J.K. Rowling Designs New Wands for Trio

This morning, J.K. Rowling tweeted from London. After being up all night with a “Robert-related brainwave” that made the insomnia worth it, our tired beloved author made her way to Cursed Child rehearsals.

My view this morning. I love London. pic.twitter.com/aLgFT9BnNx

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 18, 2016

Here’s me, groggy after a night of insomnia, saying hi. https://t.co/pSNw4VfIx1

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 18, 2016

Funnily enough, I had a Robert-related brainwave at 3am that made the insomnia worth it! https://t.co/wntjMjy9IL

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 18, 2016

After arriving at rehearsals, Jo released to her fans on twitter a sketch she had drawn for the play. A sketch of new wand designs for the Trio (Harry, Ron, Hermione), Draco, and Ginny.

Exciting morning at rehearsals for #CursedChild. What do you think of our wand designs? #HarryPotterPlaypic.twitter.com/Vg1wAmi11Y

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 18, 2016

Now, before everyone gets their panties in a bunch, I’ve been thinking about this for the last few hours, and once again Jo is not breaking canon, though that initially may appear to be the case. 

As much as we love the Harry Potter movies, Jo’s canon resides primarily in her books. Hermoine may be white in the movies, but according to the books she can be any ethnicity or nationality the reader imagines–and often the ethnicity the reader most identifies with. (Before all of you start pointing to chapter 21 in Prisoner of Azkaban, “white face” is a euphemism for scared. Chapter 4 of the same book reads, “They were there, both of them, sitting outside Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor — Ron looking incredibly freckly, Hermione very brown, both waving frantically at him.” She could be tanned, or she could be naturally darker skinned. Arguably, Hermione can be any race–it’s never directly specified. Does it really matter? NO.)

The wands described in the books give readers the wood and core materials and the length. Nothing is mentioned about design. In the first two Harry Potter films, Chirs Columbus opted to make everyone’s wands fairly similar in design. Alfonso Cuaron first brought uniquely designed wands to the films in Prisoner of Azkaban. Whether you love or hate the third movie, it was revolutionary with how the Potter books were portrayed on film, and did deviate from Jo’s world (though, Jo did give her approval on those variations).

The materials of the five wands are still the same, as well as the length. For the first time, we are seeing the wands of the five main characters as Jo envisioned them.