'Harry Potter 8 And The Cursed Child' Release Date, News & Update: Denied By JK Rowling As 8th Harry Potter Book, No Signing or Publicity By JK Rowling

Much has been said about "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child." The story based on JK Rowling's "Harry Potter" series, has been touted as the eight book by JK Rowling. This is unsurprising given that "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" continues the story of Harry Potter and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger well into their adulthood. To be exact, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" takes place 19 years after the timeline in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

According to The Guardian, JK Rowling also confirmed to fans that “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is not by her but by co-creator Jack Thorne. “#CursedChild is a play and while we have worked very closely on it, the wonderful writer is @jackthorne,” Rowling wrote on Twitter in response to a fan question.

Rowling’s own Pottermore site provides further clarity on the matter of the creation of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” “The play opens in London’s West End this summer, based on an original new story by JK Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany,” the site announced. “It is officially the eighth story in Harry Potter canon and a new play by Jack Thorne.”

In connection to “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” not being Rowling’s novel but rather a script co-written among Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, The Telegraph reports that The Little, Brown Book Group, who will publish “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” announced that Rowling will not be doing any publicity tour or book signing when “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is released.

The book’s release will coincide with Harry Potter’s birthday on the eve of July 31, 2016, which is also the day after “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” debuts at the Palace Theatre in London.