Official PA News Archive

For the month of August 2009

2009-09-03T05:56:00.000-07:00

August 4, 2009

HP ALLIANCE FEATURED ON TODAY SHOW AUSTRALIA

From HPANA.com :

Andrew Slack, founder of the Harry Potter Alliance, recently spoke with The Today Show Australia about his organization and the great work it does, helping to spread the word on their quest for justice by "the Dumbledore's Army for the real world".

BILL NIGHY TO BEGIN DH FILMING

From HPANA.com :

Bill Nighy, who will portray Rufus Scrimgeour, has announced that he will begin filming on Deathly Hallows this week, having already been on set for costume fittings, and other filming preparations.

DAVID YATES TALKS DEATHLY HALLOWS

From HPANA.com :

In a new interview with Vanity Fair, David Yates discusses new techniques and styles he is using for Deathly Hallows, difficult decisions they make when penning the script, plans post Harry Potter, and much.

HP: THE EXHIBITION TO MOVE TO BOSTON

From HPANA.com :

Warner Brothers sent out a press release announcing that "Harry Potter: The Exhibition" is heading to Boston after its stint at Chicago's Museum of Science ends in September.

HBP TAKES IN $366.7 & BREAKS IMAX RECORD

From HPANA.com :

In its first 5 days in domestic release in the US, Half-Blood Prince grossed $158 million, while having the biggest overseas opening of all time with $237 million worth of tickets sold. To add to the amount of the money that the movie has taken in, it also broke a record by taking in $3.6 million from 62 international IMAX theaters.

YOU CAN JOIN THE HARRY POTTER FAN ZONE TEAM

From HarryPotterFanZone.com :

HPFZ is currently looking for dedicated folk to join their staff team and help improve their award-winning content on their site. If you would like a great opportunity to explore and refine your skills in fields such as journalism, multimedia, web development, and graphic design entertaining an incredibly large fan base, they'd love to hear from you.

HOT TOPIC OFFERS CHANCE TO VISIT DH SET

From HarryPotterFanZone.com :

Hot Topic has announced its latest contest where one lucky winner plus one guest will win a trip (including airfare and hotel accommodations for four days) to the set of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This contest is for Americans only and is void in Florida, New York, and Rhode Island. Contest participants must be 13 years old or older and a Hot Topic member to enter. Entry deadline is August 12, 2009.

HP TOPS 100 BEST BEACH BOOKS LIST

From WizardNews.com :

In a poll of Best Beach Books Ever conducted by NPR, the Harry Potter series of books came in at number 1. Almost 16,000 people cast some 136,000 votes in the poll. The Hobbit ranked number 17, and The Lord of the Rings came in at 18. Twilight appeared at number 30 on the list.

CATCH SEAN BIGGERSTAFF IN MISS MARPLE

From WizardNews.com :

It's been seven years since we last saw him as Oliver Wood in a Harry Potter film, but he's still a favorite amoung Harry Potter fans. Now, you can see Sean Biggerstaff in a PBS Masterpiece Theater production of Miss Marple. His episode, entitled "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?", is now available online.

TOM FELTON FOUND LOVE ON THE SET OF POTTER

From WizardNews.com :

Tom Felton found love on the set of the wizard adventures, he's dating stunt assistant Jade Olivia. The pair has worked together for several years, but romance blossomed while they shot the latest installment, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, last year.

EMMA CONFIRMS UNIVERSITY CHOICE

From WizardNews.com :

Emma Watson has confirmed her choice of university, after months of speculation about where the star has enrolled to study. Emma said she would be taking time out to study in the US, prompting a flurry of speculation. She has now confirmed she will go to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, to study literature.

August 3, 2009

NEW WROCKIN' BLOGS

From the Editor:

The Whomping Willows posted the new blog entry "The Future Of The Whomping Willows", Riddle TM posted a new blog entry called "Get on the Knightbus...", Prophets of Godric's Hollow posted a new blog titled "GEEK WITHOUT A SOCK", The Silver Doe posted the new blog entry "First CD now available", and The Fleur Delacours posted a new blog called "CHECK THIS OUT".

NEW WROCKIN' TUNES

From the Editor:

Prophets of Godric's Hollow uploaded the new tracks "Romilda Vane's Warpath", "The Hogwarts Train Derailed (2009 Remix)", and "The Chamber". Danny Dementor uploaded the new tracks "I Wanna Be A Wizard (feat Notorious NEV)", "Survivor (Adolescent Mix)", and "She A Mudblood".

NEW MUSINGS FROM OUR AUTHOR FRIENDS

From the Editor:

Author of the Fablehaven series Brandon Mull posted a new blog entry entitled "PINGO: My First Picture Book" and our dear friend and author of Secret of the Sands Rai Aren posted a new blog entry called "Secret of the Sands got picked up by a publisher for foreign translation rights!"

For the month of July 2009

2009-09-03T05:55:00.000-07:00

July 15, 2009

SHARE YOUR RELEASE PICS & STORIES

From the Editor:

Last night brought us the US release of Half-Blood Prince and don't forget that July 29th will be the US release of Half-Blood Prince in IMAX - with exception to three select theatres who will release IMAX today: AMC Loews Lincoln Square IMAX Theatre, New York, NY; AMC Century City 15 & IMAX, Los Angeles, CA; and Omnimax at Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL (this location will NOT be in 3-D). If you have pictures you took at a midnight movie release you would like to share, send your pics to Marauder at marauder at myway.com and they will be added to The Gallery, which is now re-opened. Also, tell us about the event you attend. We want to hear all your Potterholic tales of the release event you attended. Share your stories with us HERE. Note - you do not have to log in to post your story.

DAN ON LETTERMAN

From the Editor:

Daniel Radcliffe appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman on July 10th. The link to the video previously provided by HarryPotterTrio found at the Harry Potter Fan Zone has been removed, but I have found you a new link, which can currently be seen here.

WELCOME BACK POTTER

From the Editor:

The current issue of Entertainment Weekly once again has the Potter trio gracing the cover. Inside, an 8-page spread gives some behind-the-scenes exclusives on the newest film release, Half-Blood Prince. Also in the article, it is stated that most Hollywood insiders expect HBP to be one of this year's biggest hits, partially due to the PG rating, which is likely to attract the lucrative family market.

HBP DVD RELEASE DETAILS?

From HPANA.com :

Last month it was reported that the Half-Blood Prince DVD would be released during the holiday season this December. There are new rumours that the film will be released on DVD and Blu-ray disc on December 7, 2009.

HBP NYC PREMIERE PICTURES ONLINE

From HPANA.com :

Numerous images from the NYC premiere of Half-Blood Prince are now online. Guests included Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Tom Felton, Bonnie Wright, David Heyman, David Yates, David Barron, Steve Kloves, Freddie Stroma and Warwick Davis, to name a few. These images can be seen here and here.

LACK OF A/C DOESN'T STOP POTTER FANS

From WizardNews.com :

At a midnight screening of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in Woodland Hills, CA, the air conditioning broke down and was not functioning at all during the entire course of the movie, but fans stayed quiet and nobody left early, even though the heat in the auditorium was getting uncomfortable by time the movie was half through. About three quarters of the way through the movie, ushers distributed trays of cups of ice, which seemed to lessen the effects of the heat a bit. After the movie, ushers gave free movie passes to all the patrons as they were leaving. There were lots of wizards in the audience, dressed in Hogwarts house colors, and carrying wands. You'd think one of them could have fixed the air conditioning!

VATICAN PRAISES HARRY POTTER

From WizardNews.com :

The Vatican has given Harry Potter a surprising seal of approval. In a review of Half-Blood Prince, the official Vatican newspaper said the film made clear the difference between "good and evil". In the past, Harry had been criticised by senior figures in the Catholic Church concerned about its focus on witchcraft.

DAN RECEIVES BROADWAY.COM AUDIENCE AWARD

From WizardNews.com :

Daniel Radcliffe collected a 2009 Broadway.com Audience Awards at New York City's The Waldorf Astoria Saturday, July 11, for his work in the play Equus.

WB HONOURS SERVICEMEN WITH HBP SCREENING

From WizardNews.com :

This past weekend, Warner Bros. gave US servicemen a really big treat. On Sunday, July 12, Army, Marines, Air Force, and Naval personnel and their families were invited to an early, sneak preview screening of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.

For the month of June 2009

2009-08-03T17:14:00.001-07:00

June 28, 2009

HPANA's Princely Prizes Sweepstakes

From HPANA.com :

We're pleased to announce HPANA's Princely Prizes Sweepstakes, a giveaway in celebration of the upcoming release of Half-Blood Prince. Enter-to-win goodies include new merchandise from WBShop.com and Hot Topic. Some items will never be sold in stores! Just head over to the contest page and enter your e-mail address for a chance to win.

Tom Felton to attend special VIP event at Hot Topic in NJ

From HPANA.com :

Warner Bros. announced that actor Tom Felton will make a special appearance at the Hot Topic store at the Garden State Plaza on Friday, July 10th, 7 pm. Tom will participate in a VIP signing for 750 lucky fans who purchased the special-edition Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince T-shirt.

U.S. premiere of 'HBP' July 9 at Ziegfeld Theatre, NYC

From HPANA.com :

The US premiere of Half-Blood Prince is scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 9 at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City. Expected guests include Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Bonnie Wright, Tom Felton, David Yates, and David Heyman and David Barron.

HP costume designer on dressing Slughorn

From HarryPotterFanZone.com :

Costume designer Jany Temime discussed the challenges involved in dressing Professor Slughorn in a new interview with the LA Times. "Everything we did for his costumes was very rich, but also very used, because heâ€™s not a rich man anymore. He hasnâ€™t worked for a long time. He is a bit of a has-been. But his clothes, even if they were from 20 years ago, were once upon a time, very rich and very glamorous. So we went for 'Old Glamour' when designing... Very pompous, very extreme, very glorious."

HBP Soundtrack July 14

From HarryPotterFanZone.com :

Warner Bros. has confirmed that the HBP soundtrack, composed by Nicholas Hooper, will be available on July 14. The score includes 28 tracks, the longest Potter soundtrack yet, with over an hour of material. An enhanced edition of the soundtrack will also be released, "giving fans a free digital download of the entire soundtrack in 5.1 Surround Sound audio, along with bonus exclusive content". The soundtrack can currently be pre-ordered at Amazon.com.

Oh Please!

From WizardNews.com:

Bloomsbury Publishing is being sued by the estate of children's writer Adrian Jacobs over claims that J.K. Rowling "copied" his work. The allegation argues that the plot of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, published in 2000, borrowed "substantial parts" from Jacobs' lesser-known The Adventures of Willy the Wizard.

New Wrock Blogs and Tracks

From the Editor:

Siriusly Hazza P posted a new blog entry called "Charming Track-list & A New Video!" and uploaded new tracks "Let The Parchment Roll", "Trouble At Hogwarts", and "Malfoy Is A Jerk", while The Whomping Willows posted the new blog "Washington DC Tomorrow, June 23".

New Author Blogs

From the Editor:

Mystery Sci-fi author Rai Aren posted new blog entries "We're on the cover of a magazine!" and "R.I.P. Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Ed McMahon", and Thomas Greanias posted a new blog "Official Music Soundtrack to Atlantis Revelation Released". As an added note, Rai Aren also uploaded a new track, "Secret of the Sands Prologue".

June 3, 2009

New Wrock Blogs

From the Editor:

Kingsley & the Shacklebolts posted a new blog entry called "New Album Update!", RiddleTM posted the new blog "LeakyCon, Birmingham, iTunes and new song!", Draco & the Malfoys posted a new blog entitled "It's A Slytherin World on iTunes now!", and The Cruciatus Curse posted a new blog entry called "Evil NYC Promo".

New Wrock Tracks Uploaded

From the Editor:

I Was Lord Elbin Ausley uploaded the new tracks "The Hair of Slytherin", "Horcrux Huntin'", and "At the Hog's Head Inn"; RiddleTM uploaded the new tracks "Look At Me", "More Than Just A Werewolf", and "Forget"; The Beedles uploaded new tracks "Thank You For Sleeping", "The Unchosen One", and "Quidditch Field"; and Kingsley & the Shacklebolts uploaded new tracks "Lily", "The Adventure Begins...", and "Hogwarts".

New Writer Blog

From the Editor:

Mystery Sci-fi author Rai Aren posted two new blog entries called "Hear the Prologue of Secret of the Sands come to life!" and "New Moon trailer & poster - can't wait to see it!"

June 2, 2009

Rich Baumann Performs

From the Editor:

Rich Baumann will be playing at the Mill Bluff Music Festival at Mill Bluff State Park on Sunday, June 7, 2009, at 2:00pm. Rich is the founder of The Million Closets Project, which has now distributed $29,000 worth of donated musical instruments to deserving individuals and schools on the Gulf Coast.

New Poll At The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter

From the Editor:

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal website has posted a new poll, "Which of these would scare you the most?" Although I personally voted for "Acromantula", the "Dementor" is currently leading the scary pack with 49.69% of the vote. Visit their site at the link provided and click on "new poll" to cast your vote!

Deathly Hallows Casting Announcements

From HPANA.com:

In a busy week HP casting, it was announced that the following roles have been cast: Toby Regboopens as Teenage Dumbledore, Hebe Beardstall as Dumbledore's sister Ariana (although this has not been confirmed), Chase Armitageopens as "one of four snatchers", and, finally, Chris Rankin will return as Percy Weasley. Chris told HPANA, "Tis true! Starting in the fall."

HBP Run-Time

From HPANA.com:

A foreign Warner Bros. distributor stated the run-time for Half-Blood Prince to be 153 minutes (2 hours and 33 minutes). Three additional sources have confirmed this.

Hi-Res HBP Clip From Ellen Show

From HPANA.com:

Warner Bros. sent out the official links to the clip of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince seen on the Ellen show from May 20th. You can view it here in various formats courtesy of HPANA.

Deathly Hallows Gregorovich Cast

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Croatian-born actor Rade Serbedzija announced that he has secured the role of Gregorovich, a "small and very interesting" role, in Deathly Hallows. He further commented, "I am going to play the role of a wizard who makes swords with special power. I will soon go to London to try on my costume."

J.K Rowling Honoured With Lego Mosaic

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

J.K Rowling was recently named the "ultimate hero" of the past decade. A 48,000 piece lego mosaic was built at Legoland Windsor in the author's honour.

John Hurt Returns As Ollivander

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

In an interview at the Tribeca Film Festival, John Hurt confirmed that he will be reprising his role of Ollivander in Deathly Hallows.

Official Hogwarts Uniforms Available To Fans

From WizardNews.com:

Lochaven, who make the Hogwarts jumpers, tank tops, and cardigans for the Harry Potter films, are putting the outfits on sale for the first time. The uniforms come in four sets of colours for the four Hogwarts houses. You can view them for purchase (in pounds) at Lochaven of Scotland here.

For the month of May 2009

2009-07-15T08:18:00.002-07:00

May 27th, 2009

News From Hogwarts Jamboree

From the Editor:

Hogwarts Jamboree posted two new blog entries called "Schedule of Events" and "Important info for attendees". In their own words, Hogwarts Jamboree is a magical all day Harry Potter themed event with wizard rock bands, film screenings, raffles, cakes, zines, prizes, quizzes, and craft stalls. Tickets to the event, which will be held on June 28th in London, are on sale now.

New Wrock Blogs

From the Editor:

There's been lots of activity on the wrockers' blogs the past couple of days, so be sure that you've caught up. Siriusly Hazza P posted a new blog called "Retro Must-Haves of the Week!", The Moaning Myrtles posted a new blog entitled "Tour changes and a new show!", The Mudbloods posted two new blogs called "Essentially CD, Thank You" and "Addenedum", The Whomping Willows posted a new blog "New Album On iTunes!", Madame Pince and the Librarians posted a new blog called "WRPCA Best New Artist", The Hermione Crookshanks Experience posted a new blog entitled " Store is up and running!", The Remus Lupins posted "Tour Kick Off this Saturday!", Draco and the Malfoys posted the new blog "2 New CD's Available Now!", and, we're almost there... Hawthorn & Holly posted a new blog called " How to get the 2458 compilation cd!"

New Writer Blog

From the Editor:

Thomas Greanias posted a new blog called "Thriller Writer Smackdown: Round 2!"

For the month of April 2009

2009-07-15T08:18:00.001-07:00

April 26th, 2009

Chris Rankin at the School of Wizardry

From HPANA.com:

Just in case you aren't able to make it to the UK this year for the worldwide release Half Blood Prince, HP Fan Trips has brought the UK to you to create a very authentic School of Wizardry experience. Chris Rankin will be your host at the Farewell Banquet, while award-winning storyteller Amy Douglas and top-ranked guide Heather Davies will create a magical place for Harry Potter fans.

For more information, click on HP Fan Trips in the UPCOMING HP EVENTS section on the Front Page.

Heyman Talks Deathly Hallows Epilogue

From HPANA.com:

In a recent interview with MTV, producer David Heyman confirmed that they will be filming the epilogue from Deathly Hallows. He also revealed that the original actors would fill these roles rather than being replaced by older lookalikes.

New Half-Blood Character Posters and Stills

From HPANA.com and HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Warner Bros. released 4 new character posters following the release of the new Half-Blood trailer, as well as 17 high-resolution stills from the latest trailer . You can view the character posters at Yahoo's gallery and the hi-res stills courtesy of Harry Potter Fan Zone's gallery.

Radcliffe & Heyman Elaborate on DH Split

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

In an Empire magazine interview, Daniel Radcliffe and David Heyman elaborated about the "split scene" dividing Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2: "We've played around with a couple of places," said Heyman, "and ultimately settled on a place that we think is very exciting, and I think quite bold, in that it's not necessarily where one might expect. You want to give a sense of completion on one hand, but a sense that there's another piece, more to come. We tried one and then Steve [Kloves] came up with the idea to try it another way and when we tried that, it felt just right." Dan added that the split is "at a very tense cliffhanger."

Jessie Cave Returns for DH

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Jessie Cave's agency has recently confirmed that the actress will reprise her role as Lavender Brown in Deathly Hallows.

Half-Blood in EW Summer Preview

From the Editor:

Entertainment Weekly's annual Summer Preview issue is now out and it includes Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince as one of their "20 Summer Movies We Can't Wait to See".

Author Blogs

From the Editor:

Mystery Sci-fi author Rai Aren has posted three new blog entries entitled "Converations with Writers - Interview with me, Rai Aren!", "Virtual Book Fair presented by Sonar4 Publications", and "New! Tagline for Sequel to Secret of the Sands".

