Pottermore has announced this morning that J.K. Rowling’s screenplay for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will be published this coming November to tie in with the film’s release. Fans will recall that a similar strategy has been used for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child with the play’s script being released in book form this July.
[…] this year will mark the first time the author has published a screenplay, which you’ll be able to buy as a print edition from Little, Brown (UK) or Scholastic (US and Canada), or as an eBook [on] Pottermore.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them follows the exploits of magizoologist Newt Scamander in 1920s New York, and the screenplay will be published on 19 November – hot on the heels of the movie’s release on 18 November (as if you don’t have that date in your calendar already!)
Audible, Inc., the world’s largest seller and producer of downloadable audiobooks and other spoken-word entertainment, today announced that J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter digital audiobooks have sold one million units at audible.co.uk, audible.com, audible.de and audible.com.au. This milestone was reached only four months after Audible became the sole subscription-based service to offer the series as digital audiobooks on November 20th, 2015. The recordings showcase captivating performances by Stephen Fry (in the UK and the rest of the world), Jim Dale (in the North American version) and Felix von Manteuffel (in the German version). The UK version can be downloaded at audible.co.uk/HarryPotter.
“Decades after the release of J.K. Rowling’s celebrated series, there has never been a better time to be a Harry Potter fan,” said Andy Gaies, Audible’s Chief Content Officer. “Audible listeners are the most voracious readers there are, and now that we’re able to offer the opportunity to enjoy the Harry Potter series seamlessly through the Audible service, our audience is clamoring for these wonderful stories. We’re gratified that the series has picked up steam so quickly on Audible, and look forward to bringing even more listeners to J.K. Rowling’s richly imagined universe through our affordable platform.”
“These strong Audible sales figures demonstrate the continuing strength and appeal of the Harry Potter series on any platform – print book, eBook or digital audiobook,” said Susan L. Jurevics, Chief Executive Officer, Pottermore. “The Harry Potter digital audiobooks are now more accessible thanks to Audible’s ability to successfully connect with its vast membership base. We look forward to growing the audience with Audible and helping more users experience the joys and magic of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World.”
Pottermore, the digital publishing, e-commerce, entertainment and news company from J.K. Rowling, is the global digital publisher of Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. As the digital heart of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, pottermore.com is dedicated to unlocking the power of imagination. It offers news, features, and articles as well as new and previously unreleased writing by J.K. Rowling. The Pottermore Shop, the company’s digital retail arm, will continue to sell the Harry Potter digital audiobooks.
Bloomsbury have sent over a first look at Jim Kay’s cover art for the Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets! The book will be published in hardback on 4th October 2016. Pottermore exclusively revealed some more new artwork from the book, all of which can be seen in our gallery!
Bloomsbury Publishing is excited to reveal the cover of the eagerly anticipated Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Illustrated Edition written by J.K. Rowling, illustrated by Jim Kay. Scholastic US are using the same cover image and will reveal simultaneously. Illustrated by Jim Kay, Kate Greenaway Medal winner, the front cover image shows Harry Potter flying towards The Burrow in the Ford Anglia.
Published globally on 4th October 2016 the hardback edition will include ribbon marker, head and tail bands, illustrated endpapers and over 115 colour images. The illustrated edition will be published in more than 21 languages around the world. All will be using Jim Kay’s artwork and will be joining the UK and the US in bringing this beautiful edition to life.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Illustrated Edition was published to huge acclaim in October 2015. Sales of the book exceeded 100,000 copies through UK TCM within the first six months of publication and the book has been shortlisted for The Bookseller Children’s Book of the Year. Jim Kay’s artwork received plaudits from across the globe and J.K. Rowling herself said, ‘Seeing Jim Kay’s illustrations moved me profoundly. I love his interpretation of Harry Potter’s world, and feel honoured and grateful that he has lent his talents to it.’
In addition to Bloomsbury’s publishing update from this morning, Pottermore has revealed today that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will be published as a Special Rehearsal Edition book on Harry and Jo’s birthday – July 31st 2016. This will not be a traditional book, it will be a version of the script that was used during previews of the play. Plays traditionally make small changes throughout previews, so the book will then be updated to reflect these changes. According to their post:
Print and digital editions will publish simultaneously after the play’s world premiere this summer, and will comprise of the version of the play script at the time of the play’s preview performances.
Theatre previews allow the creative team the chance to rehearse and explore scenes further before a production’s official opening night. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opens for previews several weeks before its official first performance on Saturday 30 July and the Special Rehearsal Edition of the script book will later be replaced by a Definitive Collector’s Edition.
The play opens in London’s West End this summer, based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. It is officially the eighth story in Harry Potter canon and a new play by Jack Thorne.
Today Bloomsbury has revealed that sales of Harry Potter books are up 126% in 2015, largely due to all the new hype surrounding the series and their new editions of the books. They hope to further this initiative over the next couple of years. October 2016 will see the release of the Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as well as some other promotions surrounding the new play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
2017 will be the big year. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Bloomsbury will be releasing a myriad of books. Read on to learn more!
A brand new edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will be released in on February 9th 2017, with a new foreword from J.K. Rowling and an irresistible new jacket by Jonny Duddle.
Bloomsbury will publish FOUR special editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone to tie in with it’s 20th anniversary in June 2017. Each book will represent one of the four Hogwarts houses.
Bloomsbury will also be running a programme of activities and celebrations throughout the year to mark the landmark anniversary.
Bloomsbury will commission three new illustrators to create lavish, full-colour illustrated editions of J.K. Rowling’s three Hogwarts Library books, starting with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in autumn 2017, The Tales of Beedle the Bard in 2018 and Quidditch Through the Ages in 2019. Illustrator announcements will follow in due course.
As part of the celebrations for Harry Potter Book Night: A Night of Spells, Bloomsbury Children’s Books is launching the first official global search to find the world’s favourite spell from the Harry Potter books. You can visit http://bit.ly/HarryPotterSpellVote to vote for your favorite spells! The poll is open until Tuesday 2nd February with the results being announced on Harry Potter Book Night, Thursday 4th February.
A Night of Spells is the theme for Harry Potter Book Night 2016. Harry Potter Book Night gives fans of all ages the chance to celebrate J.K. Rowling’s wonderful novels by creating events all across the world using a specially created event kit. You can find out more about Harry Potter Book Night at http://www.harrypotter.bloomsbury.com/uk/harry-potter-book-night/
The hundreds of amazing spells created by J.K. Rowling within the pages of the Harry Potter books are legendary. Full of inventiveness and cunning, these famous magical incantations protect and challenge Harry and his friends in all sorts of ways.
Will the favourite be a sly spell, a mysterious charm or a unforgiveable curse like Avada Kedavra? It’s over to the Harry Potter fans across the world to cast their vote. Vote for your favourite spell at http://bit.ly/HarryPotterSpellVote
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