For the month of July 2006
July 29th, 2006:
Provided for you by the Ministry of Magic reporter Jeremy Wilson
Driving Lessons London Premiere
The film Driving Lessons, starring Muggle actors Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Julie Walters (Molly Weasley) will hold its premiere in London on Monday, September 4th, at the Vue Cinema in Leicester Square, adjacent to the Odeon where all four Harry Potter films premiered. The film was recently honoured at the Moscow film festival and is set for a US release date of October 13th.
More On J.K.'s NY Trip
Mrs. Rowling is doing her first charity reading in the US in six years at the Radio City Music Hall in New York next week. Fans are desperately hoping that she will give a sneak peak at the 7th and final installment in the Harry Potter series. The full article can be read at the Daily Record.
July 28th, 2006:
Provided for you by the Ministry of Magic reporter Jeremy Wilson
Muggles Converge Upon Vegas For Lumos 2006
What happens in Vegas is supposed to stay in Vegas, but teachers attending this weekend's Harry Potter convention in Sin City might be the exception. Among about 1,200 muggles flying in on planes, not brooms, for the academic conference called Lumos 2006 are about 40 Canadians, including teacher/librarian Deanna Lombardi. Read the full article at the Toronto Star.
DADA Curse Affecting The Films?
When American director Chris Columbus started pre-production on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in 2000, he planned to direct all seven films based on the Harry Potter books himself. "Be faithful to the book" was his mantra.
With movie No. 2, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Columbus kept to his game plan. Stick to the book. No deviations. However, for the third movie, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the torch was passed to director Alfonso Cuaron. It's colors were bleak and it's denizens looked ragged next to the Ivy League approach of Columbus. The most recent film to hit theaters is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. "The first two films are very sunny," Newell said, "This one's so completely, radically different. The only limitation is what you can imagine."
It has also been said that Columbus is thinking about making a return for one of the final two Harry Potter films. Check out the full article at la Canada Valley Sun.
Radcliffe To Star In Stageplay Equus Spring 2007
Daniel Radcliffe will be starring in the stage production Equus, which will be performed in London's West End Theatre District in Spring of 2007. Dan, who will portray the role of Alan Strang, will begin rehearsing for the role in January 2007. The play will also star actor Richard Griffiths (Vernon Dursley) as psychiatrist Martin Dysart. You can read Dan's message to DanRadcliffe.co.uk concerning his role here.
July 27th, 2006:
Provided for you by the Ministry of Magic reporter Jeremy Wilson
Phoenix Filming Resumes
A touch of magic was cast across the grounds of Blenheim Palace as film crews moved in to shoot scenes for the next Harry Potter film this week. Although palace staff and the production company Warner Bros. were staying tight-lipped yesterday, the Oxford Mail revealed that a location near the park's lake will feature in the much-anticipated Order of the Phoenix. Daniel Radcliffe, who plays the young wizard Harry Potter, was among cast members and film crews who descended on the palace on Monday for a two-day shoot.
WB Merchandise License Moves To NECA
WB Consumer Products will transfer toy merchandising rights to National Entertainment Collectibles Association in 2007. The new NECA merchandise will include, "collectible figures, plush dolls, mugs and cups, wall decor, as well as other HP related items." They are said to be reaching shelves in stores in time for the July 2007 release of the much awaited Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix film.
July 25th, 2006:
Provided for you by the Ministry of Magic reporter Jeremy Wilson
Half-Blood Prince Now Released in Paperback!
US and Canadian muggles may now rejoice as two million copies of the paperback edition of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hit their bookstore shelves this morning, more than a month after its release in England. HBP's paperback edition is certain to top the bestseller's lists. You can view the USA Today article concerning the release here.
Potter Films To Disapperate From Shelves By 2007
HPANA reports that Warner Bros. has confirmed plans to pull the first four Harry Potter films off store shelves by 2007. Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban will all be unavailable come December 29, 2006. Goblet of Fire will follow suit on February 9, 2007. There has been no talk yet of plans for the return of the movies. As first reported by Home Media Retailing Magazine, the move may indicate either WB's interest in stoking sales this non-Potter holiday season or preparing for newer editions of the films on HD-DVD or Blu-Ray technology.
