Crikey!

[birdsofshore]

There's going to be a Harry Potter prequel play. A proper one, in the West End, with JKR co-producing and stuff. About the 'previously untold story of Harry Potter’s early years as an orphan and outcast’.

(sob, so no Draco, then.... OR WILL THERE BE??)

A little bit more info here if you don't mind the - yeuch - Daily Mail, sorry.

I am tentatively excited about this! But, I don't know, something about it leaves me slightly nervous. I think it's the 'orphan and outcast' bit. I'm imagining Annie or something, with lots of feelgood songs. O_o Let's hope I will be proved SO WRONG.

However, I REALLY like the look of the new UK HP art by Jim Kay. I never liked the UK book covers in the slightest, and I am jealous of the US illustrations, which I admire. The new UK editions will be fully illustrated *glee*.



Oh, pretty! Fresh, lovely colours and Harry is very charming with his clear eyes and mussed hair. The style of this one reminds me of leochi, or is that just because it's watercolour?

Harry looks more sly and mischievous in the b/w drawing, however, I think this one is actually my favourite of the two:



Hogwarts looks utterly magical, but not in a cute and sparkly way. I would say it's gorgeously creepy with fairy-tale influences:



It's hard to draw many conclusions from these couple of pieces, but I'm hoping the illustrations are all going to have this slight edge to them.  Either way I'm very happy we are getting a whole lot of new art, and yes, it'll be tempting to buy an entire new set...

I really like the quote where Jim Kay says "the commission of a lifetime" brought "an explosion of delight, followed instantly by an implosion of brain-freezing terror". :DDDDD

I have a feeling we are in safe hands with this one. <3

Comments

[kitty_fic]

Awesome! Thanks for pointing this out! <3 I agree the art is fabulous!

[birdsofshore]

I love the art very much. I'm so intrigued to see what he does with Draco the other characters and things like the beasts? It's like getting a whole lot of really wonderful fanart!

[kedavranox.livejournal.com]

I'd always bee jealous of the American illustrations!

Whoa these are so cool!!!! Harry looks adorable!

And LOL at orphan Annie. Please God let it be nothing like that. HAHA

[birdsofshore]

The US illustrations are so characterful and quirky. I feel 100% meh about the old UK illustrations - no, actually, I dislike them.

[birdsofshore]

Actually, I'm lying. I either like UK books 1 to 5 or find them meh. It's 6 and 7 I hate! They've marred the memory of all the rest of them!

[akatnamedeaster.livejournal.com]

Ha! I just posted the same news from our NY tabloid rag! Can't say I have any interest in this but it is nice to know that the franchise is not being left to go to seed.

It's funny that you favor the American illustrations, I know a lot of people over here really dislike Grandpre's art, I'm among them.

[birdsofshore]

Oh, I love the US art. I find her style charming and the colours are beautiful.

[kitty_fic]

Me too actually. I never liked the US art... I had to go google it because I wasn't sure that's what you guys were even talking about!

[0idontknow0]

Oh, that art is lovely! And part of me doesn't want that play to be a musical - and if it is, definitely not the Annie type of thing.

[birdsofshore]

I'm very interested to see how it turns out... I can't imagine it NOT being a musical, somehow - a big children's show in the West End... but we'll have to wait and see! Nothing about musicals has been mentioned, so I am probably worrying for nothing :DD

All Yay!!! also Yes I'm not the only one!!!

[nevrafire.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy i'm not the only one liking the idea of the rowling sponsored play!!!

It's been all over the fandom since yesterday and the general consensus is "Harry story pre-hogwarts? YAWN, BORIIIING" or "I like the A Very Potter Musical better" *headdesk*

both of them make me soooo mad. this is brand new, there no production stuff yet and everyone is just hating it on without waiting to see how it goes first.

(and the "I like the very potter musical better" is making me so mad because that was a PARODY, a parody from fans that love the material, and with somewhat catchy songs and occasionally heartfelt moments but still A PARODY! from a group of college students who did it for fun! this would have rowling approval and be done by award winning producers!)

even someone from the hp cast is hating on it! (it's a reallly really minor actor- the guy who played 1st year sirius in snape's memory flashback but Still! you worked in the Movies! from rowling's book! because it's Her work! why are you hating on this?! )

:(

on the other hand everyone is loving the hp illustrations, me included! and i'm SO excited to get the illustrated books when they come out (I admit I would like if the illustrations be done by rowling herself- who can draw really well too:
http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/ed/a4/cabed250fca0c4c3a1b14010.L.jpg

but Jim Kay's illustrations are still pretty awesome- so not complaining.

(can't wait to see how he draw Hermione, and McGonagall and Dumbledore, and Neville!! and... Sirius! & Lupin!! :D)

the castle kind of freaks me out a little because giant fish monsters, what?


Yay Potter! (I'm also going to go to Scotland & Wales next summer and I'm SO excited!! :D

Re: All Yay!!! also Yes I'm not the only one!!!

[birdsofshore]

I think JKR's illustrations are fab! Definitely appealing enough to be published.

The giant fish monster is REALLY interesting to me. I love the fact he has made Hogwarts look a little bit like a sinister, living, unpredictable thing. It's wonderful what different artists bring to the HP universe.

[firethesound]

I'm not sure how I feel about a play about Little Orphan Harry, so I'm reserving judgement until after I learn more about it.

Meanwhile, I will be busy flailing about those illustrations because omg that matches my headcanon of how Harry looks EXACTLY. That nose. Oh my gosh that nose. That is exactly how I have always pictured his nose. I'm about thisclose to shrieking aloud with glee, but I'm in a hotel room with fairly thin walls, as my neighbors were kind enough to demonstrate this morning, er, rather enthusiastically.

