Longbottom -- had morphed into quite the charming young man. He initially migrated over to TV for a spell with "The Syndicate" and "Bluestone 42."

Hide Caption

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'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

Just enough time has passed for us to stop cringing at the sight of Tom Felton, who came to be known as the weakling bully Draco Malfoy. Even while working on the "Potter" franchise, Felton dabbled in other films, like "The Disappeared" and "Get Him to the Greek." Felton has been busy since "Potter" wrapped, and he appeared in the World War II movie "Ghosts of the Pacific" and the TNT cop drama "Murder in the First."

Hide Caption

6 of 11

'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

Bonnie Wright began playing Ginny Weasley at age 10, and since leaving the franchise she has been on a steady diet of dramas. Wright appeared in "The Philosophers," followed by "Before I Sleep" with Tom Sizemore.

Hide Caption

7 of 11

'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

The brothers who played the elder Weasleys -- George and Fred -- don't have the trademark ginger hair anymore, but they're still recognizable as the prankster pair. James and Oliver Phelps are still happy to talk all things "Potter," even as they move on to other endeavors. James has been active on stage, and Oliver has been traveling in support of his website, JopWorld.com.

Hide Caption

8 of 11

'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

Evanna Lynch's Luna Lovegood showed up halfway through the "Potter" saga, but her character was so wonderfully strange she's easily among the most memorable. And if there's anyone who's eager for the "Harry Potter" spinoff films, it's Lynch: "Maybe 'Fantastic Beasts' will turn into a long ting like HP did & I can play Luna as an old lady?" she tweeted. "Even if I'm too old to play Luna, can I go through 10 hours prosthetics to play a crumple-horned-snorkack. Please??"

Hide Caption

9 of 11

'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

Devon Murray's Seamus Finnigan was an easy character to love, and fans have missed seeing Murray (and hearing his accent) on the big screen. Murray assured a supporter from his unverified Twitter account in September 2013 that he's "been offered a lead role in a new movie so could be seeing my mug soon :)"

Hide Caption

10 of 11

'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

Jamie Waylett's Vincent Crabbe appeared in the first half of the franchise, and life post-"Potter" hasn't been so easy for the actor. In May 2012, he was sentenced to two years in jail for his participation in the 2011 London riots.

Hide Caption

11 of 11

'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," the first film in the eight-part franchise, was released in 2001. With the upcoming release of highly anticipated movie spinoffs, check in with some of Hogwarts' most memorable students.

Hide Caption

1 of 11

'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

In 2014, Daniel Radcliffe proved on "The Tonight Show" that his talents go far beyond acting; Radcliffe's alsoa pretty great rapper. The "Harry Potter" star will next appear in the 2015 Judd Apatow comedy "Trainwreck."

Hide Caption

2 of 11

'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

Since portraying sharp witch Hermione in the "Harry Potter" series, Emma Watson has broken away from the supernatural with roles grounded in the (mostly) real world. After "My Week With Marilyn," "The Perks of Being A Wallflower" and "The Bling Ring," she showed her sense of humor in Seth Rogen's outlandish summer comedy, "This Is the End." She'll next appear in the 2015 thriller "Regression."

Hide Caption

3 of 11

'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

Rupert Grint kept it fairly low-key after he ended his 10-year run as one of Harry Potter's best friends, Ron Weasley. He took on a risky role with 2013's "CGBG" -- if you need proof that Grint's all grown-up, check out the trailer.

Hide Caption

4 of 11

'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

By the time the "Potter" movies wrapped, Matthew Lewis -- and his character, Neville Longbottom -- had morphed into quite the charming young man. He initially migrated over to TV for a spell with "The Syndicate" and "Bluestone 42."

Hide Caption

5 of 11

'Harry Potter': Where are they now? 11 photos

Just enough time has passed for us to stop cringing at the sight of Tom Felton, who came to be known as the weakling bully Draco Malfoy. Even while working on the "Potter" franchise, Felton dabbled in other films, like "The Disappeared" and "Get Him to the Greek." Felton has been busy since "Potter" wrapped, and he appeared in the World War II movie "Ghosts of the Pacific" and the TNT cop drama "Murder in the First."

Hide Caption

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"Harry Potter" has fired imaginations on the page and the big screen and now his story is set to continue, with the wizard schoolboy spending a spell treading the boards in London's theater land.

Author J.K. Rowling announced in a series of tweets Friday that the play "Harry Potter And The Cursed Child"would open in London's West End in 2016.

Marking the 18-year anniversary of the publication of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," with a message on Twitter, Potter's creator continued: "I'm also very excited to confirm today that a new play called Harry Potter and the #CursedChild will be opening in London next year."

"Produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender's Playground Entertainment and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, tickets for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will go on public sale this autumn, details of which will be announced summer 2015 and will be shared on the official website, in late July," a statement on her website continued.

Rowling confirmed that the production would tell a new story.

Anticipating questions as to why it would not be appearing in book form, Rowling said she was confident that "when audiences see the play they will agree that it was the only proper medium for the story."

"Harry Potter" fans (self-proclaimed "Potterheads") on Twitter were predictably excited, posting images of celebrations at Hogwarts, the fictional wizards' school attended by Potter.

Rowling said that the new play would not be a prequel, but said she didn't want to go into more detail "to spoil what I know will be a real treat for fans."

The news follows confirmation of a much-anticipated "Harry Potter" spinoff movie.

Warner Bros. Pictures (owned by Time Warner, as is CNN) confirmed earlier this month that Oscar Winner Eddie Redmayne would be the star of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," a trilogy based on a book central to the "Harry Potter" saga.

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