New Study Reveals HP Series Has Positive Impact on Kids' Reading and School Work
Scholastic's recent findings in a survey reveal that the Harry Potter series has had a positive impact on children's reading habits and their school work.
Yankelovich, a leader in consumer research and trends, and Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and Media Company, unveil for the first time, the results of The Kids and Family Reading Report. While studies have investigated how kids spend their time outside of school, this is the first to reveal some surprising insights about why kids and their parents do or don't read and how the power of one book, Harry Potter, can impact kids' reading and school work. This was a national survey of kids 5-17 years old and one parent or primary guardian.
The study concluded that:
- 51% of HP readers, aged 5-17, say they did not read books for fun before the HP series
- 65% of HP readers perceive themselves as better students since reading HP and 76% of parents agree
- The positive impact of HP on kids' reading is particularly stronger among boys than girls
- On average, HP readers start reading the series at age 9 and continue as they mature
- After the release of book 7, many readers will find a new series to read
- HP readers are more likely to consider reading important and beneficial
Half-Blood Prince Celebration Week Has Officially Ended
The celebration for the release of the beloved 6th installment of the cherished Harry Potter series in hardback has officially come to an end. It's hard to believe that in another year, the series may be over.
We asked you to send in your release party stories of what you were doing when you first heard about the title and how you felt when you first laid eyes on that long-awaited release date. Submissions that were received can be viewed in the Living Room of the Burrow.
July 24th, 2006:
Provided for you by the Ministry of Magic reporter Jeremy Wilson
SyFy Awards Voting
Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), and The Goblet of Fire movie are nominated in several categories for the SyFy awards, which are now open for voting. Votes can be submitted here.
July 23rd, 2006:
Provided for you by the Ministry of Magic reporter Jeremy Wilson
Congratulations Headmistress!
July 23rd marked the official wedding day of our wonderful Headmistress Christina, so let us all congratulate her. CONGRATULATIONS CHRISTINA! YOU ARE TRULY A SUPERB HEADMISTRESS!
July 21st, 2006:
Provided for you by the Ministry of Magic reporter Jeremy Wilson
New Interview with Warwick Davis
Snitchseeker.com has managed to get a new interview with actor Warwick Davis, who plays the role of Professor Flitwick and the Gringotts goblin bank teller in the Harry Potter films.
OotP at Comic-Con Update
Latino Review said a video of Daniel Radcliffe and David Yates was played to introduce the film and each of them alludes to a famous kiss, but is humorously interrupted by something. Ain't It Cool.com also attended the presentation and added that:
"The video was really short, but had Daniel Radcliffe sitting in Trelawney's classroom introducing David Yates. He acts like he's about to tell us a big Potter secret when Yates shows up and interrupts."
GoF Nominated for Spike TV "Scream" Award
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire has received a nomination as "Best Fantasy Film" at the first ever Spike TV Scream awards. The awards will broadcast on the cable channel Spike TV on Tuesday, October 10th. Voting is open to the public, which you can do via this
link.
Madam Pince Would Not Be Pleased!
The Norwich Evening News reports that HBP was the most frequently overdue book in the Norfolk County's libraries between July 2005 and July 2006, with 21 copies kept beyond their due date. Bookworms in Norfolk are getting so engrossed in library copies of J.K. Rowling's and Jacqueline Wilson's books, they are forgetting to return them on time. Tied for second place were Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, as well as Jacqueline Wilson's The Story of Tracy Beaker.
Harry Works His Magic on the UK Box Office!
British films secured a record one-third share of UK cinema takings last year. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire led the way as the top-grossing British film, taking $808m worldwide, a report by the UK Film Council said. It was one of eight UK films to feature among the 20 highest earners at the British box office.
The full article can be found at BBC News.
Lucius Talks OotP
Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy) has a new interview with TV Guide, in which he discusses his role as Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. View the entire article here.
July 20th, 2006:
Provided for you by the Ministry of Magic reporter Jeremy Wilson
Evanna Lynch Interview Update
CBBC Newsround has just posted their interview with Evanna Lynch. In it, she talks about getting the role of Luna, reactions from fans, and much more. Check out the entire interview here. You can view the high quality video and screenshots courtesy of Veritaserum.
