Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the official 8th chapter in the Harry Potter saga. But when it hits the stage in the West End of London next year, one crucial element will be missing. Harry Potter himself. No, not the character, but the actor who has immortalized this presence on the big screen. In a recent interview while accepting his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Daniel Radcliffe confirmed, once and for all, that he will not be reprising his role as the iconic boy wizard when it goes lives in 2016.

"I'm getting asked a lot, 'Would you play him?' and I'm like, 'No.' Because I've done it. But it would be very weird to see someone else play him."

Who ever takes over the Harry Potter role will certainly be scrutinized. Though they will be stepping into the wizard's much older shoes. And they'll be able to reestablish the character, as he'll have matured quite a bit. Last month, author J.K. Rowling revealed the first poster for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which will make its debut next summer at the Palace Theater in London's West End. Many believed the story would be a prequel, but the creator has confirmed that this will be the true continuation of the books. And it should very much be considered Harry Potter 8. Here is the official synopsis for the play.

"It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn't much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places."

The very end of the last movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, showed Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his wife Ginny (Bonnie Wright) taking their children James Sirius Potter and Albus Severus Potter to Platform Nine and Three Quarters, for their first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The play will feature over 30 characters, with the cast to be announced at a later date. Here's what J.K. Rowling, writer Jack Thorne and director John Tiffany had to say in a joint statement.

"It is very exciting to explore Harry's world in a brand new way through the live form of theatre. Collaborating on this story is exhilarating for all of us and we can't wait to present the eighth story at the Palace Theatre next summer."

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child tickets went on sale Wednesday October 28, and were sold on a first come first served basis to all who have registered for priority booking. At this time, no movie plans are in the works. And Daniel Radcliffe has not said he won't return for that if it were to happen. J.K. Rowling had to say in an additional statement about the play.

"The story only exists because the right group of people came together with a brilliant idea about how to present Harry Potter on stage. I'm confident that when audiences see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child they will understand why we chose to tell this story in this way."

Given the massive popularity of the franchise, it's possible, even likely, that Warner Bros. could acquire the rights and develop a movie adaptation of the stage play, but we'll have to wait and see. J.K. Rowling is also writing the script for the Harry Potter prequel, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which is currently in production and set for release on November 18, 2016. The story is set 70 years before Harry Potter first set foot in Hogwarts.