New Wrock Blogs

From the Editor:

Siriusly Hazza P posted a new blog entry entitled "Wizard Rock People's Choice Awards".
Alas Earwax posted the new blog entry "Side Project, Anyone?"
Creevey Crisis posted a new blog called "WRPCA Voting Time".
The Whomping Willows posted a new blog called "Happy Earth Day! Plant Trees!".
Riddle TM posted a new blog entitled "Wizard Rock People's Choice Awards and Riddle TM.com".

New Wrock Song Uploads

From the Editor:

The Chocolate Frogs uploaded the new tracks "John Dawlish, Auror", "Good Morning Weasleys", and "All The Stars And Moon And Fur".
Scarlet Women uploaded the new tracks "Horcruxes", "REWIND", and "Dumbledore's Body".
Hawthorn & Holly uploaded the new tracks "Knickerbocker Glory", "Squib", and "Love Will Get Us There".
The Parselmouths uploaded the new tracks "Ask Me To The Yule Ball", "Spattergroit", and "This Is Never Going To End".
Alas Earwax uploaded the tracks "Tentacle Brains", "There's A Face", and "Cliff Notes Harry Potter".

For the month of March 2009

2009-06-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

March 17th, 2009

Injured Stuntman David Holmes Update

From the Editor:

There have been a few reports as of late that injured stuntman "David Jones" will not walk again. It was, in fact, Daniel Radcliffe's stunt double David Holmes that was hospitalised with a back injury in January after falling from a harness while practising flying scenes at Leavesden Studios. Initially thought to be recovering, it is now reported that David will be confined to a wheelchair indefinitely.

New Images Crop Up

From HPANA.com:

New promo images from Half-Blood Prince cropped up online over the weekend. The images feature Tom Riddle, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy and Luna Lovegood. You can find links to the pictures at HPANA here. There are also two previously unreleased hi-res images of Harry, whose links can be found here.

Bill Weasley Cast

From HPANA.com:

It has been confirmed that Domhnall Gleeson, son of Brendan Gleeson, has been cast as Bill Weasley in the upcoming Deathly Hallows films.

Rowling Nominated For Glamour

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

J.K. Rowling is a nominee in Glamour magazine's "Women of the Year" awards under the "writer" category for The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Her competition includes Julie Walters, Jodi Picoult, Sophie Kinsella, and Stephenie Meyer. You can vote for your favourite female writer here.

Tom Felton Posts New Song

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Tom Felton uploaded a new song onto his YouTube channel. The 1 minute and 39 second song is titled "If You Could Be Anywhere". Tom promises that the EP will be available on iTunes within a few weeks.

Secret HBP Screenings Are Bunk

From the Editor:

There have been unsubstantiated rumours floating about of "secret screenings" of Half-Blood Prince taking place. Warner Bros. denies that there have been any new secret screenings. The last screening was held in September.

Dobby Will Return

From WizardNews.com:

Toby Jones, the voice of Dobby, said in a recent interview, "I'm currently doing the new Harry Potter film, in fact, the last two Harry Potter films."

March 9th, 2009

The Remus Lupins MidWest Tour

From the Editor:

The Remus Lupins are doing a tour of the Midwest this month. Alex kicked it off with a bang in Kansas. Other stops on the tour include: March 9 - St Louis, Missouri, March 10 - Dayton, Ohio, March 11 - Pittsbugh, PA, March 13 - Ypsilanti, Michigan, March 14 - Chicago , Illinois, March 17 - Notre Dame - South Bend, Indiana, March 18 - Iowa, and March 19 - Kansas City. For more show info click here .

New Wrock Tracks

From the Editor:

The Prophets of Godric's Hollow uploaded the new tracks "Ron Wins", "On Eating Bertie Bott's", and "Voldemort (The Slayer)", while
The Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office uploaded new tracks "Lovegood", "The Burrow ft RiddleTM", and "Dumbledore's Army".

New Wrock Blog

From the Editor:

The Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office posted a new blog entitled "ALBUM RELEASE DATE",
Siriusly Hazza P posted a new blog called "Show news!",
Blibbering Humdingers posted a their new blog "Camelot Treasures is closed",
and Harry and the Potters posted a new blog titled "the Enchanted Ceiling EP now on iTunes!".

FH 4 To Release On March 24

From the Editor:

The latest adventure in the Fablehaven series, Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, is set to hit bookstore shelves on March 24, 2009. Brandon says, "I've kicked into high gear, hopping around the country and meeting people at schools and bookstores. Check Fablehaven.com to see if I'll be in your area. This year Radio Disney is getting involved with my launch signings. They'll broadcast live from my signings in Mesa, Az; Dallas, TX; and Hartford, CT. And I'll be on some Radio Disney programs as well. I'm hoping this will be the biggest launch yet."

The Michael Hilder Mailing List

From the Editor:

Our friend author/musician Michael Hilder invites everyone to join a free mailing list he set up to run free competitions, give aways, and other fun stuff. It costs nothing and there is no spam, just lots of fun. You can join Michael's mailing list here or check out his epic wizarding tale and music here.

Hogwarts Jamboree UK Tickets Now On Sale

From the Editor:

Hogwarts Jamboree is an all day Harry Potter Wizard Rock event taking place in London UK this summer 2009, featuring wrock bands such as Riddle TM, Shrieking Shack Disco Gang, Siriusly Hazza P, and more to be announced. There will also be a screening of the We Are Wizards documentary, craft stalls, cakes, quizzes, raffles, prizes, and much more. Tickets to this event are now on sale. Visit Hogwarts Jamboree UK for more info or to purchase tickets.

Potter Ponies By Jessie Are Available

From the Editor:

"Being so bad never looked so cute!" Our wrockin' friend Jessie of The Curse Breakers is now offering "My Little Dementor" and "My Little Death Eater" hand-made Potter Ponies for sale. To purchase these Potter Ponies and other great merchandise, visit The Wrock Shop.

For the month of August 2007

2009-04-19T14:49:00.001-07:00

August 26th, 2007

Provided for you by Jonah Pritchett, Reporter

Phelps Twins Walk Among The Stars!

James and Oliver Phelps, who play Fred and George, are among the latest nominees for a place on their home town's Birmingham Walk of Stars. Their local paper, The Sutton Observer, reports the actors have been chosen to possibly "follow in the footsteps of other Brummie stars and take their place on the Broad Street strip." Nominees for this honor must have given a "significant contribution in the categories of music, television, film, radio, theatre, sport, business and literacy" and "be originally from the area or have prominent links with Birmingham and the Midlands." The Phelps twins now join previously announced nominees, such as fellow Harry Potter actress Julie Walters (Mrs. Weasley), in online voting where fans can pick the next inductee on the Walk of Stars. Cast your vote here and score your chosen nominees on a scale from 1 to 10. Congratulations to James, Oliver, and Julie! Thanks to Leaky!

JKR In New York!

Scholastic has now updated their site with information that Jo will be reading from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at the event in NYC and will answer questions about the entire series. Following the reading and Q&A session, Mrs. Rowling will be signing books for audience members, but only one per person in order to make sure she is able to sign a book for everyone. Each person will receive a copy of Deathly Hallows, but, if an audience member chooses to bring their favorite copy of another book in the series, Mrs. Rowling will sign that instead. You still have time to attend what is sure to be a wonderful event and enter the contest (ONE ENTRY PER PERSON ONLY) by printing out the entry form here and submitting your entry by mail to Scholastic, attn: J.K. Rowling and the Open Book Tour Sweepstakes, 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012. One thousand pairs of tickets will be given away to this event. Good luck everyone! Thanks to The Leaky Cauldron for this story!

Night Scenes For Half-Blood Prince To Be Filmed In October

With principal photography set to begin early next month on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince film, there is word about some scenes that will be filmed in October at the cloisters of Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire, England. The Wiltshire Times reports that villagers have given approval for crews from the 6th Harry Potter film to "return to Lacock with many of the main characters to capture a series of spooky night scenes for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." Due to take place sometime in October, they will film for 4 days filming scenes between 5pm and 5am. The paper reports that "High Street and Church Street will be closed and the bus stop outside the George Inn looks set to be relocated for the duration." Readers will remember that the Cloisters of this Abbey were used in Chamber of Secrets for the famous "Dobby is Free" scene in which Dobby sent Lucius flying backwards. Actor Dan Radcliffe is reported to be among those who will be filming these sequences in October. We do not know the exact days of this filming for HBP and will update with more when we can.
Thanks again to TLC for this news story.

John Williams... Will He Score Deathly Hallows?

There are reports online recently stating that legendary composer John Williams would like to return to the Harry Potter films and hopes to provide the score for the film version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. These reports stem from a recent appearance at The Berkshire Museum where Mr. Williams gave a special lecture. Reports via FilmScore monthly and JWFan.com say Mr. Williams was asked about returning to the series for which he provided the first 3 scores and John Williams was quoted as saying with confidence that he thinks he will be back for the last and then added that he hopes he is. While not yet officially confirmed, Nicholas Hooper is widely rumored to be returning to score HBP, which is due to begin filming next month and is due in theatres November 2008. Previously, Potter producer David Heyman announced a 2010 release for the film of Deathly Hallows, however no director for this film has yet been announced, let alone a composer. Please note, while this may be exciting news for the many John Williams fans, please keep this as a rumor until official confirmation is provided. Thanks to TLC for this news story!

Rupert on Half-Blood Prince Script

Actor Rupert Grint has made a few public appearances lately, attending the popular V festival concert in the UK, as well as appearing on the Jo Whiley Radio Show. Thanks to Leaky's Order parter RupertGrint.net, we now know that during the radio interview, which was broadcast on BBC Radio, Rupert spoke about the upcoming 6th Harry Potter film, which is due to begin filming next month. Rupert is quoted as saying, "We sort of read the script through. We got all the cast to come around to read the script and we'll be filming it for another year so. Ron's got a girlfriend in this one. It's a little bit more intense for him! (laughs) So it should be fun!"

To listen to this interview, click here and select Monday under where it says "Listen Again". Also be sure to check out a very funny interview taped with Rupert at the V festival concert, where Rupert shows us a very cool jacket that has goggles (rather useful too for Quidditch). Enjoy! Our thanks to the Leaky Cauldron for this story.

J.K. Rowling On A Street Sign?!

JK Rowling is set to receive an official honour from the city, with the possibility of a street being named after her. Former Lord Provost Lesley Hinds is leading calls for the council to recognize the contribution the Harry Potter writer has made to promoting Edinburgh on a global scale. A civic reception is expected to be held in her honour, in addition to the creation of a more permanent tribute. Among the ideas under consideration are naming a street or building after the Merchiston-based author and setting up a young writers contest in her name. Mrs. Rowling is to be contacted and asked what she feels would be appropriate. The only public sign of her connection with Edinburgh at present is a small plaque outside the former Nicolson's cafe, on Nicolson Street, where she wrote part of her first book. To read more of this story please visit Edinburgh News.
Story written by Brian Ferguson.

J.K.'s Crime Novel Was A Joke!

Speculation that the Edinburgh book festival may have resolved one of the burning questions of modern publishing - what JK Rowling will write next - have been dashed this afternoon when the Scottish crime writer Ian Rankin diagnosed a case of festival fever. A report that his wife, Miranda, had seen J.K. Rowling "scribbling away" in an Edinburgh cafe, supposedly hard at work on a detective novel set in the Scottish capital, was dismissed as a classic silly season story when the Guardian contacted him by telephone earlier today.
"This is a joke that got out of hand," said Rankin, describing how the remark was made on stage during the course of a festival event. "There were 600 people in the audience and only one person didn't laugh," he added.
Rankin, who announced the title of his latest Inspector Rebus mystery at the festival last week, offered no further clues as to what the creator of Harry Potter might get up to next, despite living in the same Merchiston area of Edinburgh as JK Rowling. Read the full article at Guardian Unlimited Books.
Story written by a reporter for 'Guardian Unlimited Books' and was edited.

Dell Offers HP Studio CD

Dell Computers offered a FREE Harry Potter Print Studio CD with the purchase of a Dell All-in-one Printer 926. This was featured in an ad in USA Weekend. The offer was good through 8/22/07 or while supplies last. You can, as the ad says, "click" here or call 1-800-847-4118 or visit a Dell Direct Store (for locations go here).
This sounds like a cool offer and if you are in need of a printer... well, here's one!
Article written by Jonah.

A Message From Jonah... New Article Labeling

In order to follow the piracy laws of the US, I will be labeling where my articles came from. Some articles will be labeled with my name, but others that I only edited will be labeled with the original writer's name. I just wanted to make this clear so you guys know what to expect. Thanks!

August 19th, 2007

Provided for you by Jonah Pritchett, Reporter

Attorneys Continue To Battle Piracy In China

Scotland on Sunday reports that piracy of the Harry Potter novels continues to be a high priority issue for attorneys representing author J.K. Rowling as major efforts are under way to attempt to stop many fake and illegal copies of the Harry Potter novels in the country of China. The paper details just how widespread the problem is in China, noting how a group of students "working 'round the clock and eating nothing but instant noodles managed to get Deathly Hallows translated and online within hours of the English-language edition appearing in the shops." Another concern are the many various versions being sold illegally on the streets, such as Harry Potter And The Chinese Empire. The novel blends Hogwarts characters, a bit of JRR Tolkien, and sheer imagination to create the impression it is a genuine Potter novel. Read more on this story at Leaky.

Ginny And Cho Attend Movie Premiere

Harry Potter actresses Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) and Katie Leung (Cho Chang) were in attendance at the Bourne Ultimatum film premiere which took place earlier in the week in London. Photos of the actresses on arriving at the event are now available courtesy of Snitchseeker

Turkish Fans Finally Get Deathly Hallows Release Date

Harry Potter fans in Turkey will soon be able to get their hands on the 7th and final book in the series. It was recently announced that the translated edition of the book will hit shelves in that country on October 9th. The Turkish publishers also noted that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was translated by Sevin Okyay and Kutlukhan Kutlu and will be available for purchase in Turkey at 10:00am local time.

Emma Awarded

According to a posting on actress Emma Watson's website, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has been nominated at a new National Movie Award in the UK in the category of "Best Family Movie". Emma has also been nominated for her role as Hermione Granger in the film. The website says these new awards will be shown on UK channel ITV September 29th and the winners are chosen via a nationwide poll with voting forms to be "available in every cinema outlet throughout the UK and published in national newspapers, magazines, and online." Congratulations to the whole Order of the Phoenix team! Other congratulations are also in store for Emma Watson, who received marks that Hermione would no doubt be very happy to obtain with all A grades in her A/S levels. Congratulations Emma!

A Fake Persian Potter?

A Persian translation of the internet counterfeit version of Deathly Hallows has appeared in Iran's bookstores. An internet hacker put a fake version of the latest book in the Harry Potter series on the internet a few days before the book's worldwide release, claiming it to be the original. Sakineh (Mehri) Kharrazi translated it into Persian off the website and it has been published by Neyestan-e Jam Publications in a 560-page book, the Persian service of ISNA reported on Wednesday. According to the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance's book and book reading office, the book was published with the ministry's permission. At the top corner of the back of the book, the label "internet version" has been printed. Head of the office Majid Hamidzadeh explained that the ministry had not observed any problem in the contents of the book and, therefore, permission for publication had been issued. He says, "The book bears the label 'internet version' on its cover and we are not concerned whether or not its contents are fake."

Harry Potter, The Russian Top Secret

To publish the bestseller Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows in Russian, the publishing house is to provide top secure measures. The printing-office in Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia is to avoid the leak of the 7th Harry Potter content. The electronic files will only be stored in the printing-office chief's safe and any work with the electronic version will be possible only with local net and USB-ports turned off. Up to 10 or 15 additional security guards are to convoy the books on every stage of production. On August 15th, the printing-office started printing the book-covers and by the September 1st 1,800,000 books is to be issued. The whole volume of sales is expected to exceed $20 million.

Harry Potter Photos Available For First Time

For the first time ever, hundreds of pictures taken on the set of the Harry Potter movies are now available to buy, via a new website Movie Prints. These pictures, known as 'Unit Photography', have never previously been available to buy. Now, as a result of a deal between Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Comprints Ltd., a company specializing in Print on Demand services, Harry Potter fans will be able to choose from over 300 pictures on-line and order them as prints and canvases in a variety of sizes. Each image is available in 6 different sizes of photographic print (in gloss or satin finish or on art paper) and 6 different sizes of canvas. It will also be possible to buy postcards. Each product is made to order and dispatched directly to the purchaser, typically within 2-3 days. All the Harry Potter characters, from the well known to the more obscure, are available in over 45,000 unique product combinations. Sizes range from 8x6 inch prints to canvases of 1.25m. The Harry Potter collection will feature great character and action shots from the new film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, as well as pictures from all 4 previous movies.

Harry Potter and the Half-Butter Prince

That's right Potterholics, Harry Potter is now immortalized in butter! The boy wizard stands tall and proud as a butter sculpture at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa. He has his trademark glasses and his wand, of course, and was seen standing next to the famous butter cow, a crowd pleaser at the fair since the early 90's.

Follow Up: No Azkaban Sentence For Teen Charged With Illegal Translation

A follow up regarding the case of a teen Harry Potter fan who posted online an unofficial French translation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes by way of the BBC, who reported that French Harry Potter publishers Gallimard, along with author J.K. Rowling, have decided not to sue a young fan from Aix-en-Provence, France for posting online his own translation of the final Harry Potter book in French. Earlier, the youth was arrested for this translation, which was discovered as part of a probe into "organized networks that post pirated book translations online," then the 16 year-old boy was later released. Police had commented previously on the "near-professional" quality of the boy's work, however, upon further investigation it was discovered the youth was not seeking financial gain by posting this translation. The official French translation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be available on October 26th.

Harry Potter and the Power List

Several actors from the Harry Potter films are on a list from the UK Film Council of the "most powerful British film stars and movie-makers in Hollywood today." The Telegraph reports that the trio, better known as Dan Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione) and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), are ranked joint 4th on this list with $3.46 billion. This number is reflective of the first 4 films and "reveals the country's most successful actors in terms of box office earnings over the course of the past five years."
Also on the list is acclaimed actor Ralph Fiennes, who portrays Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films. He is listed at number 10 with $1.4 billion, including his performance in GoF as well as such films as Red Dragon, Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, and Maid in Manhattan.
Finally, film directors are included on this power list as well, mentioning Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire director Mike Newell, who is ranked at the top spot with $8.7 million.