July 19th, 2006:
Provided for you by the Ministry of Magic reporter Jeremy Wilson
New Evanna Lynch Interview...
CBBC Newsround has announced that they will be airing a new interview with actress Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) about her role as Luna tomorrow, Thursday, July 20th, at 12:25pm EST on BBC One.
Robbie Coltrane, "I Turned Down Hollywood Shows To Be With My Kids"
According to a recent interview given to the Daily Record, Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) could have become one of the top stars on American TV, but the actor refuses to move from Scotland because he doesn't want his children to grow up spoiled.
The star of James Bond and Harry Potter movies lives near Loch Lomond and, although he's no longer with his wife Rhona, the mother of his teenager son Spencer and daughter Alice, he can't imagine agreeing to the commitment needed to live in America.
Robbie, who stars as the Prime Minister in new film Stormbreaker which is released this Friday, has just finished filming the fifth Harry Potter film, will be back as Cracker in the autumn and admits he's constantly asked to star on American television. He said, "The trouble is they want a five-year commitment and I've got children who like living in Scotland. So, it's not on."
Robbie, who is a very private person, admits living in rural Scotland allows him to be removed from a lot of things. "I restore vintage cars and my pride and joy is a 1956 Coupe Deville. I also have a 1981 Checker, which I think is the last ever built." Robbie was further reported saying, "When we started talking about it, J.K. and I talked for three hours. She told me all about Hagrid's past, so I felt very confident about the part." But Robbie claims he is most recognized for his role in the two Bond films and not Harry Potter. He said, "The good thing about Harry Potter is that I'm unrecognizable. So, if 10 year olds come up and give me a hard time at the airport, it's only because their parents have told them."
July 18th, 2006:
Provided for you by the Ministry of Magic reporter Jeremy Wilson
Driving Lessons U.S. Release...
Sony Classics has announced that the film Driving Lessons, starring Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), will be hitting the cinemas in the U.S. on October 13, 2006. Several pictures have been posted on their website.
British Literature Expert Says Harry Will Not Die!
According to a British Victorian Literature expert, Rowling's threat to kill at least two main characters in her final book is her way of taking control and is not unlike actions taken by other authors whose books have become extremely popular with readers.
In the end, however, Harry will survive, says James Krasner, professor of English and British Victorian Literature at the University of New Hampshire. "There's no way Harry will die," he says. "Harry won't die largely because these are comic stories, like Dickens' novels, in which good has to win."
And it's not the first time Rowling, who is adept at promoting her books, has threatened to kill off a major character. According to Krasner, Rowling caused a media sensation when she said a "major character" would die in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Rumors targeted Harry's best friend, Ron Weasley, but in the end, it was Sirius Black, who Krasner says "was an important supporting character, but not really a major character like Ron."
So, if Harry Potter doesn't die in the final book, who does? According to Krasner, "Lord Voldemort has to die. And Snape, who is really fighting for good despite all appearances, will likely die. Neville Longbottom is really the Chosen One, so I suspect he'll die."
Professor Krasner's entire article can be viewed at Newswise.
July 17th, 2006:
Provided for you by the Ministry of Magic reporter Jeremy Wilson
Goblet of Fire Actors and Actresses in Germany...
Live, from Germany, it's the GoF actors!
Robert Pattinson (Cedric Diggory), Tolga Safer (Karkaroff's Aide), Stanislav Ianevski (Viktor Krum), Katie Leung (Cho Chang), Afshan Azad (Padma Patil) and Tiana Benjamin (Angelina Johnson) are all expected to attend The Weekend of Wizards convention in Bochum, Germany from November 18 to 19, 2006.
July 16th, 2006:
Happy Birthday Half-Blood Prince!
One year ago today, July 16th, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was released in hardback. It's hard to believe that in another year, the series may be over.
As a celebration for the beloved 6th installment of the cherished Harry Potter series, we'd like you to send in your release party stories. Also, what were you doing when you first heard about the title? How did you feel when you first laid eyes on that long-awaited release date? All stories will be posted here at the Burrow in the Living Room.
Send your stories about this and everything else HP to the Headmistress whom you can find at the Ministry of Magic. Read HBP today in celebration!
