‘Harry Potter And The Cursed Child’ Beats ‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows’ Presale Record

It’s not even out yet and already “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is breaking records.

Bookseller Barnes & Noble announced Monday that “the eighth story in the Harry Potter series” is the retailer’s most preordered book since the seventh novel, “Harry Potter and the Death Hallows.” The book, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” is actually the script for a two-part play written by Jack Thorne based on a new story by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne.

“We expect it [the new book] to be our biggest selling book of the year,” Chief Merchandising Officer at Barnes & Noble Mary Amicucci said in a statement. “To guarantee that our customers get the new book as quickly as possible, Barnes & Noble is the only national retailer that’s guaranteeing delivery of the book on August 1, for both online and ship-to-home pre-orders placed by noon ET on Friday, July 29. Our booksellers are also preparing to host big crowds for our signature Midnight Magic parties on July 30.”

The party includes a “Countdown to Midnight Magic Party” leading up to the release of the new book. The book will hit store shelves at midnight on July 31. The party will feature trivia, cosplays, face-painting, wand-making and a so-called “Muggle Wall” where customers can share their favorite memories of Harry Potter.

Meanwhile, Amazon reportedly said this weekend that the book was its top preorder of the year, in both print and e-book versions. The online retailer believed that the new book could revive a fondness for theater in a whole generation of kids.

“I could easily see young fans adapting to the format and using it to act out the play on their own,” Amazon Books Editor Seira Wilson reportedly said.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” which is the seventh book in the series sold 15 million copies worldwide on its first day alone, nine years ago, smashing the record set by the sixth book, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”