August 12th, 2007

Provided for you by Jonah Pritchett, Reporter

Emma Watson Confirms New Role In Movie For BBC One

Word has come via her official website emmawatson.net confirming the news that actress Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) will take on a new role in a television movie called "Ballet Shoes". The film, which will be broadcast on BBC One in the UK around Christmas this year, will feature Emma in the role of "Pauline, the eldest of 3 orphaned sisters who lead a sheltered life until they begin at the Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training." This movie will co-star fellow Potter actors Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon) and Robert Hardy (Cornelius Fudge), and is based upon the novel by Noel Streatfeild. Production on the film is set to begin this month.

Stephen King On The Importance Of J.K.Rowling

In a new and lengthy piece, author Stephen King has written a column for Entertainment Weekly, reflecting on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and in particular what J.K. Rowling has brought to children and reading. This article, which does contain spoilers for the final Harry Potter novel, first starts with a discussion of the spoilers and the early reviews which caused such a fury. To read the full article go to The Leaky Cauldron.

Katie Leung And The Phelps Twins Attend Turkish Order of the Phoenix Premiere

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix actors Katie Leung (Cho Chang) and James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley) arrived in Istanbul, Turkey recently to attend the Turkish premiere of the 5th Harry Potter film. The event, which took place this past week, was attended by many fans who turned out to see the actors walk the red carpet and talk with fans. Photos of the actors arriving in Istanbul as well as attending the premiere can be seen on Phelps-Twins.com.

Teen Arrested For Posting Illegal French Translation Of Deathly Hallows

A young teen fan of the Harry Potter series was arrested after it was discovered he had posted online a complete, yet unofficial, translation in French of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The Guardian reported that a 16 year-old boy from Aix-en-Provence, France was too impatient to wait for the official French translation of the novel. The high school boy then set about making one himself after the English versions were released on July 21st and soon the "first chapters were available for download a few days after the book came out in July and the complete text was online within days. Police said they were "particularly surprised" by the quality of the pirate version, which they said was "semi-professional". The teen was kept in custody overnight and has since been released pending further investigation. It is believed he was not thought to have sought any commercial profit from the unauthorized work. The official French translation of the book, "Harry Potter et les Reliques de la Mort", is still being formally translated and will not be available until October.

Dumbledore's Army Stars Answer Fan Questions

Katie Leung, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright and Evanna Lynch answered fan-emailed questions about Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, including what was it like for Katie when she had to kiss Dan Radcliffe and how Matthew felt playing the underdog in all the movies. The email-question interview was hosted by CBBC newsround and you can read the full article here.

J.K. Rowling Funds Fire Engine Gift

A town in Zambia, which has been left without fire cover after their 1960s engine broke down, is a step closer to getting a new fire engine, thanks J.K. Rowling. She sent them a $15,300 check, which will pay for the fire engine to be shipped over to Africa.

August 5th, 2007

Submitted by Jonah Pritchett

Calling The Real Harry Potter...

As profiled in Wednesday's Herald and the Sun, a 78-year-old man in Bradenton, FL, has been inundated by media outlets hither and yon. "But that's not the best part," said Harry Potter's amused wife Jan. He got a phone call this week from none other than J.K. Rowling herself. "When she identified herself, I went, 'Oh, suuure,'" Jan Potter said. "But it was her. She was calling from England." Jo said she wants to host a gathering for all of the real-life Harry Potters. It is tentatively set for December in either New York City or London, and Jo will pick up the tab for everything. Looks like our Harry Potter now needs to renew his passport, which ought to be fun. "I can see it now," he said. "I go to the courthouse, tell them I would like a new passport, and my name is Harry Potter."

Deathly Hallows Nominated For Kid's Choice Awards UK

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is nominated in the Best Book category at the first Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards UK, set to take place in London this October. Daniel Radcliffe is also nominated in the Best Movie Actor category.

Deathly Hallows Continues To Break Sales Records

Deathly Hallows continues to break sales records around the world. About 2.65 million copies of the book were sold in the UK in the first 24 hours on July 23rd, representing an increase of 32%. In Germany, 398,271 copies were sold and 573,845 copies were sold in Australia in the first 24 hours. Scholastic said Thursday that US sales reached 11.5 million, setting a new record for the number of books sold in first 10 days. It sold 8.3 million copies in its first 24 hours on sale, which broke a record set by Half-Blood Prince, which sold 6.9 million copies in its first 24 hours.

Live Webchat with J.K.

Last Monday, J.K. Rowling participated in a live 90-minute webchat hosted by Bloomsbury in which she fielded some of the approximately 120,000 questions submitted by devotees.
*SPOILER WARNING* - DO NOT READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED THE BOOK!

In the webchat, she reveals that the hallows were in part inspired by "The Pardoner's Tale", one of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" about greed and death. She went on to say that the world was a sunnier, happier place after the 7th book and the death of Voldemort; Harry was named head of the Auror Department under the new Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt; Harry's wife Ginny stuck with her athletic career, playing for the all-female Quidditch team, the Holyhead Harpies, but Ginny eventually left the team to raise their 3 children, James, Albus, and Lily, while writing as the senior Quidditch correspondent for the Daily Prophet; Ron joined his brother George as a partner in his successful joke shop, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes; Ron's wife Hermione furthered the rights of subjugated creatures, such as house elves, in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures before joining the Magical Law Enforcement squad; Hermione and Ron had 2 children, Rose and Hugo; and Luna Lovegood becomes a famous wizarding naturalist who eventually marries the grandson of Newt Scamander.
You can read the full transcript of the webchat at Bloomsbury's site here.

The Last of J.K.'s 3-Part Television Interview on Dateline

Last Sunday marked the hour long special interview Meredith Viera conducted with author J.K. Rowling at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland to discuss the final book of the Harry Potter series Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

*SPOILER WARNING* - DO NOT READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED THE BOOK!

As to the question of who were the 2 who died who weren't originally intended to and who was the reprieve, J.K. answered that Lupin, who became a father, and Tonks took the place of Arthur Weasley who she just couldn't bear to kill since he is the only truly good father in the books. Lupin and Tonks' death served to echo Harry's loss of parents and show just how heartless Voldemort is by leaving a child parent-less. She further revealed that her most favorite made up word she's used is Quidditch, that she will very much miss being able to make up new words, and the death that was hardest for her, other than book 7, was Dumbledore. As to the life and death choice between Fred and George, "I always knew it was going to be Fred. I suppose looking back from it, I think that most people would have expected it to be George because he's the ringleader." If you wondered what the main reason of that epilogue was, wonder no more. J.K. says that it was for Teddy, to show that Teddy Lupin is obviously okay and that he has an ongoing relationship with Harry. "He must be quite happy and he's got a very good-looking girlfriend because I think he's kissing in the epilogue his -- Bill and Fleur's eldest daughter." J.K. also tells that the house she would hope to be in is Gryffindor since she values courage most. And what is her most satisfying part of the entire Harry Potter phenomenon? "Talking to people like you about the books definitely. I mean, I loved the writing. But aside of the writing-- it staggers me that so many people have loved them and what's better than that? Nothing's better than that."
You can read the full transcript of the hour-long interview here or view the video of the interview courtesy of the Leaky Cauldron.

How Could You?!

The Daily Mail recently reported of a headmistress who would definitely not make Dumbledore proud. Deathly Hallows is the book millions of children have been desperately waiting to read over the school holidays, but for 400 furious pupils at St John's C of E School in Midsomer Norton, Somerset, finding out what happens in the 7th and final book of the series came sooner than expected At the final assembly of the term, headmistress Carolyn Banfield picked up the book and read from the last page to her astonished captive audience. Louie Swift, 9 years old, said, "I don't know why she read it. She's not usually a spoilsport. She didn't even mention she had the book. She just picked it up and started reading it to us." Parents were furious over the incident. Les Martindale, church warden of St John's Church in Midsomer Norton, said, "I'd imagine that if this did happen it was done in all innocence - an error of judgment." However, Margaret Morrissey of the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations points out, "It was unforgivable. It's one of the cruellest things she could have done, even if she didn't mean it. Whether you approve of the Harry Potter phenomenon or not, it has encouraged children to read. This act will probably stop all those children from reading the book." Mrs. Banfield was away on holiday and unavailable for comment.

And The Spoiling Continues...

The Herald Sun reports Australian TV host Jonathan Coleman was immediately suspended from the air by Channel 7's Sunrise after devastating young viewers by revealing the ending of the final Harry Potter book. The former comedian's unfunny joke caused a Sunrise email meltdown with viewers jamming the station's switchboard describing him as "pathetic", "unprofessional", "incompetent", "selfish" and "a twit".

For the month of July 2006

2009-04-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

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.

For the month of February 2009

2009-03-09T08:06:00.000-07:00

February 26th, 2009

Conceptual Art Of Dervish & Banges Unveiled

From HPANA.com:

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Universal Orlando resort in Florida has just released a brand new image of another location in Hogsmeade - Dervish & Banges, which will feature school supplies, Quidditch gear and wizarding equipment. You can check out this pic at the official site here.
Note from the Editor - While at the official WWoHP site be sure to vote in the new poll "Which dragon would you like to ride?" The choices are "Chinese Fireball" or "Hungarian Horntail".

Mark Your Calendars - DH Part 2 Release Date Set

From HPANA.com:

Warner Bros. has confirmed to The Leaky Cauldron that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two will be released in theatres on July 15, 2011.

MTV "Spoilers"

From the Editor:

MTV's "Spoilers" last Saturday evening aired footage from their visit to the Half-Blood Prince set. You can view their clip here.

Harry Potter: The Exhibition Dates Extended

From the Editor:

Please note that there has been a change in the dates listed in "UPCOMING HP EVENTS" for Harry Potter: The Exhibition. Due to increasing popularity of the event, the exhibition will now run for an additional three weeks.

Reg Cattermole Role Cast

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Steffan Rhodri has been cast as Reg Cattermole in Deathly Hallows, based on his work on the BBC's Gavin and Stacey.

J.K., The Edinburgh Graffiti Artist

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

The Scotsman reported that J. K. Rowling paid a heart-warming visit to the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Morningside to interact with patients. She daubed graffiti on the walls of the Young People's Unit, which cares for teenagers with psychiatric conditions. According to consultant psychologist Dr Jane Morris, "She really does spread magic. She's a natural and knows how to talk to young people. And she's extremely cool. She does graffiti on the walls which is probably worth a fortune. She's drawn all of us and wrote 'JK Rowling was here'."

No More HP Legos

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

According to reports from the NYC toy fair, there will be no more Harry Potter LEGOs in the future because, at this point, the series has gotten much darker and "it has become very hard to produce kid-friendly sets".

Rowling Fumes After Friend Puts Gifts On eBay

From WizardNews.com:

J.K. Rowling is reportedly enraged that items gifted to a pal have been put for sale on eBay. She was said to be livid that a 5,000-pound price tag had been placed on the gifts presented to a family friend before she hit the spotlight. "We gather Ms. Rowling is not pleased that they have been resold," said the seller.

February 25th, 2009

Our Official PA 2008 FotY!

From the Editor:

After deliberations, it has been decided that the Official PA would like to recognize our Potterholic friend Jinny Potter as our most outstanding Fan of the Year for her dedication, fandom, and friendship! You can find our amazing friend on our MySpace page.
* Note - Jinny's page is set to private, hence, any material on her page requires friendship to view and is viewable at your own discretion, some material may be unsuitable for younger viewers.

February 10th, 2009

Equus' Final Performance

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Equus saw its final Broadway performance on Sunday, February 8th. The Playbill reported, "When it closes, the acclaimed revival will have played 21 previews and 156 regular performances." Previews began September 5, 2008, with an official opening on September 25.

Emma Nervous About Kiss

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Emma Watson revealed that she is just as nervous as Rupert Grint when it comes to the Ron/Hermione kiss in Deathly Hallows. Rupert believes the scene will be particularly difficult to film because of his ongoing friendship with Emma.

King's View On Rowling Vs. Meyer

From WizardNews.com:

Horror master Stephen King slammed Twilight author Stephenie Meyer in a recent interview with USA Weekend, comparing her to J.K. Rowling. "Both Rowling and Meyer, they're speaking directly to young people," he says. "The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can't write worth a darn. She's not very good." Mr. King went on to compare Meyer to Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner with this faint praise, "He was a terrible writer, too, but he was very successful."

The full interview will be published as the cover story of the magazine's March 6-8 issue.

New Wrock Tracks

From the Editor:

The Remus Lupins uploaded the new tracks "Looking for Trouble", "Teenage Werewolf", and "Loosen Your Tie".
Split Seven Ways uploaded new tracks, including "Dear Cedric", "The Locket Redux", and "Just Say It".

New Wrock Blogs

From the Editor:

Justin Finch-Fletchley & The Sugar Quills posted a new blog entitled "Order the Bard EP!!!!!", Snidget posted a new blog entry called "Do you like good music?", and Hogwarts Trainwreck posted a new blog entry titled "From Beneath These Ashes".

February 9th, 2009

HP Stars Attend BAFTA's In London

From HPANA.com:

Emma Watson, Brendan Gleason, and Jason Isaacs attended Sunday night's BAFTA awards in London. Video and pictures from the event are now available here.

Also making an appearance yesterday, Rupert Grint attended the premiere of his new movie Cherrybomb at the Berlin Film Festival. Audio from a Q&A with the actor and images from the event are available here.

High Res Movie Posters Online

From HPANA.com:

The international posters for Half-Blood Prince have been released and can be viewed in high resolution online here.

J.K. Receives Legion Of Honour Award

From HPANA.com:

J.K. Rowling received the Legion of Honor award from the French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Palais de l'Elys�e on Tuesday, February 3rd.

DH Filming To Resume In Two Weeks

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Filming on Deathly Hallows will begin in two weeks, according to a new report by the BBC. Pre-production at Leavesden Studios was recently halted when a stuntman suffered spinal injuries after a fall. The studio has since reopened. "We have not begun filming yet and will not do so for another two weeks. This has always been the case," the representative said. "Filming will commence mid-February and go through to spring 2009." Both Deathly Hallows Part I and Part II will be shot back-to-back.

Deathly Hallows Is Most Borrowed Book

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, having been checked out of British libraries approximately 109,000 times, is officially the United Kingdom's most borrowed book.

HP Once Again Nominated For Kids' Choice

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

The Harry Potter series has been nominated for the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards once again this year. Voting will open March 2nd.

For the month of January 2009

2009-02-26T08:35:00.001-08:00

January 28th, 2009

Japanese HBP Trailer Online

From HPANA.com:

The Japanese trailer for Half-Blood Prince is now available online, however, Warner Bros. issued a statement that the trailer will not be attached to any film in the US, it is for use purely in Japan. You can view the trailer here.

Dan Issues Invitation For Private Tour Of Set

From HPANA.com:

It was announced that Daniel Radcliffe formally invited Sasha and Malia Obama to an exclusive guided tour of the Harry Potter set, with Dan serving as the guide.

Cafe Where HP Was Penned On Sale Again

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Nicolson's cafe, where J.K. Rowling began writing the Harry Potter series, had since turned into Chinese restaurant "Buffet King" and is now on sale once more. Mr. Ng, the owner of the closing restaurant, told the Scotsman, "We do not advertise the J.K. Rowling connection, but it still attracts so much attention." He hopes the next buyer will convert it into a literary museum in honour of J.K.

Harry Potter: The Musical Proved To Be False

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Rumours of a potential Harry Potter musical, which began circulating in August 2007, were proven false. According to The Telegraph, Sir Trevor Nunn, English theatre and film director, may have had the chance to bring Harry Potter to the stage had he proposed the idea just a few weeks sooner before the movie rights were sold to Warner Bros.

Owl Sightings Increase

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Minnesota biologists have had to trap and move snowy owls for fear they'd be caught in jet engines. Now snowy owls have been spotted as far south as D.C., Tennessee, Kansas and Missouri. In the UK, sightings extend from Scotland to Cornwall. The Harry Potter series has definitely sparked an interest in owl-watching and, because its food supply is currently above sufficient, this new peck of owls may not be so temporary.

New Wrock Blog, New Tracks

From the Editor:

The Chinese Chomping Cabbages posted a new blog entitled "I hate bad news =[", while Ministry of Magic uploaded a couple more new tracks, "Longbottom Legacy" and "Accio Love".

January 27th, 2009

Free Songs For You

From the Editor:

Memories & Jersey has 9 free songs for you. Visit their page to download all the songs from their new EP "A Demonstration From Within The Heart".

New Blogs

From the Editor:

Blibbering Humdingers posted a new blog entry entitled "live Whompy and JFF on blogTV at Camelot Treasures!", The Silver Doe has recently added the new blog "NEW SONG: Lily's Last Breath" to their page, while Ministry of Magic posted the new blog "Nothing Longbottom".

New Tracks

From the Editor:

Ministry of Magic uploaded a few new tracks to their page - "The Bravest Man I Ever Knew", "I May Lose Everything", and "Goodbye Privet Drive". Also adding some new tracks recently was The Silver Doe, who added "A Cauldron Full of Hot Love", "You Charmed the Heart Right Out of Me", and "The Beggar".

January 19th, 2009

Half-Blood Prince Gets Rated

From HPANA.com:

It was announced that Half-Blood Prince will be rated PG by the MPAA in the US for "scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality".

Dobby's Back!

From HPANA.com:

According to The Telegraph, Toby Jones, who voiced Dobby the house-elf, will soon be back in the studio soon to record for Deathly Hallows.

HP Fan Trips Hiring Chaperones For 2009 Trip

From HPANA.com:

HP Fan Trips, a series of Harry Potter-themed tours around the world, is hiring chaperones for their July 2009 programs to England and Scotland. If you have always wanted to experience an award-winning HP Fan Trip, this is your opportunity to do a little work in exchange for an amazing adventure.

Rupert's Kissing Scenes

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Rupert Grint says, "I'll have a stack of crosswords at the ready" for time spent in-between takes in Deathly Hallows. Why? When he shares a kiss with Emma Watson, it'll be an ideal distraction from nerves - a trick he picked up while filming Cherrybomb.

New Blog Entries

From the Editor:

Split Seven Ways posted a new blog entry on their page called "a muggle song?!", while The Butterbeer Experience posted a new blog entitled "Fair Fortune: A Wrock Opera".

2009-02-26T08:34:00.001-08:00

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For the month of March 2007

2009-02-12T07:06:00.001-08:00

March 28th, 2007

Provided for you the Editor

Deathly Hallows Cover Art Unveiled!

