In a non-surprising bit of news, the New York Daily News reports that Warner Bros. Pictures is gearing up to turn Harry Potter and the Cursed Child—the London stage production penned by the franchise's author, J.K. Rowling, and set 19 years after the final book—into a film trilogy that will be released as early as 2020.
Given that Warner Bros. filed a Class 9 trademark (specifically associated to motion pictures) for the play back in July, the paper's report isn't entirely shocking. The studio also distributed every past film of the franchise, including the upcoming Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the first of a trilogy of films based on the companion books to Rowling's own Harry Potter series.
According to the New York Daily News' anonymous source (a "well-placed Hollywood source"), the film studio is also looking into bringing Daniel Radcliffe back to reprise his famous title role. "Warners is secretly working on getting the movie rights and a screenplay settled, and of course in their minds only one man should be Harry," the source says. "However he has made it clear that his mind is certainly not focused on returning to the role anytime soon—and that could be until he hits 40."
Back in June, in an interview with Radio Times, the actor was asked if he'd ever consider returning to the role. "It would depend on the script," he responded. "The circumstances would have to be pretty extraordinary. But then I am sure Harrison Ford said that with Han Solo and look what happened here! So I am saying 'no' for now, but leaving room to backtrack in the future."
Will Rowling's play, which focuses on Harry's son Albus Severus Potter, be enticing enough for a Radcliffe return? Only time will tell.