Provided for you by the Ministry of Magic reporter Jeremy Wilson
Rowling in the Hamptons...
J.K. Rowling has confirmed her global jetset by booking a summer holiday in the Hamptons, also known as "The Billionaires' Playground."
The Harry Potter author is expected to spend two weeks with her family at the Long Island Resort. She is said to be staying in a mansion believed to cost at least 30,000 pounds a week and the house is said to have a whopping 7 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, gym, sauna, swimming pool, tennis court, and three acres of land.
Mrs. Rowling, 40, who started her career in a chilly one bedroom flat in Edinburgh, decided to take the break to fit in with a charity book reading in August in New York. The entire article can be viewed at The Sunday Times Online.
July 15th, 2006:
Provided for you by the Ministry of Magic reporter Jeremy Wilson
Shyamalan's Conflicting Message...
Last weekend, there were reports in the press that one M. Night Shyamalan was talking about directing one of the last two Harry Potter films.
A few days ago, Harry Potter fansite The Leaky Cauldron interviewed Mr. Shyamalan and he had this to say:
"I would be the greatest protector of an author's stuff. Especially things that I respect, that I know there's inherently magic in it. I would be very wary of screwing it up, so I would be very careful... There is no way that it would be missed by lack of effort or lack of care or lack of attention. I would be giving it every single iota... I would cherish it."
However, a few days later in an interview with the Philadelphia Enquirer, Shyamalan was reported saying:
"There was a giant, giant movie my daughters wanted me to take," Shyamalan admits, refusing to say whether the film is Harry Potter, "But the studio couldn't promise me control. I explained to my daughters that I speak in a certain way and that I wouldn't make this movie if I couldn't talk like myself."
Fans must wonder if he didn't originally take the assignment to direct an earlier Harry Potter film because he wasn't willing to direct a movie without creative control, so what is different about the situation now?
July 14th, 2006:
Provided for you by the newest Ministry of Magic reporter Jeremy Wilson
As if JK's Rubbish Bin was not full enough, Ready for this one?
The Sun Magazine has announced two "titles" to the 7th installment of the Harry Potter series: Harry Potter and the Parseltongue Trophy as well as Harry Potter and the Great Revelation. Both of these, The Sun reports, have been trademarked at the Patent Office. Mrs. Rowling has neither confirmed nor denied these rumors of "titles".
Accio Awards!
According to Yahoo News, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire two-disk special edition DVD has won DVD extras of the year, as well as Sell-Through title of the year. Let us congratulate Warner Home Video on a job well done.
July 10th, 2006:
Hold on to your seats, it's going to be a bumpy ride!
"The Graduate meets Harold and Maude in this rite of passage comedy with yet another dreary school holiday coming around for the shy and downtrodden Ben."
Set to hit UK movie theatres in September, 2006, Rupert Grint, Laura Linny, and Julie Walters star in Driving lessons which proves to be another big hit for the lovable Harry Potter actor who portrays Ron Weasley. Ben's (Rupert) world is turned every which way when an eccentric actress (Julie Walters) enters his life, teaching him the ways of the world and causing him to question his beliefs. Though Julie Walters may have been the lovable mother figure of the HP films, she seems almost the complete opposite in this film. Take a look at the very first promotional poster and more details at Pearl and Dean.
I solemnly swear that I am up to some good...
Harry Potter puts his Herbology skills to good use. Daniel Radcliffe helps bring some good publicity to the annual Bush Theatre fund raiser selling plants. Although the work may not have been as strenuous as juicing Snargaluff pods, Daniel did do some good and, let's face it, he did it without getting throttled by a shrub. View pictures of the event here, courtesy of Veritaserum.
Professor Snape and the Chosen One
Twenty years ago, the American Library Association produced the first poster for the READ campaign depicting Bill Cosby with his favourite book, Treasure Island. Now, Alan Rickman (aka Professor Snape) will donate his time and the use of his photograph alongside hundreds of movie stars, singers and sports heroes. He will appear on a poster with his favourite book in late August, but no word yet as to which book will be the Chosen One. Read Libbie Messina's full article over at the Citizen online edition.