That's right fellow Potterholics, it's finally here - cover art to the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series! During the early morning hours of Wednesday, March 28th, Arthur Levine of Scholastic publishers showed the American cover for the first time anywhere on NBC's Today Show. Both the American and British versions were then released on the publishers' websites (the audiobook will be available the same day as the print version). During the Today Show interview, Mr. Levine admitted that he cried when he read the book and said "it's a very emotional book."

The officially released synopsis, seen on the inside of the UK edition jacket, reads:

"Harry has been burdened with a dark, dangerous and seemingly impossible task: that of locating and destroying Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes. Never has Harry felt so alone, or faced a future so full of shadows. But Harry must somehow find within himself the strength to complete the task he has been given. He must leave the warmth, safety and companionship of the Burrow and follow without fear or hesitation the inexorable path laid out for him."

The back cover of the jacket reads:
"Harry is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing - if they can. But what will Harry do then? How can he fulfill the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Professor Dumbledore has left him with?"

Wizard Rock/Floo Network Joint Venture

Various Wizard Rock stars have come together to put out an awesome charity effort, the "EP of the Month Club", in which you pay $50 for one year's worth of music (12 CD's) with proceeds going to "First Book". Others at the Floo Network have begun "Last Books, First Books", their drive at HarryPotterSeven.com to collect for Book Aid. Visit Leaky's site target="_blank">here now through July 21st to donate to this great effort to help establish libraries around the world and give back some of what we've received through the Harry Potter books. Further, these two efforts came together and wizard rockers have donated a signed 12-disk CD set to the "Last Books, First Books" drive, which will be randomly awarded at the end of the drive to those who have donated $5 or more.

Lucius Talks Costume And More

In two extremely brief Leaky Cauldron videos, Jason Isaacs, who portrays Lucius Malfoy in the Potter films, gives some tid-bits about Lucius' appearance and possible DVD scenes. You can check them out here and here.

The Phoenix Sings July 10th

According to online seller Amazon.com, Tuesday, July 10th the Order of the Phoenix movie soundtrack will be available for purchase at an estimated retail price of $18.98.

March 22nd, 2007

New Affiliate

The Official PA would like to thank the Harry Potter Fan Zone, a great source for HP news, for adding us to their affiliates.

The Great Snape Debate

Like it or not, Severus Snape, the nefarious potions master, has become a widely popular and much discussed character. On Google alone, a search for "Severus Snape" receives more than half a million hits. That is the centerpiece on which Borders/Waldenbooks based their all-Snape approach to marketing Deathly Hallows. As part of the campaign, every fan who pre-orders Deathly Hallows will chose in The Great Snape Debate between one of two stickers, "Trust Snape" or "Snape Is A Very Bad Man.". The stickers, which are also available to those who reserve online, are also accompanied by in-store advertisements that ask, "Severus Snape: Friend or Foe?"

2008 Calendars Coming

Beginning August 1st, several new OotP caledars will be available for purchase. You can view the four covers over at Leaky Cauldron's gallery.

Emma's Not Going Anywhere Yet

Despite recent rumors, CBBC reported that Emma Watson, indeed, has no intention of leaving the Harry Potter film franchise. A Warner Brothers spokesman says they are "extremely confident" that she will be back for films 6 and 7.

9.408 Billion Pages!

According to a recent Scholastic press release, all 12 million copies of Deathly Hallows will be printed on recycled paper, paper containing a minimum of 30% post-consumer waste (pcw) fiber. Considering the announced length of each book is 784 pages, that's a grand total of 9,408,000,000 pages in the first print run. The publisher will also use similar material to print a "celebratory edition" of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in June 2007. This is a significant step in the company's ongoing commitment to being environmentally responsible.
On a further note, the 784 page length also makes Deathly Hallows the second longest book in the Harry Potter series, coming in second to Order.

March 19th, 2007

See The New Potter Video Game Being Made

CBBC Newsround is currently holding a competition for children aged 12 and under to winn the chance to see how the upcoming Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix video game is made. They will get to see how Harry and his friends are animated into the game and even get gaming tips from experts.

Don't Count Your Pages Before They're Printed

According to Harry Latino, the rumored page count for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has already been shot down. A couple of days ago, it was rumored that the 7th and final Harry Potter book would be 700 pages. It has now been confirmed that, in fact, no page count is available.

March 17th, 2007

12 Million DH

Scholastic recently announced that 12 million copies will be printed in the first print run of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This number will break the previous record held by HBP, which printed 10.8 million copies on its first print run.

No New Harry Is Good News

According to MSNBC, Daniel Radcliffe has signed on to star in the final two Harry Potter film installments. Dan will be returning for his role as Harry in both Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

More OotP Photos

Several new photos from the upcoming Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix film have apparated online. Some pics include the Weasley twins flight from Hogwarts and a picture of the Hogs Head pub. These and more can be viewed thanks to HP Fan Zone.

New March WoM

As March began, J.K. Rowling updated her website with a new Wizard of the Month. Tilden Toots, born in 1959, is a celebrated herbologist with 3 green thumbs and a radio personality.

For the month of October 2007

2009-02-12T07:02:00.000-08:00

October 31st, 2007

New Potter Dolls

From LeakyCauldron.org:
Every girl is crazy about... a sharp dressed Dark Lord? Well, it may not quite be what we normally think of as a sharp dressed man, but the Tonner Doll company is releasing a new Lord Voldemort Doll, complete with his black designer suit he sported in a scene from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The doll, based on actor Ralph Fiennes as he portrays the Dark Lord in the Harry Potter films, is limited to 150 in number and is available ($150.00 USD) for pre-order here via FAO Schwarz. The description of the doll says "he wears a black twill suit, complete with black dress shirt, black waistcoat, tie, black knit socks, and molded shoes to and an appropriately sinister expression, captured in evil detail by Robert Tonner. He also holds a wand, which is crafted in resin with hand-painted details. With 13 points of articulation, you can display him in many poses with the included display stand." You can also see a larger photo of the stylin' Dark Lord here in Leaky's galleries.

From LeakyCauldron.org:
There are several very fine companies who produce the special effects seen in the Harry Potter films. One such company, Rising Sun Pictures, has a new feature on their website regarding some of the work they did, including the scene at the end of the film where Voldemort possesses Harry during the battle at the Ministry. The company also has a video highlighting this process online, that details the meticulous work that went into creating this shot for the film. In addition, there is video revealing how they created Hagrid's hut by computer for a shot of the trio running down a hill outside of Hogwarts. You can see this video either by this link (then click on the part where it says "launch vfx breakdowns") or here via Leaky's video galleries

HBP Extras Casting

From Mugglenet.com:

Casting for extras in the 6th Harry Potter film, Half-Blood Prince, took place in Gloucester recently where many young students lined up before the casting team. Marketing manager Sharon Bird said, "The whole experience becomes a huge part of school life and children really enjoy being part of what is probably the biggest movie series in history." Best of luck to those who tried out!

October 30th, 2007

Final Potter Book Released In Chinese

From Wizard News:
The official Chinese version of the latest Harry Potter smash hit went on sale in bookstores yesterday, almost two months after an unofficial version was posted on the internet. One million copies of the book have been printed by the People's Literature Publishing House in Beijing, which owns the copyright of the Chinese language version of the bestselling series for the Chinese mainland.

Top 100 Living Geniuses

From LeakyCauldron.org:
There is another list out and its one that would make Ravenclaw proud: a list of the 100 top "Living Geniuses". Included on the telegraph.co.uk list is our favorite author, J.K. Rowling, who came in at number 83. The number one spot was actually shared by two men, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, who is credited with creating the world wide web, and Albert Hoffmann, the Swiss scientist who created the drug LSD. The Telegraph reports 3rd place went to George Soros, the American financier and philanthropist, Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons and Nelson Mandela, the former South African president. Creators Synectics, a global consultants firm, chose their geniuses by awarding scores out of 10 to each entrant against a number of factors: paradigm shifting; popular acclaim; intellectual power; achievement and cultural importance. Others of note on this list include playwright Harold Pinter (#31), the musician Prince (#32), singer Stevie Wonder tied with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and actress Meryl Streep (#49), writer Stephen King (#58) tied with iconic rocker Paul McCartney of the Beatles, and legendary composer John Williams who wrote the scores to the first 3 Harry Potter films among many others is ranked at #72.

October 28th, 2007

OotP DVD In Chile

From Mugglenet.com:
The Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix DVD is apparently now available in Chile. You can see some screenshots of the opening menu at HarryMedis.com and a slightly blurry video montage of this menu at via youtube. The Order of the Phoenix DVD will be released next month on November 12th in the UK and a month later on December 11th here in the United States.

Katie Leung Wins Scottish Style Award

From Mugglenet.com:
Katie Leung was named Most Stylish Female in the Scottish Style Awards. The actress who portrays Cho Chang in the Harry Potter films had been nominated for this award and she was named winner at the awards ceremony held at the Old Fruitmarket Gallery in Glasgow, Scotland. The Scotsman reports: Miss Leung, 20, from Glasgow, beat off competitors including Ugly Betty star Ashley Jensen, Laura Fraser, star of The Flying Scotsman and 16 Years of Alcohol, Hannah McGill, director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, and artist Gay Grossart. Miss Leung has appeared in a music video and is being courted by fashion houses... The organiser, Mary McGowne, said the winners represented "the face of modern Scotland".

Bonnie Wright Voices The Replacements

From Mugglenet.com:
BonnieWrightOnline.com knows that Bonnie Wight is lending her voice to an episode of the Disney Channel program The Replacements. Bonnie, who plays Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter films, guest stars on an episode entitled "London Calling", which is airing now. In the episode, Bonnie gives the voice to the character of 'Vanessa'. You can view this entire episode of The Replacements in two parts at the Dailymotion.com courtesy of BWO. View Part 1 and Part 2. An additional 32 screen caps from the episode are also available here.

HBP Filming

From Mugglenet.com:
The Wiltshire Times has a nice report from the first day of on-location filming for Half-Blood Prince, which is set to be released on November 21st, 2008. The scene involving Harry and Dumbledore going to visit Slughorn is the scene the crews are working on and Dan Radcliffe is scheduled to be on set. From the report: They painted a number of houses and put up brown tape on some properties to imitate wooden beams. Residents in Church Street have been asked to black out their windows with blinds during the nighttime filming. A giant light was set up behind Cantax House to flood the street in artificial moonlight and crowds gathered to watch what was going on. A member of the film crew said: "The light will look like moonlight and it is made up of lots of smaller lights inside to give that strong effect.

Tom Felton Interview

From Mugglenet.com:
A video of Tom Felton at Saturday's UK Kids' Choice Awards has been posted online. It shows the Draco Malfoy actor responding to the news that Dumbledore is gay. Check it out here.

Christie's Auction

From Mugglenet.com:
Christie's Auction House in London, England, recently put up a rare signed, first edition copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone for auction, which today sold for a staggering £19,700 ($40,420). The BBC reports, experts had estimated the value of this edition between £8,000-£12,000. A proof copy of the first book was also included in the auction which, despite a misspelling of author J. K. Rowling's name on the cover, sold for £2,250.
The article also notes a second auction which featured a signed paperback edition of Philosopher's Stone along side a signed first edition hardcover copy of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This set was sold for £1,250 ($2,500).

J.K. Continues US Book Tour

From Mugglenet.com:
At her final tour stop in Ontario, Canada, J.K. Rowling received questions from the press concerning her revelation that Dumbledore was a homosexual: "The plot is what it is," said Rowling. "(Dumbledore) did have, as I say, this rather tragic infatuation, but that was a key part of the ending of the story, so there it is. Why would I put the key part of my ending of my story in Book 1?" Rowling said she found it "freeing" to out Dumbledore, adding that the passages about him will mean different things to different readers. "I think a child will see a friendship and I think a sensitive adult may well understand that it was an infatuation," she said.

Scream Awards

From Mugglenet.com:
The Harry Potter series picked up two prizes at the 2007 Scream Awards hosted by Spike TV. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix won in the catergory of "Best Sequel" while actor Ralph Fiennes was named "Most Vile Villian" for his role as Lord Voldemort. The awards were handed out on October 19th at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

More on J.K.'s US Book Tour

From Mugglenet.com:
J.K. Rowling continued her U.S. Open Book Tour today at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, reading an excerpt from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to just over 1,500 eager listeners. She then took 12 pre-selected questions from the audience before signing copies for all in attendance.

The Times-Picayune reported that Jo answered questions ranging from the "personal to the political," stating that she felt it necessary to demonstrate the realities of war. She also touched on the fates of certain characters and the popular good always overcoming evil debate: "That depends on what you mean by 'overcomes.' But as long as people are prepared to keep fighting ... it's amazing how small acts of kindness can add up, just living in a moral way, treating other people kindly."
Additionally, in an effort to contribute to the rebuilding efforts post-Hurricane Katrina, Scholastic donated 10,000 copies of the first Potter novel to Orleans Parish public school students, as well as a complete set of the series to each public school and public library in New Orleans. The U.S. portion of the tour concludes with readings at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Chris Rankin Interview

From Mugglenet.com:
Chris Rankin, the actor who plays Percy Weasley in the Harry Potter films, recently gave an interview to New Zealand's TV3. Chris talked about, in particular, what it is like to be a part of the Potter franchise and also mentioned that it is "unlikely" that his character will be in the upcoming Half-Blood Prince movie, although he is still hopeful that he will return for the final installment of the series.

Still More On J.K.'s Book Tour

From Mugglenet.com:
2,000 lucky fans had the opportunity to interact with JK Rowling at Carnegie Hall. The reading was rather eventful, as Jo revealed a lot of new information previously unknown about the series. The most notable news of the night was the revelation of Dumbledore's sexuality. Jo says Dumbledore was gay and in love with Gellert Grindelwald. JK, in response to the audience's reaction, said "If I had known this would have made you so happy, I would have told you years ago." Not quite as head-turning, but equally significant, Jo announced Neville Longbottom's marriage with Hannah Abbott. Hannah became the new landlady of the Leaky Cauldron. While other heart-warming news was revealed about Petunia Dursley. The night Harry left Privet Drive, Petunia wanted to tell Harry, "I know what you're up against and I hope it turns out okay."

Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards UK

From Mugglenet.com:
The UK Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards took place in London and, once again, the Harry Potter franchise came out triumphant. Emma Watson was "so thrilled" to take home the award for Best Actress, being voted ahead of fellow nominees Keira Knightley, Dakota Fanning and Cameron Diaz. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows also won the top spot in the Best Book category.

BAFTA Awards

From Mugglenet.com:
It has been announced that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has received a number of nominations for this year's Children's BAFTA Awards, including in the newly-added Children's Video Game category. The film itself is also up for a chance of winning the Kids' Vote and Feature Film awards, which Goblet of Fire won last year. Voting will commence on November 2nd and the awards ceremony will air on the BBC in late November.

October 7th, 2007

David Thewlis' The Late Hector Kipling

David Thewlis now may add author to his list of credits having penned his first novel The Late Hector Kipling. This 200 page hardcover book is a warm and witty novel about the not so warm and witty world of art and death. It tells the story of Hector Kipling, an artist, who has his health, loving parents, a beautiful girlfriend, good mates, and talent in abundance. So what more could he ask for? But once Hector's life begins to coming undone, it doesn't take long for it to fall completely and irreparably apart and Hector discovers just how amazingly quick a life can disintegtrate.
David's new book is available at Amazon.com.

And The Legend Lives On

The final book of the Harry Potter series may have hit book shelves months ago, but Harry is still fresh in the mind of his eager fans. According to Burlington County Times, at least one college professor is already including J.K.'s work into his children's literature classes. A crowd gathered at the Barnes and Noble in Evesham to hear Rutgers University professor J.T. Barbarese lecture about the series' protagonist and how J.K. Rowling's stories relate to classic children's literature. The event was part of the Rutgers Cappuccino Academy, a series of lectures and discussions that are open to the public. During his lecture, Professor Barbarese emphasized that he is "not an expert on Harry Potter, but a teacher of children's literature" and he drew comparisons between elements of the Potter novels and other well-known literary works, such as the classic battle of good versus evil. He also discussed the literary influences behind Rowling's work, such as classic mythology and politics, which he said is of particular interest to him.

Zdravstvujte! Harry

From Russia-iC, the Russian publishing house Rosman, which publishes Harry Potter books in Russian, will be releasing the Russian version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on October 13th. Russian booksellers are planning big events for the release and most big bookshops will open at midnight on October 12. Rosman believes that all of 1.8 million books of the first printing will be sold out within a week.

Portuguese Potter Gets Release Date!

Potter lovers in Portugal will soon find Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows within their reach. The seventh and final book of the Potter series will be released by Portugese Publisher Editorial Presenca on November 16th, 2007. This edition will contain 609 pages and a title that's a bit of a spoiler, Harry Potter e os Talismas da Morte. In conjunction with the release of the book, a new contest has been launched on their official website. Fans will have a chance to win a free copy of the book or an opportunity to attend the Deathly Hallows book release in Lisbon, Portugal. Take the quiz on the website to enter - however, it helps if you can read Portugese!

David Heyman Looks Ahead

According to Variety online, Harry Potter producer David Heyman is expecting to finish the series of Harry Potter films by 2010 and is keeping an eye on the budding talent populating the franchise. He says the Potter series is not about minting new talent, "If they become that, it's because of their commitment and curiosity to develop their craft. We've given them the platform, but they're here because they're good." David goes on to say, "They're learning by doing and also by watching. Dan, for instance, has talked about what he's learned from Gary Oldman. The older actors are quite generous." Another thing that makes the Potter cast so special, "The smallest part is treated with the same attention and care as the lead roles, not just in the casting, but also the directing."

Provided for you by Jonah Pritchett, Reporter

Phoenix Rises To Second Place

According to statistics from Box Office Mojo, after 83 days in theatres, OotP became the second top grossing Potter film ever! Goblet of Fire is now in third place. Order of the Phoenix has made $290,189,393 while Goblet of Fire stands at $290,013,036. However, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone still leads the pack with a total of over $317 million. Internationally, Order of the Phoenix has brought in an astonishing $643,700,000 contributing to the total worldwide box office receipts of over $933 million.

