If JK Rowling had announced to her millions of Twitter followers this morning that she was busy writing more Harry Potter books the internet would doubtless shatter more violently than it did at the sight of Kim Kardashian holding a champagne flute on her rump.
But sadly for those of you who witnessed Twitter go into meltdown as the hashtag #newharrypotterbooks did the rounds, all is not what is seems.
No, the beloved author who recently revealed news of an upcoming Harry Potter spinoff play, The Cursed Child (and it is not a sequel!), isn’t penning the adventures of a middle-aged Harry, Ron and Hermione – or at least, not so far as we know.
The misleading hashtag has actually been catalysed by Midnight, a “late night game show thing” on Comedy Central, hosted by Chris Hardwick and featuring Chris Distefano, Kurt Braunohler and Jimmy Pardo.
Harry Potter: Defense Against The Blart Arts #NewHarryPotterBooks @midnight pic.twitter.com/hasLsN3ROp
Brett Osinoff (@BrettOsinoff) July 30, 2015
Harry Potter and the Order of the University of Phoenix Online Business and Management Degree #NewHarryPotterBooks @midnight
Hutch Harris (@thethermals) July 30, 2015
The Lone Granger #NewHarryPotterBooks @midnight
Martin Kendell (@MartinKendell) July 30, 2015
The Perks of Being A Gryffindor #NewHarryPotterBooks @midnight pic.twitter.com/9FMXgUnTsZ
Matt Newmark (@NuConcept) July 30, 2015
@midnight Harry Potter and the Artist Formerly Known as Prince #NewHarryPotterBooks
Devon S. Farnum (@eddmario) July 30, 2015
The comedians encouraged social media users to come up with alternative titles for the Harry Potter series – with some very funny results.
However, keen Potter fans were not so amused with many venting their disappointment that the trend didn’t spell more magical books for muggles. Perhaps they should try an Aparecium charm in case there’s a hidden message?
My reaction when I saw that #NewHarryPotterBooks had nothing to do with J.K. Rowling releasing new books pic.twitter.com/bvIdQcYLDF
Student Problems (@FactsOfSchool) July 30, 2015
For all those angry HP fans reading this # - Harry Potter & the Goblet of Ire #NewHarryPotterBooks @midnight
docholly (@docholly) July 30, 2015
Hedwig and the Angry Snitch #NewHarryPotterBooks @midnight
Lauren Scharf (@LLcoolscharf) July 30, 2015
@TheHashtagGame @ANGRYref @midnight #NewHarryPotterBooks Harry Potter and the Angry Troll That Didn't Think Of It First
Distant Thunder (@DistantDistant) July 30, 2015
It wouldn’t be the first time Harry Potter news has been broadcast on Twitter with Rowling often communicating directly with fans who ask questions about the characters.
She also revealed details of the three upcoming Newt Scamander spinoff films she has written for Warner on the social network.
Eddie Redmayne, who plays the lead in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them trilogy, based on a Hogwarts text book read by Harry and his charms, is currently filming the first of the films which is due out on 16 November 2016.
Harry Potter stars then and now
Rowling hasn’t entirely ruled out writing further Potter novels. “I’m not going to say I won’t. I don’t think I will … I feel I am done, but you never know,” she said in 2010.
However, she is due to publish the third in a crime series written under the pen name Robert Galbraith in October.
