Published Screenplays and Scripts

A Published Screenplay or Script in the context of the Harry Potter universe refers to the official literary publication of the scripts for theatrical productions or the screenplays for films that are part of the Wizarding World franchise. These works were written or co-written by J.K. Rowling and serve to expand the lore and narrative beyond the original seven novels. While officially licensed and connected to the franchise, they are distinct from the primary canon established by the original book series.

• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two (Script Book): Published in 2016, this is the script for the two-part stage play. The story was conceived by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne, with Thorne writing the final script. It follows the adventures of Albus Severus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy nineteen years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Unlike the others, this is a play script, not a film screenplay.
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay: Published in 2016 to coincide with the film's release, this was J.K. Rowling's screenwriting debut. The story introduces Newt Scamander and documents his adventures in 1926 New York, marking a significant expansion of the Wizarding World's history and geography.
• The Crimes of Grindelwald – The Original Screenplay: Published in 2018, this screenplay was also written solely by J.K. Rowling. It continues the story of Newt Scamander and delves deeper into the history of Albus Dumbledore and the rise of the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald.
• The Secrets of Dumbledore – The Complete Screenplay: Published in 2022, this screenplay was co-written by J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves, the screenwriter for most of the original Harry Potter films. The book contains the full screenplay along with behind-the-scenes content and commentary. (Pottermore)

These publications serve as primary source material for the storylines of the Fantastic Beasts film series and the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play. They introduce a significant amount of new information to the lore not present in the original seven novels. Key additions to the Wizarding World from these works include:

• New Characters: Newt Scamander, Tina Goldstein, Queenie Goldstein, Jacob Kowalski, Credence Barebone, Leta Lestrange, Albus Severus Potter (as a protagonist), Scorpius Malfoy, and Delphini.
• New Magical Concepts: The Obscurus and Obscurial, the Blood Pact, and various new magical creatures and spells.
• Expanded History: Detailed events from the First Global Wizarding War led by Gellert Grindelwald in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s.
• Expanded Locations: The Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA), the French Ministry of Magic, and the German Ministry of Magic.

While these works are official parts of the Wizarding World franchise, their relationship to the established canon of the seven books is a subject of discussion among fans. The principle of “Canon First” holds that the original novels are the ultimate authority. The screenplays and scripts are generally considered to be a secondary tier of canon, providing official but supplementary stories that exist outside the core narrative of Harry Potter's life as documented in the novels.

• The publication of the screenplays allows readers to experience the story as originally written by the author, including scenes, stage directions, and character descriptions that may not be fully conveyed in the final film or play.
• The Fantastic Beasts series marked J.K. Rowling's first foray into screenwriting, allowing her to directly shape the expansion of the cinematic universe she created.
• The collaboration between J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves on The Secrets of Dumbledore was a reunion, as Kloves was instrumental in adapting six of the seven original novels into screenplays for the Harry Potter film series.