[birdsofshore]

He has your headcanon NOSE? Wow :DDD I'm really thrilled for you. Hahahaha!

Perhaps your neighbours Christmas celebrations can inspire some plot bunnies? :D

[who_la_hoop]

The thing about the play is that it will be full of hideous British stage-school-trained child actors. I would rather eat my own toes, frankly :DD

[birdsofshore]

Noooooo! Surely it'll be full of fab British actors, like Benny and Hiddles ;-D I've heard they have Benny signed for Petunia, and Hiddles is going to fatten himself up specially for the role of Vernon.

[capitu]

I'm very excited. I mean, everything that keeps the franchise alive is good on my book. :D

[birdsofshore]

I mostly agree with you...

One thing I would love to see is graphic novels of the books. I think, in the hands of the right artist / writer team, that could be AMAZING. It seems to me to be ripe for it. But I know JKR is very passionate about literacy, and perhaps she feels that comics of the books would dilute that power that the series has had to get kids reading. Maybe one day, though. I live in hope!

[subtlefire.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure how I feel about the play, but I do know how I feel about the art :) Hogwarts ♥

[birdsofshore]

Yes! So odd and so loveable at the same time! Imagine what he might do with Diagon Alley, or Dumbledore, or the Malfoys, or Hagrid, or....

I'm looking forward to everything! It's like discovering the books all over again, seeing them through fresh eyes. Imagine the Marauders!

[mab.livejournal.com]

\o/ I'm pumped about this!

[birdsofshore]

Yay! New Potter things are always fun.

[naadi.livejournal.com]

LOVE that teaser for the new art!! And the US paperback versions have new art for the covers that looks really nice! I'm wondering if it's worth getting a new set... lol I already have two. :P But I think these new UK versions may be the best yet! <3

[birdsofshore]

I love the new US editions, too, so pretty!

Yes, I think unfortunately new sets may be necessary when they are packed full of illustrations. I wonder what the font will be?

[khalulu]

The picture of Hogwarts is very cool - especially where it looks like it's perched on trees. Somehow that reminds me of the Miyazaki movie of Howl's Moving Castle.

Harry's horrible childhood in the first book is presented in that sort of over the top way of fairy tales where you're not too worried because magic is going to come get him out of it, and he is a pretty resilient kid. It'll be interesting to see how it all goes….

[birdsofshore]

It is very Howl! The castle really looks alive, in a way I've never seen represented before, although JKR refers to it many times as having a consciousness.

[ashindk.livejournal.com]

The new illustrations are so pretty! I never really liked the original UK illustrations either. I have both the UK and the Danish versions of the books and I like the Danish illustrations much better than the original UK ones. But these new ones are beautiful.

A play about Harry's year as an 'orphan and outcast'? That sounds angsty! I'm not sure I can handle that as a mother of three children between age 1 and 11.

[birdsofshore]

I know! I am very prone to being weepy about little Harry if something makes me FEEL it properly. I had a good cry when my youngest got to the age that Harry was when James and Lily died. It just really brought it home. My family thought I was nuts :DDD

I am not sure about the Danish illustrations from having a quick google - they are a bit too realistic for my taste, maybe?

[daemoncas5.livejournal.com]

ickle harry is sooo adorable i want to snuggle him forever *o*

and hauntingly beautiful hogwarts...that just make me want to see animated version of harry potter yknow, with ghibli style/ avatar the last airbender style with their soft colours. i'm drooling just imagining it!

i wholeheartedly approve of this refreshing view from jim kay. wonder what he'd draw of draco and his aristocratic posturing :D

and the play! \o/ i do wish i could see it.

[birdsofshore]

I can't wait to see what he does with Draco, and all of the Malfoys! I am genuinely excited to see all of his interpretations. I wonder if they will bring the new editions out slowly, one by one, or as a set?

They may film the play, if it's a success? Let's hope so.

[nenne.livejournal.com]

These are great! Awesome.

[birdsofshore]

I can't wait to see more. His work is so atmospheric! I wonder what he'll do with Ron and Hermione? I'd love to see them as young children in that lovely fresh watercolour style.

[mab.livejournal.com]

I found a thing and don't have your email address to send this link to you, so here it is:

Nicolas Cage Hairstyle Whiteboard

I am laughing my ass off at the fact that 1) this exists, and 2) that it's sold out and is being reprinted.

[birdsofshore]

That is truly wonderful. Of course it's sold out. Who would not buy it? :DDD

[patoo-tee.livejournal.com]

I'm really excited about the play and the illustrated books. But will they be like graphic novels or are the illustrations just going to appear at the start of the chapters?

ITA I love the b/w drawing of Harry and the artist has captures his personality, however that is not how I pictured Harry. For some reason he reminds me of Dan Radcliffe, and to this day I can't picture Dan as Harry. I posted a comment before about the Sweddish covers, and I think that Harry is awesome. This is how I see Harry: http://sabenerica.deviantart.com/art/Chap-34-HPOOTP-The-Department-of-Mysteries-426654458

The boy the artist is modelling on Ron, is spot on I think. I love Hogwarts and I can't wait to see what else he has in store.


The play could be a hit or miss though. Is it going to be a kids play or a play for adults? But I am excited... I wonder if it will blow all those HarryPotter abuse fanfics sky high into oblivion, lol! But it makes me wonder if there was more to the Dursleys cruelty than is cartoonishly portrayed in the books... because well you'd have to wonder what JKR would've written if the books weren't intended for kids...