October 1st, 2007

New BoM, FoM

Another beginning of another month, which brings an all new Official PA Band of the Month and Friend of the Month announcement. This month's Band of the Month is Potter Noyz. Harry and his crew provide rockin' music, as well as a brilliantly wicked podcast. Be sure to check them out on their MySpace page, which can be found in our top friends.
Also in our top friends list, this month's Friend of the Month Tammy. Tammy is a wonderful friend, as well as an awesome mom, so be sure to also check out her page, say hello, and add her to your friends list.

New WoM

Another new month also brings the announcement of J.K.'s Wizard of the Month. The honoured wizard of the month is... none other than Harry Potter himself. "(1980- ) The Boy Who Lived, the only know survivor of the Avada Kedavra curse and conqueror of Lord Voldemort, also known as Tom Riddle. Harry Potter joined the reshuffled Auror Department under Kingsley Shacklebolt at age 17, rising to become Head of said department in 2007."

Terminus Announces Wrock Chicago

The planning team for Terminus, the 5 day Harry Potter conference to be held August 7-11, 2008, has announced a special pre-conference wizard rock concert to be held on Wednesday, August 6th, 2008. The event, called Wrock Chicago, will take place all day at the Hilton Chicago Hotel and include 25 wizard rock bands performing music inspired by Harry Potter. Brian Ross of Draco and the Malfoys, who is providing organizational support for the event, says, "It's a tribute to what these stories mean to our lives that so many people are expressing their love for Harry Potter creatively through music. For all of us to have a venue like Terminus to showcase that for some of the biggest Harry Potter fans in the world is very exciting!" Special event tickets for Wrock Chicago, which are $20 for the entire day and provide access to all stages, are currently on sale to Terminus attendees only. Unsold tickets will be made available to the public next spring and at the door, if any remain at that time. Twenty-four bands are presently confirmed, with the final band being chosen through a contest to be held in February of 2008. Performers include: The Switchblade Kittens, Harry and the Potters, Draco and the Malfoys, The Whomping Willows, The Remus Lupins, The Butterbeer Experience, Catchlove, Celestial Warmbottom, The Chocolate Frogs, The Cruciatus Curse, Danny Dementor, Justin Finch-Fletchley & the Sugar Quills, Ginny and the Heartbreakers, Gred and Forge, The Gringotts Girls, The Hermione Crookshanks Experience, The Hinky Punks, Lord Voldi and the Dark Marks, The Moaning Myrtles, The Mudbloods, The Parselmouths, The Quaffle Kids, Snidget, and Thomas & Finnigan.

Dan Talks Half-Blood

As reported by MTV Movies Blog, Dan recently spoke with MTV about filming for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Dan says, "I'm really looking forward to filming the cave and all the stuff in there with the lake and the Inferi. Me and Michael Gambon in a row boat for a few days. It's gonna be amazing." As to whether or not the entire cave scene will be digital, such as with the underwater GoF scenes, Dan says no. "I thought it was all gonna be largely visual effects, but they have built the cave," he revealed, confirming that the shoot will be all practical. "So it's gonna be very interesting to film." So, what scene is he most looking forward to filming? Dan says it's the one in which Harry's heroism manifests itself in the simple act of telling a friend it's all going to be ok.

DJ For A Day Dan

An unnamed insider revealed to the Mirror that Daniel Radcliffe has signed on to be a guest DJ on Heat Radio. The show owners want him to do more, however, he has only agreed to just one show. That show is scheduled to be launched next month on digital services in the UK and on the internet.

Emma's Has New Shoes To Fill

Annanova reports that Emma Watson is scheduled to star in what will be her first role away from the Harry Potter series, a BBC version of Ballet Shoes. It has been rumoured that her 3 year-old twin sisters, Nina and Lucy, will be joining her in the venture, playing the part of the younger version of her character.

Which Is Jason Isaacs Favourite?

In a recent interview with Variety, Jason Isaacs, who plays Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, answered the question of what books mean the most to him with, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling. Brilliant storytelling that, in many ways, changed my life. Can't wait 'til my girls are old enough for me to read it to them." He went on to say that the number of books he owns is "Uncountable. We don't have enough shelf-space." And what book is he currently reading? Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder - to his 5 year-old daughter Lily, at night.

Harry Works Magic For Charity

According to Aberdeen.co.uk, a rare collection of the Harry Potter books, all seven signed by J.K. Rowling, was expected to raise more than $40,000 for a North-east England charity. The collection was auctioned off on the internet and, after having only been open to bids for just over 48 hours, the books had already attracted bids of $12,000. The collection is said to be so valuable that they are being stored in a police station. Upon the closing of the auction, the books went for a total of $37,200. Steve Read, chairman of Books Abroad, said he was "over the moon" and vowed to use the cash to improve the charity's services to children all over the world.

Provided for you by Jonah Pritchett, Reporter

Potter Stars Attend National Movie Awards

The trio of Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson were confirmed to attend the National Movie Awards in London, England. A big congratulations are in order as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was named "Best Family Film". Also, kudos go to actor Dan Radcliffe who was named "Best Actor" for his performance as Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Trailer For Order DVD

In case you missed it, Leaky provided a first look at the trailer for the upcoming Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix DVD. In this new trailer you can see new footage of behind the scenes looks at things such as the creating of the Centaurs and Neville's Mimbulus Mimbletonia plant, among others. You can see the OotP DVD trailer via Leaky's YouTube channel here. Enjoy!

Educators Who Praise Children For Reading Harry Potter Are Idiots?!

In a recent interview, Ken Stott, the Scottish character actor who portrays the popular Inspector Rebus, launched an odd attack of sorts on educators who favor children reading the Harry Potter novels. The Scotsman quoted Ken as saying, "If we're going to make a fuss about children reading books, do it with Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials books, not J.K. Rowling. I can't believe idiot educationalists are praising children for turning up at school and reading Harry Potter."

In a small bit of irony, the Rebus series are based on works by author Ian Rankin, a longtime friend and neighbor of J.K. Rowling. Mr. Stott continued in his interview about his future, noting "I'll remain a grumpy old man." Well, he's already there.

For the month of December 2008

2009-02-09T12:09:00.000-08:00

December 30th, 2008

Video Of Dan On Actor's Studio

A great big thanks to Emma for sending in this link to the video of Daniel Radcliffe's appearance on Inside the Actor's Studio.

New Hi-Res Stills Online

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

There are 6 new high resolution Half-Blood Prince promotional stills that were released by the WB available for viewing at HP Fan Zone. Click the link above to view them.

Rickman Listed For Queen's Honours

From WizardNews.com:

Alan Rickman is among those due to be listed in the annual Queen's New Years Honours, according to the Daily Mail. Alan Rickman is one of the few from the entertainment industry tipped to get an award.

Snape Like Snakes First Show

From the Editor:

One of our newest wrock friends, Snape Like Snake, has recently uploaded video of his first live show. Check out and view the new Snape Like Snake performance videos on his YouTube channel here.

New Music, New Blog

From the Editor:

Ministry of Magic have uploaded the new tracks to their MySpace playlist "The Bravest Man I Ever Knew", "Gryffindor Rally Cry", and "Goodbye Privet Drive", as well as posting the new blog "Seven Shadows". Other new blog and musical entries include "Am I the only one who’s always tempted to light the wick on top of a beret?" posted by The Department of Rock and "The Hopping Pot", "Worth Fighting For", and "The Peverell Story" uploaded by The Butterbeer Experience.

December 18th, 2008

More Wrock Blogs

From the Editor:

The Misuse Of Muggle Artifacts Office posted a new blog entry titled "Confirmed tracklisting" and Split Seven Ways added a new blog entitled "MORE NEWS, 2008 round-up, and general nattering" and even gave a shout-out to the Official PA. Thanks Zoe!

New Wrock Music

From the Editor:

Snape Like Snake has uploaded some new music tracks called "Filch's Dance", "Save Lily", and "Snape's Christmas". Visit Snape Like Snake's page for a complete tracklist and to listen to "Snape Snape Severus Snape".

December 17th, 2008

Ziegfeld Theatre To Host HP Marathon Beginning This Friday!

From WizardNews.com:

New York's Ziegfeld Theatre will host a marathon of the first five movies in the Harry Potter series from December 19-24. Ticket prices are $7 for children and seniors and $10 for adults.

Beedle Raises Lots For Charity

From HPANA.com:

J.K. Rowling's newest book, Tales of Beedle the Bard, has now sold an amazing 2.6 million copies, helping to raise £4.2m ($6.4m) for the Children's High Level Group, a charity co-founded by J.K. Rowling herself. The new Beedle book has become the fastest selling book of 2008 in the UK, selling 367,625 copies in the first three days alone, since its release on December 4, which may have lead to the rumor that Warner Brothers is already pursuing an opportunity to bring the story to the big screen.

Wrock Around The Rock

From HPANA.com:

HPEF has announced another attraction to the already jam-packed Azkatraz 2009 weekend - "Wrock Around The Rock" is a 4-hour cruise around the San Francisco bay and Alcatraz, featuring performances from The Remus Lupins, The Whomping Willows, and others.

Harry Potter: The Exhibition To Debut In Chicago

From HPANA.com:

Harry Potter fans will finally get a first-hand look at props and set pieces used during filming when "Harry Potter: The Exhibition" opens at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago on April 30, 2009. A video featuring James and Oliver Phelps at the announcement of the exhibit is now online.

Lisbon Wins Lottery

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Mark Lisbon, who doubled for Gary Oldman as Sirius Black in Prisoner Of Azkaban, says that the enormity of the lottery prize money (£7 million or $10.5 million) has not yet sunk in.

New Wrock Blogs, New Music

From the Editor:

The Whomping Willows have posted a new blog entry called "Project For Awesome!", while Harry and the Potters blogged the new entry "New Website! Yule Ball Tix almost gone! Paul's Holiday Mix!" and The Misuse Of Muggle Artifacts Office posted "Dumbledore's Army".

The Cruciatus Curse uploaded their new music tracks "Twas The Night", "A Very Cruciatus Cursemas", and "Magical Christmas Night".

For the month of November 2008

2009-01-19T22:12:00.000-08:00

November 25th, 2008

New Wrock Blogs

From the Editor:

Riddle TM posted a new blog entry titled "Jingle Spells Deux!!! :D", Ministry of Magic posted "Only Power Remains", while Draco and the Malfoys posted "We Are Wizards DVD Available Dec. 6!".

New Webpage From The Headmistress

From the Editor:

Our very own Official PA Headmistress Christina, who is also The Daily Prophet's sponsor and consultant, has created her own web.me page. This new page features "My Escape" and "Atrid's Place". To find out more about her page content take a look here.

Atriumcast Has Moved!

From the Editor:

Marisha's Atriumcast podcast has moved it's feed location. All of the previous episodes can still be found at Podcast Alley, however, all of her new episodes can now be found at ACWRSP. The link to her new feed location can be found in Marisha's "Week in Wrock" article on page 2.

New Podcast From Jessie

From the Editor:

Jessie of The Cursebreakers has an all new podcast called WereWrock Podcast. You can listen to or download episode 1, which is approximately an hour long, here.

November 13th, 2008

No Trewlaney In Deathly Hallows?

From HPANA.com:

Emma Thompson has announced that she will not return to reprise her role as Sybill Trelawney for the two-part Deathly Hallows movies.

Scholastic Announces Beetle the Bard Print Run

From HPANA.com:

The US publisher Scholastic announced they will open with a 3.5 million print run for J.K. Rowling's Tales of Beedle the Bard.

Emma Updates Official Website

From HPANA.com:

Emma Watson has recently updated her official website with news that she is currently trying to apply to universities and that she has already begun preparations for Deathly Hallows by re-reading the book. She writes that, "reading it for a second time has made it no less addictive." Emma will begin filming this coming Feburary.

Despereaux Trailer Now Available

From Veritaserum.com and WizardNews.com:

The theatrical trailer for The Tale of Despereaux, is now available for viewing on YouTube. Emma Watson stars in the animated film, which also co-stars Dustin Hoffman, Sigourney Weaver, Matthew Broderick, and fellow Potter vet Robbie Coltrane. The movie will hit theatres December 19th, just in time for the Christmas holidays.
In other Emma news... Reports have surfaced claiming Emma Watson to be dating an Australian student. Emma met Angus Willoughby while they were both studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. Angus is the son on an Olympic rower and is reported to be a keen sportsman who loves rugby.

For the month of October 2008

2008-12-30T21:20:00.000-08:00

October 5th, 2008

New Wrock Blog

From the Editor:

Creevey Crisis posted a new blog entitled "'Just To Know' lyrics and info".

New Uploaded Tracks

From the Editor:

The latest in uploaded wrock tracks includes "Just To Know", "Weaker Path", and "Stand Up" by Creevey Crisis; and "Deep Underground", "Ouroboros", and "Achilles' Heel The Intro" from The Gringotts Grrls.

New Song From The Grrls

From The Gringotts Grrls:

We've got a new song up, plus a special intro to it. We really love it, so we hope you will, too! Sorry you haven't heard from us in a while - we are really, really busy, between the big concerts coming up and family stuff. But I actually wrote this song a while ago, and it seemed really apt just now somehow or other. It's called "Achilles Heel". Enjoy!

J.K. Tops Forbes List

From HPANA.com:

J.K. Rowling has topped Forbes list of highest paid authors, making an astounding $300 million in the last year, and a whole $450 million more than the second place author James Patterson. This marked another milestone in the life of J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter.

New HBP Pics Online

From HPANA.com:

Snitchseeker has posted numerous new Half-Blood Prince pictures from the Harry Potter 2009 poster sticker book. They include pictures of Harry, Draco, Slughorn, Dumbledore, Ron, Lavender, and more. You can also view their new scans from the HBP calendar here.

Tom Felton's Debut Album Now Available

From HPANA.com:

Tom Felton's new CD, "Time Well Spent", is now available for purchase via Amazon. For the price of $4.95 you can get his five song debut album.

ABC Secures Movie Rights

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

ABC Family has secured exclusive rights to air Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on their basic-cable channel.

Hari Putar Prevails

From Veritaserum.com:

An Indian court rejected Warner Bros.'s lawsuit against the Indian film Hari Puttar, which was filed because the studio felt the title bore too much of a resemblance to Harry Potter. Munish Purii, the CEO of Mirchi Movies, the studio behind the film, said, "It's clearly great to have won this case. We are hoping for a good release although the timing of the Warner case distracted us from marketing."

For the month of September 2008

2008-12-17T16:21:00.000-08:00

September 23rd, 2008

THE OFFICIAL FAN OF THE YEAR CONTEST!

From the Headmistress:

In all the business and hubbub that is our daily lives, Official Harry Potter Day (July 31st) has come and gone. However, we here at the Official Potterholics Annonymous would like to introduce the contest we had intended to introduce then now on this day of celebration for all Potterholics, the tenth anniversary of The Sorcerer's Stone... drumroll please:

THE OFFICIAL FAN OF THE YEAR CONTEST!
From now until December, we will be running trivia, fanart, and fanfic "mini contests". First up, trivia. Collect 500 points in the trivia contest and you will be eligible to enter the fanart/fanfic contest to collect more points. The highest point earner at the end of the contest will be announced the winner and 2008's Fan of the Year!

The "2008 Fan of the Year" will be announced at the Official Potterholics Annonymous Movie Appreciation Day, celebrating the Harry Potter movies in all their glory. Stay tuned for more details on the contest, prize packages, and OPA Movie Appreciation Day.

September 21st, 2008

J.K. Gives £1 Million To Labor Party

From HPANA.com:

J.K. Rowling donated £1 million ($1.83 million) to the Labor Party in the United Kingdom, in a rather personal appeal she hopes will highlight the plight of the poor. Prime Minister Gordon Brown's ruling party is facing strong opposition from the Conservative Party and J.K.'s very public interjection may help sway the public's favor.

Heyman And Thewlis Collaborate On A Different Adaptation

From HPANA.com:

David Heyman and David Thewlis have collaborated outside J.K. Rowling's universe to make a film based on a very different kind of book - The Boy In The Striped Pajamas by John Boyne. It is a powerful story of a young boy who befriends, through a barbed-wire fence near his home, a Jewish boy being held in a concentration camp in which his Nazi father (David Thewlis) works.

DETAILS Offers Potter Premiere Contest

From HPANA.com:

DETAILS magazine, which features Daniel Radcliffe on its cover this month, is running a contest to win a trip for two to the New York premiere of Half-Blood Prince next summer. Entrants must be at least 21 years of age.

Rupert Grint To Star In New Movie

From HPANA.com:

Rupert Grint is set to star in Wild Target along with Emily Blunt and Bill Nighy. He will portray Antoine, a young apprentice for expert hitman Nighy. The film, which is based on the 1993 French film Cible Emouvante, is scheduled to start filming in London and the Isle of Man on September 16th.

Sorcerer's Stone Commerative Read-A-Thon

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Scholastic's "Harry Potter Cover to Cover Day", a Sorcerer's Stone read-a-thon in honor of the book's 10th Anniversary, is readily approaching. The event will take place in New York City on Tuesday. Fans and celebrities who attend will collectively read the first book cover-to-cover while sitting in the throne that J.K. Rowling sat in at Carengie Hall. A live webcast will be at this link.

Rupert Grint Best Movie Side Kick

From Ice Cream Man:

Yahoo! Movies has been ranking movies, actors, etc., including 'best movie sidekicks'. Rupert Grint's alter-ego Ron Weasley made the list. You can look who else made the list here. Rupert shares the list with some of the other best movie sidekicks ever including Samwise from Lord of the Rings and Chewbacca from Star Wars.

Appeal In Lexicon Case In The Works

From Veritaserum.com:

In a somewhat unexpected twist in the battle between J.K. Rowling and RDR Books over a printed version of the Harry Potter Lexicon, the losers in the case (publisher Roger Rapoport and Lexicon creator Steve Vander Ark) are laying the groundwork to appeal the decision handed down from a U.S. district judge last week, according to the Detroit Free Press. Vander Ark said that he maintains interest in ultimately publishing the book after editing it to avoid charges of excessive copying. He said, "I've always been very much willing to work with [JK] and try to see what can be done." Rapoport was more circumspect in his view of the decision, saying, "Obviously, it was not the outcome we had hoped for or wanted."

For the month of August 2008

2008-08-31T14:56:00.000-07:00

August 31st, 2008

New Songs, New Blogs

From the Editor:

Blue & Yellow Wand uploaded a new track entitled "Quaffle Ball on CD".

The Gringotts Grrls posted several new blog entries "Macarana at the Whompping Willow's concert", "Terminus", "Nagini at Terminus singing 'James Potter'" and "Jam session at the North Castle Library, August 18".

