'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' script book sets pre-order record ahead of release this week

The script book 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' is due for release on midnight Sunday, 31, the date of Harry Potter's and JK Rowling's birthday. Photo / File

Excitement for the upcoming script release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has reached fever pitch, breaking records in the US for being the most preordered book since 2007 when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released.

The book is due for release on midnight Sunday, 31, the date of Harry Potter's and JK Rowling's birthday.

In the UK fans' interest in the world of wizardry hasn't abated and bookstore Waterstones reported that pre-orders have already passed the six-figure milestone, the Guardian reports.

No doubt these figures will increase within the next few days, partly in thanks to glowing reviews of the theatre production, including a five-star review from The Independent.

Meanwhile, bookstores will be opening at midnight on the 31st so Harry Potter fans can get hold of the book first thing.

Cursed Child, billed as the eighth part in the Harry Potter series, revisits many familiar characters, including Harry, Ron, and Hermione, while also introducing numerous new ones, such as Albus Severus Potter, Rose Weasley-Grainger, and Scorpius Malfoy.

Ahead of its release in the US, the script book is the top pre-order for both Amazon and Barnes & Noble, a spot that was last held by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, back in 2007.

Scholastic, the US publisher of Rowling's collaboration with John Tiffany and Jack Thorne, has printed 4.5 million copies in North America. That pales in comparison to previous Harry Potter book releases that have topped 8.3 million copies in the first 24 hours of sales.