‘Fantastic Beasts’ News: J.K. Rowling Reveals That An American Hogwarts Exists
As widespread and expansive as the Wizarding World is in Harry Potter, one thing the books have not covered is really anything outside of Europe. Yes, there have been minor hints, but really nothing to latch onto for fans of American origin. Do American wizards even really exist, or is it a strictly European deal? Luckily, author J.K. Rowling has come to the rescue. As per usual, the British author has taken to Twitter to interact with fans and tease them with little bits of Wizarding World trivia and nuggets (via THR).
The whole thing started off quite innocently, as it always does, with a Harry Potter fan inquiring where a U.S. witch or wizard would attend school. Rowling’s response is a bit suspicious, to say the least.
.@MrBanankartong That information will be revealed in due course.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2015
If you’ve been following Rowling, you know the upcoming film, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them — which is slated for a 2016 release — takes place in the same world as our very own Harry Potter, only a good 80 or so years prior. What’s more, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is penning the screenplay for the film herself. The fact that the question’s answer “will be revealed in due course” is a huge hint that we’ll be seeing this school in Fantastic Beasts. Of course, one fan latched onto this idea.
.@tannerfbowen No, but he’s going to meet people who were educated at [name] in [not New York]. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2015
This is great news for fans. As the Harry Potter books have spent their entirety focused on the European world, it’s refreshing that Fantastic Beasts will expand on it and go places fans haven’t yet seen. The conversation between Rowling and fans did not end there, however. Always one to push the barriers, Rowling gave some further insight as to the nature of this American school.
When asked if the name of the American school was Native American in its origins, Rowling denied, saying the name is of “immigrant origin,” though she did not specify which immigrant nation. Though while the name of the school isn’t founded in Native American origins, the school itself has its ties to the culture.
.@loonyloolaluna However, indigenous magic was important in the founding of the school. If I say which tribes, location is revealed.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 7, 2015
.@loonyloolaluna If I answer that fully it will reveal the location of the school, but you can take that as a yes!
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 7, 2015
It’ll be very interesting to see the type of cultural quirks Rowling will add into the Fantastic Beasts film. What do you think? Are you looking forward to seeing the Wizarding World expand to across the world on the other side of the Atlantic?
Let us know your thoughts below!
[Image Credit: Harry Potter Wikia]