IMAX Screening At Azkatraz

From HPANA.com:

Many people's plans were thrown into disarray by the delay of Half-Blood Prince until next summer. But when one door shuts, another opens - HP Fan Trips announced this evening that they have secured a cast member from Equus to participate in an exclusive workshop following the included performance; and Azkatraz has announced plans for an exclusive IMAX screening of Half-Blood Prince, which now conveniently coincides with their conference in 2009.

Images from 2009 calendar & new Luna doll

From HPANA.com:

Even though the Half-Blood Prince movie has been rescheduled for July 2009, merchandise featuring images from the movie are still being produced. The 2009 calendar featuring images of Bellatrix, Slughorn, and many more have hit the net. Also, Tonner Doll Collection have released a new Luna doll in their fall/holiday collection.

Emma's Italian Vogue

From HPANA.com:

This month's issue of Italian Vogue features an Emma Watson photo shoot. Scans from the issue are now available online.

SyFy Genre Awards

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Emma Watson won the 2008 SyFy Genre Award for 'Best Actress/Movie' for her work in Order of the Phoenix, which also won 'Best Movie'. J.K. Rowling also won an award, 'The Gene Roddenberry Lifetime Achievement Award'. Congratulations everyone!

Dan Talks Equus With Conan

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Click here to see a video of Daniel Radcliffe talking about Equus on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Dan appeared on the show August 25th.

Warner Bros. sues Indian producer

From WizardNews.com:

A Mumbai-based producer/distributor has been sued by Warner Bros. for the title of its upcoming film Hari Puttar - A Comedy of Terrors, which they believe is a too similar to Harry Potter. Hari Puttar, a comedy that centres on a 10-year-old Indian boy whose family moves to England, is slated for a September 12th release.

Head of dyspraxia group thanks Dan

From WizardNews.com:

When Daniel Radcliffe spoke publicly about having dyspraxia recently it was the first time many people had ever heard of it. Warren Fried, executive director of Dyspraxia USA, is grateful Dan has talked openly, "Finally, people are interested in what I've been trying to explain to them for the past 27 years."

Worst Teacher = Dolores Umbridge

From WizardNews.com:

To counter their post on the 15 most inspiring teachers in the movies, The Times has now posted the 15 worst, teachers no one would enjoy being taught by. Topping the list at number one is Dolores Umbridge. She may be a vision in pink, but Professor Umbridge is not just cruel, she's downright evil.

August 26th, 2008

New Blogs, New Songs

From the Editor:

Alas Earwax! posted two new blogs entitled "Alas, Goodbye?" and "It's true! IT'S ALL TRUE!". Other new blogs include Kingsley & the Shacklebolts "Recording the New Album - Part One", The Ministry of Magic "Video Contest - iTunes - Terminus", Roger Davies "Dance Time?!?", Memories & Jersey "Max Bemis", Split Seven Ways"(a belated) wrock anniversary post, and more!", and Blibbering Humdingers "New CD, sort of".

Kingsley & the Shacklebolts also uploaded the new track "Divination", The Ministry Fighters uploaded a new track called "Kiss Me", Roger Davies added the new track "Department of Mysteries", and The Butterbeer Experience uploaded their new track "Luna Collab with RiddleTM" - check out our CD of the week for Riddle TM whose blog and song post reflect the same.

August 20th, 2008

New Songs, New Blogs, & Other

From the Editor:

Kingsley & the Shacklebolts have posted two new songs: "Just Like Potter" and "The Prince". Memories & Jersey and The Cruciatus Curse have also both uploaded new tracks entitled "Dear A S" and "PREVIEW Bertie Botts PREVIEW", respectively.

Harry and the Potters posted two new blog entries entitled "Unlimited Enthusiasm is Over|THANK YOU!" and "Wizards and Muggles Rock for Social Justice Vol. 2 OUT NOW!".

Roger Davies is starting a vlog. You can check out more info in his blog... yes, he loves rhymes.

Wizard and Witchcraft Entertainment have posted a blog entitled "Wizard Weekend Stage Schedule" outlining, you guessed it, the schedule for the Wizard Weekend. Check out HP EVENTS section here on the front page for the dates and location of the event.

What About The Videogame?

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

When asked how the new release date for the Half-Blood Prince film would affect the videogame, an Electronic Arts spokesperson told HPFZ, "We are making a great game that Harry Potter fans will really enjoy... we are evaluating the impact of the movie date change." The game was (and still is) slated to be released November 13th in the US and November 14th worldwide.

Rupert says kissing Emma would be like snogging his sister

From WizardNews.com:

While most boys would give their right arm for a kiss with Emma Watson, Rupert Grint has revealed that he is terrified of locking lips with her. "The kiss will be quite uncomfortable," the Sun quoted him as saying. "Emma's like a sister to me so it's going to be, like, really, really weird."

Jo Wins Award

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

The Mythopoeic Society has awarded J.K. Rowling the 2008 Mythopoec Fantasy Award for Children's Literature. Read about the awards here.

August 15th, 2008

New Wrock Blogs

From the Editor:

Riddle TM has a new blog entitled "HBP set back to JULY?!", The Cruciatus Curse posted a new blog entry entitled "Question for people who can draw!" and The Whomping Willows posted a new blog entitled "Smashed Guitar Auction!".

HBP Release Date Pushed Back!

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Warner Bros. announced yesterday that the release date for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been moved from November 21, 2008 to July 17, 2009. Warner Bros. feels that the move will benefit the series by bringing in more viewers being in the summer - of the previous HP films, the summer release out-grossed the winter releases. This coupled with the effects of the writer's strike and next summer's schedule prompted the move.

HBP In New EW

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

The cover story for Entertainment Weekly's Fall Movie Preview is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Inside the magazine is an enticing set report complimented by new photos which include our first look at Narcissa Malfoy and Lavender Brown. View a full scan of the article here.

5 New HBP Images

From HPANA.com:

While some Potter fans may be bemoaning the fact that it will be many months before seeing Half-Blood Prince on the big screen, 5 new images from the movie have appeared online. You can view the new images here.

Emma Scores Well

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Congratulations to Emma Watson for receiving straight A's on all three of her A-level exams: English Literature, Geography, and Art.

Walk A Mile In Harry's Shoes

From WizardNews.com:

After doing so last year, Daniel Radcliffe is giving away his shoes for charity yet again. He is donating his footwear to the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation's De-Feet Lung Cancer campaign. The shoes will be auctioned off starting on September 12.

August 13th, 2008

New Wrock Blogs

From the Editor:

The Butterbeer Experience has a new blog entitled "Terminus/ iTunes/ Happiness". Also, Romilda Vane and the Chocolate Cauldrons posted a new blog entry entitled "T-t-t-TERMINUS!" and Chaos of the Phoenix posted a new blog entitled "Realms Hitherto Unknown - Song Notes".

New Wrock Tracks

From the Editor:

Chaos of the Phoenix uploaded a new track entitled "Realms Hitherto Unknown".

Are You 18-24 Years Old & Want To Participate In An HP Survey?

From HPANA.com:

FSU is looking for volunteers to take part in a study seeking to identify reasons why young readers are motivated to read the Harry Potter books (not why adults think kids read them). If you were born between 1984 and 1990 and read all seven Harry Potter books as they were released beginning in 1999, then click here to take part in this two part survey. Part 1 consists of an online survey data collection running now through August 31, 2008; Part 2 will be an interview via phone or internet with volunteers selected from those submitting completed Phase 1 surveys to be done in September 2008. You can email Colette Drouillard at Drouillard@ci.fsu.edu to receive a summary of these results.

Emma Discusses Style With Bazaar

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

The September edition of Harper's Bazaar magazine includes quotes from Emma Watson about her favorite styles and designs.

Alan Rickman Keeps Mum On Snape

From WizardNews.com:

Alan Rickman refuses to talk about his Harry Potter character Severus Snape for fear of ruining the magic about Hogwarts' Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts. He said, "I never talk about Harry Potter because I think that would rob children of something that's private to them. Until it's over, it should be left uncommented."

One Step Closer To The Invisibility Cloak

From WizardNews.com:

Scientists say they are one step closer to creating an invisibility cloak like the one in the Harry Potter books, after showing that a new material can bend visible light the wrong way for the first time in three dimensions. The structure of the material bends visible light in a way that ordinary materials cannot.

August 10th, 2008

Beetle The Bard To Be Published

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

It has been announced that The Tales of Beedle the Bard, the set of fairy tales J.K. penned and illustrated herself, will be published on December 4, 2008. Both editions of the book will include commentary from Professor Dumbledore.

Ministry of Magic decrees appear outside of HP theme park

From HarryPotterFanZone.com and HPANA.com:

Ministry of Magic decrees have appeared on construction walls for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida. The first one says, "Magic at work. Your patience is requested." Also, Universal Orlando has just posted new concept art on the WWoHP website for the Three Broomsticks pub and a new poll asking which magical refreshment you would prefer to order - Butterbeer is the current overwhelming choice over Pumpkin Juice.

As an added note, you may notice on the website that the opening is now listed as 2010 and any mention of the previously stated 2009 opening date has been removed.

Daily Prophet Editor cast for HBP film

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Casting Call Pro lists Roger C. Bailey as playing the role of Barnabas Cuffe in Half-Blood Prince. Cuffe is Editor of the Daily Prophet and was part of Professor Slughorn's Slug Club.

HP edition of Clue out this fall

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Hasbro will release Clue: The Harry Potter Edition this fall. In related news, Running Press will release a Wizard's Wand and Sticker Book Mega Mini Kit ahead of the sixth film.

Robbie Coltrane on wanted poster in New Zealand?

From WizardNews.com:

Robbie Coltrane's face is on a bizarre Wanted poster in New Zealand. Police are searching for a 16-year-old thief, but New Zealand law prevents them from publishing photos of young offenders. "Robbie Coltrane is not the burglar," the leaflet states, "But imagine him aged 16 with lank greasy hair."

IBM creates working Pensieve

From WizardNews.com:

This week, IBM unveiled software that uses images, sounds, and text recorded on everyday mobile devices to help people recall names, faces, conversations and events. Dubbed Pensieve, the software organizes bits of collected information, stores them and then helps the user extract them later on.

For the month of July 2008

2008-08-25T20:22:00.000-07:00

July 22nd, 2008

New HBP Pic Of Harry/Slughorn

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

There's a new picture, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly, of Harry and Professor Slughorn from Half-Blood Prince. You can check it out in the Harry Potter Fan Zone galleries.

HBP IMAX Teaser Now Online

From HPANA:

Just in case you are one of the few who won't be going to see the new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight," in an IMAX theatre this weekend, you can now view the 15-second teaser trailer we told you about previously for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" on YouTube.

Fans Pay Big Bucks To Stay In J.K.'s Suite

From WizardNews.com:

The Edinburgh hotel suite where J.K. Rowling completed the Harry Potter series has become a mecca for fans across the world, at almost £1000 a night. Renamed 'The J.K. Rowling Suite', it still contains the marble bust she triumphantly signed after completing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in January of last year.

J.K. Joins Protest of Age Guidance Limits

From WizardNews.com:

J.K. Rowling is joining hands with fellow fantasy writer Philip Pullman in a bid to block plans by publishers to put age guidance limits on books. Pullman is just one of the authors and illustrators livid about the move, which would see kids' books getting age limits rather like what the movies have today.

Muggle Construction Moves Platform 9 3/4

From WizardNews.com:

Platform 9 and 3/4 will be shifted later this year to allow construction work on the West side of King's Cross station in London, according to Jon Burden, the former Duty Station Manager at King's Cross. The enchanted platform will be relocated to the front of the station, close to the ticket office, in September.

July 17th, 2008

The Original Fat Lady Passes Away

From WizardNews.com:

Sad news Potter fans, Elizabeth Spriggs, who played the Fat Lady in Sorcerer's Stone, passed away at the age of 78 on July 2nd in Oxfordshire. She was best known in the UK for her roles in plays on London's West End, TV dramas including Doctor Who, and she was a long-time member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Movie Magic Magazine's HBP Guide

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

The summer edition of Movie Magic magazine features a complete guide to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The guide includes inside info from the producers, designers, actors and trainers, some of which has been scanned and can be seen here.

HBP Videogame Official Site & Trailer

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Electronic Arts launched the official site for the HBP videogame. You can now read a game overview, sign up to get game news, and watch the teaser trailer. Most of the site's interactive features are still to come, but you can view what they have here. And the official teaser trailer for the HBP videogame is now online at Yahoo. The official release date of the HBP videogame is November 13th in the US and November 14th in Europe.

Lots More New High-Res Half-Blood Pics

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Warner Bros. and Moviefone have released a number of new high-resolution pictures from Half-Blood Prince. Many are new, others are high-res versions of the USA Today pictures. You can view all of them in the HPFZ gallery.

Dan In 'TimesTalks'

From HPANA.com:

Fans of Daniel Radcliffe will have a chance to see the actor in person when he takes part in the New York Times staff-moderated 'TimesTalks' event in New York City on Tuesday, August 19th, from 6:30-8 pm. Tickets are available through the TimesTalks website.

Emma Wins Constellation

From HPANA.com:

Emma Watson won the 'Best Female Performance in a 2007 Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, or Mini-Series' award at this year's Constellation Awards, which was held in Toronto, Canada, on July 12th.

Voldemort Top Movie Villain

From WizardNews.com:

Ralph Fiennes has been named the top movie villain of all time, receiving the honor for his role as Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films. Alan Rickman, for his portrayal of baddie Hans Gruber in Die Hard came in at number 8.

For the month of June 2008

2008-07-15T23:56:00.000-07:00

June 24th, 2008

International Release Dates Confirmed

From Veritaserum.com:

Warner Bros. has confirmed 60 international release dates for the film adaptation of Half-Blood Prince, which will open in American and British theatres on this November 21st.
The first to see the movie - Egyptian and Belgian fans, followed by German, Greek and other countries. You can view the full release dates list at Veritaserum.

Michigan Kids Enjoy HP Day

From WizardNews.com:

The Hudson Community Library in Michigan held its second-ever "Harry Potter Day" Friday afternoon, offering games, trivia and prizes surrounding the popular book series about the adventures of a boy wizard as a way to encourage middle and high school students to read. Cloak-wearing sisters Heather and Jennica Smith organized the party.

Another Terminus Update

From the Editor:

Danny Dementor is now slated to be playing at Terminus. Terminus will be held August 7 - 11, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. A link to the official Terminus site can be found in the HP Events sidebar on the front page.

New Wrock Tracks

From the Editor:

The Moaning Myrtles have uploaded a new track entitled "Cedric" to their page, while Justin Finch-Fletchley & The Sugar Quills uploaded his newest track "Eff the Ministry".

New Wrock Blog Updates and Pics

From the Editor:

There are new blog updates from Harry & the Potters entitled "Celebrate 6 Years of Harry & the Potters! OMG!" and from The Moaning Myrtles entitled "New songs and a CD cover!". New pics have been added to The Moaning Myrtles' album Summer 2008, as well as to the Grindylow's album My Photos.

June 20th, 2008

GoF In EW's New Classics Books List

From HPANA.com:

With the 1,000th issue of Entertainment Weekly on newstands today, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is included at the #2 spot on their "New Classics Books" list.

Radcliffe & Griffiths at Tony awards

From HPANA.com:

Sunday night in New York, Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths attended the Tony awards where they presented the award for "Best Play". Photos and video from the event are now online at several different sites.

Rumors Debunked

From the Editor:

There have been several different rumors running rampant online lately which, sorry Potterholics, are indeed totally untrue. The HBP video game does not have an early release date, Emma Watson is not the new face of Chanel, and J.K. did not write a script for a short film for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Theme Park at Universal Orlando.

June 15th, 2008

HP Prequel Now Online

From HPANA.com:

The shorter-than-short Harry Potter prequel by author J.K. Rowling is now available to read online at Waterstone's website (once there, click "Read our authors' stories" and then select J.K. Rowling's name). The story, handwritten on the front and back of a note card, was one of 12 from various authors auctioned for the bookseller's "What's Your Story?" charity fundraiser. Rowling's went for nearly $50,000.

* NOTE from the Editor - If anyone has difficulty reading Jo's writing, I have provided a typed version which is available on Magykal.

*UPDATE - Within the first 20 hours that Waterstone's placed the prequel online, more than 70,000 fans viewed the story.

New Harry/Ginny Pic!

From HPANA.com:

A new image featuring Harry and Ginny in a hug from Half-Blood Prince has appeared online. Other new promotional images popped up at the Licensing International Expo which took place in New York City. Included at the event were previews of promotional items and merchandise for Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince. You can view these images here.

Trelawney Disappears

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

According to SnitchSeeker.com, Emma Thompson will not appear in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince as Professor Trewlaney.

J.K Rowling Commencement Speech

From HarryPotterFanZone.com and HPANA.com:

J.K Rowling spoke to graduates at Harvard University. In her speech, she touched on how imagination is very important to her, and how failure is almost always necessary to succeed. "We do not need magic to transform our world," she said. A video, audio, and transcript version of the speech, courtesy of Harvard Magazine, can all be found here.

Helen McCrory on BBC 4 Radio

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Helen McCrory was recently interviewed by BBC 4 Radio. In the interview, she discussed the character of Narcissa Malfoy and speaks about the production of Half-Blood Prince.

Scientists closer to making real invisibility cloak

From WizardNews.com:

A mathematician at the University of Utah has revealed that experts trying to realise a superlens cloak in laboratories have achieved some surprising and exciting results, but admits they are still very far off from inventing a workable device able hide an object in the same way the cloaking devices in Star Trek and Harry Potter films did.

Rumor: Dan Radcliffe in running for Bilbo Baggins

From WizardNews.com:

Director Guillermo del Toro recently spoke with IGN about when the lead role in The Hobbit. In the course of calling all the rumors false, he listed Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe as one of the actors who has not yet gotten the role, leading many to believe he is, indeed, in the running for this most sought-after part.

Kobe Bryant Turns To Harry For Support?

From Veritaserum.com:

Instead of focusing on his team's recent troubles vying for the NBA championship, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant said that he read five chapters of the Harry Potter books to his daughters to get his mind off the stress. He said, "They just wanted me to read them and I swear, it was awesome. He had more problems dealing with Voldemort than we have dealing with the media and the Celtics."

Authors unhappy about UK book age sticker plan

From WizardNews.com:

Next year, some publishers in the UK are planning to put age labels on the covers of kids' books. Lots of top authors, including Philip Pullman and Jacqueline Wilson, thinks it's a bad idea. Hundreds of authors have signed an online petition, because they think kids will be afraid to try books for older kids, and get teased if they read books for younger ages.

