Countless fans and media are under the impression that the upcoming
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child London play production is a prequel - J.K. Rowling has said over a dozen times already on Twitter that it is NOT a prequel.
How is it not a prequel? Pretty simple, really.
The
press release issued earlier this week, and the
initial announcement made in 2013 stated that the play would focus on Harry Potter's time with the Dursleys before he got to Hogwarts.
What both announcements said regarding the timeline and story:
Quote:
What was it like to be the boy in the cupboard under the stairs? This brand new play, which will be developed for the UK theatre, will explore the previously untold story of Harry's early years as an orphan and outcast. Featuring some of our favourite characters from the Harry Potter books, this new work will offer a unique insight into the heart and mind of the now legendary young wizard. A seemingly ordinary boy, but one for whom Destiny has plans...
The time period for this is between November 1, 1981 (the day after his parents died) and summer 1991.
For anybody and everyone who has read the first book of the series,
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone, they will know that this time period takes place between chapter one,
The Boy Who Lived, and chapter two,
The Vanishing Glass.
Chapter one took place exactly on October 31, 1981, the day Lily and James Potter died, and the night Harry was left on the Dursleys' doors at Privet Drive. Chapter two took place around June 1991, during the zoo birthday outing for Dudley (who is older than Harry).
By definition, a prequel would take place BEFORE the
Harry Potter book series begins, meaning before Halloween 1981. That's not the case here, as the short plot for
Cursed Child already stated the story will be around Harry's time with the Dursleys.
So, it's not a prequel, since the story takes place between chapters one and two in the first book.
At least that's what logic tells us. Everyone will find out for sure a year from now (or maybe sooner).
The bigger question: Is the 'Cursed Child' referring to Harry or someone else (maybe Dudley)? 
'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' play is not a prequel to book series, here's why 
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