June 1st, 2008

Jo pens HP prequel for charity!

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

JK Rowling has written an 800-word prequel to the Harry Potter series for a charity auction benefiting English Pen and Dyslexia Action. The prequel is said to feature "the fictional wizard's father James and his friend Sirius Black in their younger years." A copy of the prequel will be available online after the auction on June 10th and will also be sold in a book containing all 13 auction contributions come August. JK later updated her site to say that the Harry Potter prequel "takes place around 3 years before Harry is born." She adds, "Although I did feel a bit like a relapsing addict as I sat down to write - the words poured from my pen with frightening ease - I am NOT working on a prequel. Indeed, I've written that clearly at the bottom of the card itself".

New HBP Photos!

From Veritaserum.com:

This past weekend, two new photos from Half-Blood Prince surfaced, one showing Harry standing pensively in a hallway with a stained glass window and the other showing the confrontation between Snape, Malfoy, and Filch at Slughorn's Christmas party. These are in addition to three other new photos showing the trio in the Gryffindor Common Room, in Ron's bedroom, and Draco and Snape in a corridor. You can check out all these latest pics courtesy of Oclumencia's gallery.

* UPDATE - Please note that these photos have now been removed.

Jo 3rd most influential woman in UK

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

A new survey by the Leaders in London international leadership summit found J.K. Rowling to be considered the 3rd most influential woman in the UK, preceded only by Margaret Thatcher (2nd) and Queen Elizabeth II (1st). 1,000 business leaders were questioned for the survey.

John Hurt hints he'd like to be in Hallows

From WizardNews.com:

John Hurt, who played Mr. Ollivander in Sorcerer's Stone, says he hopes to return for the final installment of the boy wizard franchise Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which will be split into two films. Hurt says, "I didn't spend a lot of time on the Harry Potter film, but I might be spending more time there next time. We'll see."

New Astrid's Message

From Astrid Celestia

I'm very sorry I haven't gotten up any new blogs yet. I have a few reading journals and the new Myth and Mistery article all ready to go but sadly haven't had time to type it into my journal. Things have been crazy around here (and let me tell you the gnomes don't help at all! They are so hard to get rid of) but I will be back with plenty of content in a week or so. Hang in there and remain forever... Potterholic and Proud! ~Astrid Celestia, "Not all who wander are aimless."

New Wrock Blogs and Music

From the Editor:

The Whomping Willows has posted a new blog entry entitled "Canadian Mini-Tour Starts Friday! Important Info!", while Justin Finch-Fletchley & The Sugar Quills posted a new blog entitled "JFF's Wrockstock Vlog", Kingsley and the Shacklebolts posted "New CD Track Listing and Other Info", and The Swinging Staircase Sisters posted "Wrote a few New Songs". The Remus Lupins added a new track to their page called "Seven Potters".

For the month of May 2008

2008-05-14T21:38:00.001-07:00

May 28th, 2008

Robert Knox Tragically Killed

Submitted by SetMaat

According to Telegraph.co.uk, 18 year old Robert Knox (on right, with mother and brother Jamie), who plays Ravensclaw student Marcus Belby, was celebrating the completion of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince near his home Saturday night when he was brutally stabbed by a young man armed with two knives. The man had earlier been thrown out of the bar for accusing others of nicking his mobile phone. Robert Knox was understood to have been trying to step in and save his 16 year old brother Jamie.

Monday police charged 21 year old Karl Bishop with the murder of Robert Knox. Bishop appeared at Bexley Magistrates Court today.

New Blogs, New Music Tracks

From the Editor:

There are new blog updates from The House of Black, Colin & the Creeveys and Wizard and Witchcraft Entertainment... and you can now find out from Peeved "What's in Jack's Field Today".

Creevey Crisis uploaded a new track entitled "Two Loves", while Colin & the Creeveys uploaded their new track "Following You".

May 26th, 2008

May 23rd, 2008

New OOTP studio shots, movie stills, and photos

From HarryPotterFanZone.com

Over the past couple of weeks, Oclumencia has been posting fantastic new images from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix which include studio shots, movie stills, and behind-the-scenes photos. You can view the Occlumencia gallery here.

Amazon announces Beedle the Bard winner

From HarryPotterFanZone.com

Rhiannon D. of Australia has been named the winner of Amazon's "Beedle the Bard Ballad Writing Contest". She and a friend will be flown to London to spend a weekend with J.K. Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

May 21st, 2008

New HBP Photo of Harry

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

A new photo of Harry from Half-Blood Prince has surfaced online. In the photo, Harry is searching through a trunk with the letter "S" emblazoned on the side. Picture from the galleries Harry Potter Fan Zone.

Tom's Music To Be On iTunes

From Veritaserum.com:

Over the past three months, Tom Felton has posted several videos of himself performing his own songs on a guitar on his YouTube channel Feltbeats. Now, in his latest video, Tom says that some of his songs will soon be available on iTunes.

John Williams May Compose For HBP

From WizardNews.com:

John Williams will be in Boston reuniting with his old friends at the Boston Pops while he premieres selections from his soundtrack to the new Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. According to industry reports, he remains a busy man with soundtracks including Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on his schedule.

Sorcerer's Stone Anniversary Edition

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Scholastic has announced that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone will be released in a special anniversary edition on September 23rd. It will feature "exclusive bonus material from J.K. Rowling, as well as new cover art and a four-color frontispiece by Mary Grandpre." You can view the new cover art here.

Julie Walters To Play Infamous Campaigner In New Drama

From WizardNews.com:

Julie Walters will play campaigner Mary Whitehouse, who embarked on a one-woman mission to clean up British television, in the new BBC drama The Mary Whitehouse Story.

A Reminder From Marked as His Equal

From Marked as His Equal:

Both my albums - My Scars Speak Volumes and Never Say Goodbye - are available on my website and for download through the player on the page! Also, I've been blogging a lot, and there's some really informative stuff in there, so come by and say hi! Wrock on! Mark, Marked as His Equal

Ohio Show Tonight!

From The Moaning Myrtles:

HI guys! We just wanted to remind you about our show tonight, May 21st! It's in Newark, OH and it starts at 7pm.
It's with The Butterbeer Experience, The Parselmouths, The Whomping Willows, and Justin Finch Fletchley! Check our MySpace for more information. We hope to see you guys there!

May 15th, 2008

DH To Begin Filming Later This Year

From HPANA.com:

The Scottish Highlands and Islands Film Commission are reporting today that filming for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be shot in Lochaber, Scotland later this year.

JKR = Author of the Year

From HPANA.com:

J.K. Rowling received the Author of the Year award for Deathly Hallows at the first annual Children's Choice Book Awards at a gala in New York City.

Moaning Myrtle Cut From Half-Blood Prince

From WizardNews.com:

Shirley Henderson's agency has confirmed, "I'm sorry to report that Moaning Myrtle has not made it into the latest film." This means that Moaning Myrtle won't console Draco Malfoy after Harry performs the Sectumsempra spell on the Slytherin baddie.

New Twilight Photos

From WizardNews.com:

There are now 10 new images from the film Twilight, in which Robert Pattinson plays a young teenage vampire who doesn't have fangs and doesn't drink human blood. He falls in love, but of course, there are also mortal vampire enemies coming after him.

These photos can be viewed here, however, please be aware that we do not recommend this site for younger viewers.

Kids - Whimsic Alley Wants You

From WizardNews.com:

Whimsic Alley in Santa Monica is hosting a series of video interviews with kids ages 8-14 who love the Harry Potter series. This Sunday, Expanded Books will be at Whimsic Alley filming these interviews on behalf of the publisher. They are looking for kids ages 8-14, who have read some or all of the Harry Potter book series.

New Song From Potter Noyz

From Potter Noyz:

Well, sorry it's been such a long time since we've posted anything. Sometimes school, wrock, quidditch, fighting deatheaters, and everything else can be a bit overwhelming. Add to that some technical issues, and... well, you get the picture. Anyways, we're very pleased to be returning to the World Wide Web. We have a brand new episode of HPWR2 coming out soon. It will feature our Potter Noyz original song, Hogwarts, A History, which we've posted to our homepage for your listening enjoyment. Give it a listen at www.myspace.com/potternoyz.

New Song From 2 Cauldrons and a Broomstick

From 2 Cauldrons and a Broomstick:

The wrock band 2 Cauldrons and a Broomstick has a new song posted entitled "The Ending (When I Wake Up)". Swing by their page www.myspace.com/2cauldronsandabroomstick to give it a listen and please tell them what you think.

May 13th, 2008

New set report & pic of Malfoy

From HPANA.com:

A new report from the set of the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie has appeared online, in which the author describes meeting Daniel Radcliffe and Tom Felton and visiting the Great Hall, the Burrow, and Diagon Alley.

Scholastic updates site with new Wizard Challenge, games

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

In honor of Mother's Day, a new Wizard Challenge titled "Magnificent Mums" has been added to Scholastic's official website. In addition, several new games have been added to the publisher's website, including Potter Swap, Polyjuice Pairs, and Magical Matches.

J.K. storycard to be auctioned for charity

From WizardNews.com:

J.K. Rowling is one of 13 authors producing a "storycard" written on a blank A5 sheet as part of a charity auction in London. Proceeds from the June 10th event, called "What's Your Story?", will be donated to English PEN and Dyslexia Action, said an e-mailed statement by Waterstone's.

Phoenix Spot receives Golden Trailer

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

At the 9th annual Golden Trailer Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday, the Order of the Phoenix TV spot won the award for "Best Animation/Family TV Spot". It was up against TV spots for Ratatouille, Horton Hears a Who, and The Golden Compass.

Pirate Party in Lodi NJ

From Wizard and Witchcraft Entertainment:

This Saturday there will be a Pirate Party for one of the charities that is closest to my heart. The entertainment will be wonderful, there will be a lot of prizes and some surprises. This is going to be one of the best shows of the year so try not to miss it and remember it is an all age event so everyone can attend. Posted By: Kay's Bawdy House of Wicked Pleasures, Hosted By: Phoenix Flame Entertainment,
When: Saturday May 17, 2008 at 6:00 PM, Where: Lodi Portuguese American Club, 180 Hamilton Avenue, Lodi, NJ 07644

Guess What?

From Marked By His Equal:

I have a new record! I have an old record! I have a couple new blogs of the really, really random variety! So, come by and say hi, wouldja? I promise I'll say hi back! Wrock on!
Mark, Marked as His Equal

May 8th, 2008

Aerial Video of HBP Sets

BBC News recently posted a short video showing aerail footage of the several sets for the new Half-Blood Prince film at Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire. This interesting video, which shows a Hogwarts courtyard, the Burrow, the Hogwarts Express, Privet Drive, and more can be seen here.

Minor HBP characters cast

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Casting Call Pro is listing several actors set to play minor characters in the 6th Harry Potter film. Dean Garnham will appear as a Slytherin student, Teresa Mahoney as "Sofie", Lord Johnpaul Castrianni as a Death Eater, and Daniel Barnett as a Slughorn Ball Graduate.

Phoenix nominated for an MTV Movie Award

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

The famous kiss between Dan Radcliffe and Katie Leung in Order of the Phoenix has been nominated for an MTV Movie Award in the Best Kiss category. The 2008 MTV Movie Awards will be broadcast live on June 1st at 8 PM EST.

J.K Rowling Wins Privacy Case

From HPANA.com:

Last year, J.K. Rowling lost the privacy rights case involving her son. Ms. Rowling appealed the decision and has won the appeal. The case revolved around the publication of long-lens photographs taken of her son when he was 18 months old in 2004.

J.K Rowling honoured in CMO Hall of Fame

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

J.K Rowling has been included in a list of 10 mothers who have "achieved greatness in their respective careers, while simultaneously maintaining their roles as exemplary mothers." She is the only non-American to receive a spot on the Hall of Fame, being described as an honourary "Global" inductee.

Help Lena!

From Marisha:

From Lena's MySpace blog, she is asking all of you for your help. As part of Phase 3 of her plan to work with composing music for the HP score, she is asking you to send letters to David Yates at Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, Waverly House,
7-12 Noel St., London W1F8GQ, UK. Feel free to email her a copy of your letter when you're done, she'd love to read them. Lena's 19th birthday is this coming up on May 9th and she says "your help would be the most amazing gift I could ever ask for!"

1/2 Wrock Show - May 17th in Las Vegas!

From Mirror of Erised:

Not an official wrock show, but I'm performing next Saturday, May 17, 2008! Time: 7:00 PM, Where: reJAVAnate Coffee, 3300 E Flamingo at Pecos, Las Vegas, Nevada 89121
(4 Miles east of 'the strip'). I've had to cancel many of my 2008 wrock shows due to financial reasons, but when I can perform locally, or nearby in SoCal, UT or AZ, I'll jump! A good part of my show will consist of my original muggle music, but I will also be performing Mirror Of Erised wrock music too.

Pittsburgh Area Wizards May Meeting!

From Rose:

Hosted By: Pittsburgh Area Wizards PAW, When: Tuesday May 20, 2008 at 5:30 PM, Where: Tom's Diner South Side
1719 E., Carson Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|39 15203,

New Version of Weirdwolf!

From Patrick of the Hinky Punks:

The Hinky Punks have released a new version of their song "Weirdwolf". Visit their page at www.thehinkypunks.com to give it a listen and let Patrick know what you think.

May 6th, 2008

Young Lucius Malfoy Cast For HBP

From HarryPotterFanZone.com & BlogHogwarts.com:

Tony Coburn will play Young Lucius Malfoy in Half-Blood Prince. Coburn previously played Ebenezer Scrooge in a stage production of A Christmas Carol and was also a presenter for the BBC children's series Totally Doctor Who.

New Pic Of Robert Pattison As Edward

From Empire online:

Twilight, the film based on the horror-romance books by Stephanie Meyer, has released the first official cast photo, showing Robert Pattison as the vampire Edward.

New Article From Astrid

From the Editor:

Our own Daily Prophet columnist Astrid Celestia has created an all new article entitled "Reading Journal". Her first entry is a review of the book Twilight by Stephanie Meyers. Check out Astrid's review here.

Harvard Students Say J.K. IS "Just A Flash In The Pan"

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

Several Harvard students have expressed concern that J.K. Rowling's commencement address at the institution on June 5th will not be "impressive enough". One student said, "Harry Potter, and JK Rowling, is just a flash in the pan. Writing bedtime stories is lame, just ask Tolkien and CS Lewis."

Golden Bravo Otto Awards

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

At the 2008 Bravo Supershow this past weekend, Dan Radcliffe and Emma Watson won Golden Bravo Otto awards in the male and female filmstar categories, respectively, for their work on Harry Potter.

Tena Talks Tonks And Reacts To 7th Book

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

At Collectormania 13 this past weekend, Natalia Tena said that the only scene she filmed for her role as Tonks in Half-Blood Prince was the attack on the Burrow, a new scene added by Warner Bros. Tena also spoke about her reaction to the 7th book, specifically the wedding scene.

Steve Vander Ark Wishes It Were Different

From WizardNews.com:

From the witness stand, Steve Vander Ark directed beseeching glances toward Rowling, who was sitting a few yards away. "I really wish we had had a different kind of meeting," he said later. "There were a couple times I kind of gave her a half-smile. She didn't smile back. I am an outcast now. But I still consider myself a Harry Potter fan."

May 1st, 2008

Hog's Head Under Construction At HP Theme Park

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

New photos of the construction occuring on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter show what appears to be the Hog's Head going up. Additional photos of vertical construction on the park have also surfaced. You can view the photos here.

HP Disappears From NY Times List

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:

For the first time in 10 years, J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books have fallen from the New York Times best-seller list. The books are expected to reappear when the sixth film hits theaters this fall.

2007 Nebula Award Winner

From WizardNews.com:

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Presented the Nebula Awards for 2007 at the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown in Austin, Texas on Saturday. The Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy was awarded to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

More On JK Court Trial

From WizardNews.com:

J.K. Rowling held out an olive branch in the latest copyright trial and seemed clearly wounded after the previous day's testimony by Steven Vander Ark. Rowling told the judge in federal district court in Manhattan that she had been misunderstood. "Do your book, but please, change it so it does not take as much of my work," she said.

Filming Starts For Robert Pattison

From WizardNews.com:

Filming on the film Twilight is taking place around the usually rainy Pacific Northwest. But the weather isn't cooperating, so fake rain drizzles down the window at Madison High School, enhancing Robert Pattinson's chalky complexion as he sits in a classroom inside.

Harry Potter and the A-Levels

From LeakyCauldron.org:

The Daily Mail has reported that Harry Potter is now required reading for A-level students in the UK. The paper says that Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone is one of the books students will be tested on in exams given by the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), the largest exam board in the UK.

Urgent message about Wrockstock!

From Wrockstock 2008:

As of this morning, all rooms still available at Trout Lodge were released back into the general reservations system. We've had them holding every room they have since January and they just can't do it any longer. This means they will allow anyone to book a room at Trout Lodge for the same weekend we are there for Wrockstock and with it being Memorial Day weekend, they have told me that the Lodge will probably fill up in a matter of days, if not hours. If you do not have your reservations made yet, take care of it right away or risk missing out on Wrockstock. Please, make sure you have registered and paid for your Pass by May 15th, we are not selling them at the door!

For the month of April 2008

2008-04-27T22:53:00.001-07:00

April 28th, 2008

Alecto Carrow Cast For HBP

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
United Agents is reporting that Suzanne Toase has been cast as Alecto Carrow in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. According to the agency, Toase is currently at work on the film.

WB Sets Date For DH Part I!

From WizardNews.com and HPANA.com:
Warner Bros. has confirmed a release date for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I. The first installment of the series finale will open on November 19th, 2010, with the second released the following summer. Earlier reports indicated that Part II would premiere in May 2011. David Yates will return to direct the Deathly Hallows films.

Harry Potter: The Exhibition To Open Spring 2009

From HPANA.com:
The Becker Group and Warner Bros. Consumer Products announced today that it will bring worldwide "Harry Potter: The Exhibition", highlighting artifacts from the Warner Bros. films based on J.K. Rowling's franchise. The exhibit will premiere in Spring 2009 in "a major market" and will appear in ten or more cities around the world throughout a five-year span. The official web site is now online.

Dan Discusses Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
In the June 2008 issue of Film Review magazine, Dan Radcliffe briefly comments on Harry's emotions in Half-Blood Prince and life after Deathly Hallows.

Marked as His Equal Second Album Release

From WizardRock.org:
Marked as His Equal, the first San Diego Wizard Rock band, has announced the release of his second album, Never Say Goodbye, due out May 6, 2008. Never Say Goodbye will be available for purchase online through Marked as His Equal's website and at concerts throughout the summer.

3 New Songs

From The Gringotts Grrls:
3 new songs in one day! Yes, it's true! We finally have some new music up and we hope you like it! Please do let us know! And have a great evening, everyone! <3~the grrls

New Song From RiddleTM

From RiddleTM:
NEW SONG - "I Must Not Tell Lies!" Hey, everyone! Another song is up on MySpace! Go and check it out! Blog should be up shortly! ~Georgia, RiddleTM

More New Wrock Blog Entries

From the Editor:
The Whomping Willows posted a new blog entry entitled "We Are Wizards; 500,000 plays; 12,000 friends; 6-month anniversary". The Moaning Myrtles also posted a new blog entry entitled "Facebook Events!"

April 25th, 2008

Briggen Now Available!

From the Editor:
Our wonderful friend Anne B. Keller, the author of Briggen, is proud to announce that it is now available for purchase on Amazon.com. Show her some support and pick up your copy here.

Potter Actors To Participate In Children's Film Festival

From HPANA.com:
Chris Rankin and Jamie Yates will be in attendance at the first ever Cinemagic Film & Television Festival in Dublin, Ireland, which started on April 23rd. The festival runs through May 1st and will include films, masterclasses with film and television industry guests and workshops.

Dan and Emma Among 'Most Stylish Teens'

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
StyleList has placed Dan Radcliffe and Emma Watson among the most stylish teen stars.

Mark Williams Returns Home To Dedicate School

From WizardNews.com:
Mark Williams will be returning to his Bromsgrove roots for the opening the new North Bromsgrove High School building this Friday. During his visit, Mark, who attended the school in the 1970s, will be helping students when he runs a drama workshop.

New Song by Tonks and the Aurors

From Tonks and the Aurors:
Wotcher, excited puppies! I've uploaded our track for the TWLOHA Benefit Album for you all to get a preview of how awesome this album is going to be. I really hope you all like it, because I am very proud of how well the song came out. Remember: Pre-Ordering will start May 1, so be prepared! Werewolf Nuzzles, Steph

New Wrock Blogs

From the Editor:
Hogwarts Trainwreck had two recently added blogs entitled "More Lyrics!" and "Two more lyrics for you to ponder!". Also, The Whomping Willows has recently added a new blog entitled "Whompy's Weight Loss Challenge - Episode 4!", as has the Ministry of Magic, whose newest blog entry is entitled "The Bravest Man I Ever Knew".

April 21st, 2008

New Dan Pic

From HPANA.com:
A new picture from Daniel Radcliffe for his fans has been been released.

New Song!

From Marisha:
I have a new song out "Can't Fight the Moonlight". It's my Remus and Tonks love song. Look in Week in Wrock on Page 2 to find my band links.

MY ALBUM IS DONE!

From Ollivander:
Friends! I have completed my debut album "The Unseen Mark Of Love: Year One"! The release date, as of right now, is undetermined. I still have a few more details to work out. One of those details is getting the lyrics booklet done for the hard copy of the album. I will be putting my album up on iTunes as well, but the hard copy will come with more goodies!! So stay tuned... Cheers, Andrew

New Blog Entries

From The Whomping Willows:
The Whomping Willows have a couple of new blog postings, "Donate to the Arbor Day Foundation in the name of The Whomping Willow!" and "Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine!". Visit their MySpace blog to check them out.
Also the Ministry of Magic also has a new blog "Listen to MoM on the radio tonight!".

2007 Berkshire Children's Book Award

From LeakyCauldron.org:
The seventh book in author J. K. Rowling's series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, has won the 2007 Berkshire Children's Book Award after votes were cast by some 1,000 students across 33 schools in Berkshire county in the UK.

ABC's New J.K. Documentary

From Veritaserum.com:
ABC has announced that they are working on a documentary on J.K. Rowling that will air this November. The documentary will offer a "behind-the-scenes" look at her life and will include "several interviews, the book tour for the final Harry Potter installment, and a tour of locations that inspired her characters." According to Reuters, "It even hints to what the future holds for Harry and his friends."

Gental Giant Ron HBP Statue

From HPANA.com:
An image of Ron in Quidditch clothes has appeared online from the New York Comic Con. The image states that the product is not final and is the 1st we've seen of such items from Half-Blood Prince.

Reading from Emma Watson

From LeakyCauldron.org:
UK television channel ITV1 is slated to air an episode of Travels in Written Britain featuring Emma Watson reading from a selected work. An update from Emma's official site notes her participation in this series, which takes a look at writers that have been influenced by particular places in Britain. The program aired on Sunday, April 20th on ITV1.

Rupert Takes Action

From WizardNews.com:
Rupert Grint says he'll be taking action after he was accused of making nasty comments about some Hollywood celebs, including Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton. His spokesman said Rupert has never said anything bad about Lindsay or Paris and he's never even met them!

Emma In French Period Drama

From Veritaserum.com:
Emma Watson has replaced Scarlett Johansson as Napoleon's young love in a French period drama entitled Napoleon and Betsy, MTV News reports. The film, which is slated to be released in 2009, will center around Napoleon's life in the early 1800s and his relationship with William Balcombe's daughter Betsy. It is written and directed by Benjamin Ross.
*UPDATE - Contrary to earlier reports, Emma has not officially been cast as Betsy Balcombe in the upcoming period drama Napoleon and Betsy, but she is interested in the project.

Judge Urges Settlement In HP Case

From WizardNews.com:
A federal judge said that J.K. Rowling and a publisher who wants to release an unauthorized encyclopedia about her Harry Potter novels should try to settle the copyright dispute out of court. U.S. District Judge Robert Patterson Jr. said Wednesday that the copyright infringement case was a legal close call and was almost certain to end in years of appeals.

Emma's Magical Birthday Present

From WizardNews.com and HPANA.com:
Emma Watson really had something to celebrate on her 18th birthday. Emma finally got access to the £10.5 million she had amassed while working on the movies.

She also updated her site with a birthday video for all her fans.

April 15th, 2008

First Picture of Narcissa Malfoy

From HPANA.com:
Some photos of Helen McCrory as Narcissa Malfoy from the set of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince have appeared online. It has also been stated that Helen McCrory will reprise her role for Deathly Hallows.

J.K. Honoured at Book Awards

From WizardNews.com and HPANA.com:
J.K. Rowling has received an outstanding achievement prize at the 2008 Galaxy British Book Awards in London. Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent a video message praising Rowling for work that had "the whole country reading". Rowling thanked the awards for giving her an outstanding, rather than a lifetime, prize as it suggested her career was not over.

Telegraph's 100 Most Powerful People

From LeakyCauldron.org:
The Telegraph has a new feature online, listing the 100 Most Powerful People in British Culture. The paper selected this list of individuals based on their contribution and influence of the arts in Britain, noting this list "shows the depth of talent and level of commitment to the arts in this country and reflects its importance in our national life". J. K. Rowling was placed at number 14 on the list.

Beedle the Bard Ballad Writing Contest

From WizardNews.com:
Amazon.com wants to send you and a friend to London, England to spend a weekend with the rare and delightful book of fairy tales, handwritten and illustrated by J.K. Rowling herself. Open to muggles ages 13 and older in 24 countries. Amazon is giving Harry Potter fans the chance to read The Tales of Beedle the Bard, but only if they're over 12. Amazon says it had to set an age limit on the writing contest because of internet rules in other countries.

New Song from WizardRockFan1

From WizardrockFan1AtriumCast WRS:
I have posted a new song called "The Right Kind of Wrong". It is a Bella and Voldy love song. Check it out on my supplemental page. You can find the link in my Week in Wrock section on page 2.

Important Wrockstock update!

From Wrockstock 2008:

Okay Wrockstockers, we're starting to run low on room availability at Trout Lodge. Remember, you MUST be a registered guest of Trout Lodge that weekend to attend Wrockstock, as well as having purchased a Wrockstock Pass. The profits from Wrockstock Pass sales goes to benefit the Harry Potter Alliance, so the entire weekend you will be having fun and doing something to help others! Reservations come with all your meals and basic activities included. Rates can be found on Trout Lodge's website and, remember, summer rates will apply that weekend. As of last week, there are 34 Guest Rooms, 9 Loft Suites, and 4 Family Cabins still available. Starting May 1st, any remaining rooms will be made available to the general public.

Toilet Humor News

From The Moaning Myrtles:
We have decided to stop selling hard copies of Toilet Humor online. If you still want one, you can either order a copy before May 1st (when we will stop taking orders) or pick one up at one of our live shows this summer. Toilet Humor will still be on iTunes, but this is your last chance to get a hard copy of the CD with the case and the artwork and everything. You have between now until April 30, 2008 at 11:59pm eastern time.

April 9th, 2008

Accio UK To Auction Signed Set

From WizardNews.com:
Accio UK is pleased to announce that J.K. Rowling has generously donated a full set of all seven adult edition Harry Potter books, each book individually signed by the author, to Accio UK to raise funds for the National Literacy Trust.

Dates Announced For Equus On Broadway

From HPANA.com:
Richard Griffiths and Dan Radcliffe are set to reprise their roles in Equus on Broadway this year and the dates have been announced. The play will begin previews at the Broadhurst Theatre in Manhattan on Friday, September 5th and will open on Thursday, September 25th for a strictly limited 22-week engagement, through Sunday, February 8th, 2009. The play will once again be directed by Thea Sharrock. Tickets for the play will go on sale to American Express Gold Card members on Saturday, April 12th at 9:00 am EST.

Voldemort Can't Stop The Wrock

From WizardNews.com:
According to the Rutland Herald, composing and listening to wizard rock has become a way for fans to express their personalities through characters in their favorite books. The dedicated fan base provides a supportive atmosphere for young amateurs and has even given some rockers the chance to quit their day jobs and become full-time musicians.

April 6th, 2008

New BotM and FotM for April

From the Editor:
Another new month has come and it's once again time to welcome a new Band of the Month and Friend of the Month! Our new April Band of the Month is THE PUREBLOODS! You can check out The Purebloods' new feature on Page 3 to find out more about the band and links to their webpage. Our new April Friend of the Month is ~♥ ASA ♥~! Check out her Potter-ific MySpace page and add her as your friend too.

New Daily Prophet Page!

As has been mentioned before, The Daily Prophet has three new columnists, Astrid Celestia, Laburnum Nightshade, and Risha Childress. Each of their new columns can now be found on the all new Page 4. Use the Table of Contents to the right to turn the page there and check it out. Note - The Classifieds which were previously on page 4 can now be found on page 5.

More HBP Casting News: Regulus and Saguini

From Veritaserum.com:
According to 2 casting agency websites, the characters of Regulus Black and Sanguini have been cast for Half-Blood Prince. Tom Moorcroft is listed to be playing Regulus Black and Charlie Bennison will reportedly play Sanguini. Tom Moorcroft recently spoke to Potterish about his role in the new movie. Tom stated that he only spent 2-3 hours on the set at Leavesden Studios for his role and the only actor present was Jim Broadbent (Professor Slughorn). "It's for one of Professor Slughorn's photographs, for his office." Tom is unsure if he will reprise the role for Deathly Hallows.
In further casting news, A&J Management has posted a new picture of Scarlett Byrne, the actress who will portray Pansy Parkinson in Half-Blood Prince. Check it out here.

JKR Answers Fans' Hallows' Questions

From Veritaserum.com:
When she received the James Joyce Award from University College Dublin's Literary and Historical Society in February, J.K. Rowling answered several questions from fans about Deathly Hallows. La Gazette du Sorcier has now posted a transcript of the question-and-answer session, which can be read here.

Third and final Emma Photo Online

From HPANA.com:
Fans of Emma Watson can now view her third and final photo (seen here) released from the Warner Brothers shoot on her official website.

New Quiz From Scholastic

From HPANA.com:
Scholastic has posted a new quiz on their site in honor of Peeves and Fred and George Weasley. You can take the all new quiz here.

Harry Potter goes to college

From WizardNews.com:
Harry Potter books have found their way onto academics' bookshelves. Yale University now offers classes dedicated to the deconstruction of Potter. Such undergraduate courses as "Christian Theology and Harry Potter" delve deeply into the books in which a be-speckled boy plays sports games on flying broomsticks.

April 3rd, 2008

Second Emma Photo Online

From HPANA.com:
It would seem that fansite UniversHarryPotter (UHP) got the jump on Emma Watson's own official site by getting their hands on the second of three new headshots of the actress. It's now available on their site... and undoubtedly on Watson's soon enough.

I'm On Wrock Wiki

From Marisha:
Well, the title pretty much says it all. My wrock band, Blue and Yellow Wand, is on Wrock Wiki. You can see it here.

JK Rowling Contributes to Birthday Book

From LeakyCauldron.org:
The Times is reporting that J.K. Rowling has written a piece that will appear in a new book celebrating the 60th birthday of Prince Charles. In Hugo Rifkind's column, he says the Harry Potter author has contributed writing that will appear "in The Birthday Book, to be published by The Prince's Foundation for Children & the Arts" for the Prince of Wales' birthday in November.

Signed Harry Potter Book Up For Auction

From WizardNews.com:
A copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, signed by author J.K. Rowling, will be among the items going under the hammer at a charity auction tomorrow. The last installment of the boy wizard's adventures will be one of the lots at a fundraiser taking place at Napier University's Merchiston campus.

"We Are Wizards" Documentary

From LeakyCauldron.org:
There is a new documentary focusing on the Harry Potter fandom called "We Are Wizards". This documentary has been described by the film makers as a piece that "tracks the influential figures leading the creative subculture surrounding the popular series. 'We Are Wizards' is a portrayal of creative fans with a common goal - to make their voices heard." This film features Paul and Joe from Harry and the Potters, Brian and Brad from Draco and the Malfoys, and Matt from The Whomping Willows. "We Are Wizards" will be screened at several film festivals in April.

The Physics of Harry Potter

From WizardNews.com:
Michio Kaku is a physicist specializing in string theory at the City College of New York. He says an invisibility shield is potentially possible, but since it can't be seen through from the inside, eyeholes would be needed. Perhaps disembodied floating eyes would be less inconspicuous than a whole visible person.

For the month of March 2008

2008-03-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

March 31st, 2008

Harry Potter and the Kids' Choice Awards

From HPANA.com:
On Saturday night, March 29th, Nickelodeon held their annual Kids' Choice Awards. The Harry Potter series won the "Favorite Book" category.

New Affiliate!

From the Editor:
A great big welcome to our newest affiliate, Rai Aren, co-author of the Amazon.com best-seller Secret of the Sands. Our new affiliate and friend's banner can now be seen in our "Affiliations" section in The Library, on Magykal, and on our MySpace page. Check out the link to the Secret of the Sands website in the Classifieds on page 4.

Marisha Has New Songs

From Marisha:
I have three new wrock songs on my wrock band. One is from the Coyote Ugly soundtrack. I've just changed some words around. I hope you like it. Another is called "Dementor's Kiss". The other is called "But I Do Love You" and it's a H&R love song. Find the link to my wrock band page on Page 2 in my Week in Wrock section.

Emma Watson Donates To Auction

From HPANA.com:
Emma Watson has once again donated to the Wild Trout Trust Auction 2008. Emma donated a fly tied by her, which has been framed together with a signature card.

J.K. Visits Prison Inmates

From WizardNews.com:
J.K. Rowling gave prisoners learning to read a real boost when she visited them in jail on Thursday, says a literacy charity. The writer presented awards to inmates at Edinburgh. She had been invited to carry out the honours by the Shannon Trust, the charity that helps prisoners across the UK learn to read.

Rupert Grint Says No To Being Nude

From WizardNews.com:
Rupert Grint has admitted that he would be reluctant to strip on-stage like his co-star Daniel Radcliffe. During an interview on Al Murray's Happy Hour, which was broadcast Friday night, Rupert was asked if he would consider stripping for a role. He replied, "No. No, I don't think I could, no. Well, I dunno, maybe in the future, but definitely not now. It's a big step."

March 25th, 2008

New Book From A Fellow Potterholic!

From the Editor:

We'd like to welcome our new Potterholic friend Rai Aren, co-author of the Amazon.com bestseller Secret of the Sands, to our OPA MySpace friends list. Rai is a "HUGE" Harry Potter fan. Check out more on Rai Aren and Tavius E.'s new book Secret of the Sands HERE.

New Half-Blood Prince Promo Pic From WB

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
Warner Bros. has sent out a new high-resolution promotional still from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince featuring Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Check it out courtesy of the HP Fan Zone galleries HERE.

JK Rowling Nominated for Book Award

From LeakyCauldron.org:
J.K. Rowling has been nominated for an award given by the Children's Book Council. The School Library Journal reports that Jo is nominated for her book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as a "2007 Author of the Year". Voting is open to students now until May 4th, with the winners due to be announced at a special Children's Book Week gala May 13th.

OotP Nominated for 2008 Award

From LeakyCauldron.org:
The Hugo Awards, which celebrate the best in the field of science fiction and fantasy work, have released their 2008 list of nominees which include a nomination for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This awards ceremony, largely run and voted for by fans, has recognized the 5th Potter film in the category of "Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form", naming its screenwriter, Michael Goldenberg, original author, J.K. Rowling, and director, David Yates, for the honor.

Jo Expected To Appear In Court For Lexicon Case

From Veritaserum.com:
It was reported yesterday that J.K. Rowling is expected to appear in a New York court sometime next month as part of the Harry Potter Lexicon lawsuit. The case will go to trial on April 14th. When asked about Rowling, an RDR lawyer said, "We asked for her and they said they would provide her. I would say it would be very unlikely that she would not appear."

Win A Trip To The LA Premiere Of HBP With Nick Magazine

From HPANA.com:
Nickelodeon Magazine has opened a contest to US residents to attend the Los Angeles premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The contest officially started on March 21st and will end on May 1st. It is open to fans between 6 and 14 years of age.

Potter Puppet Pals Wins Award

From WizardNews.com:
Potter Puppet Pals is among the winners of YouTube's 2nd annual video awards. A homemade version of the special effects-laden Harry Potter movies, called "The Potter Puppet Pals in 'The Mysterious Ticking Noise'" captured the comedy award.

CNN Features Harry Potter in Academia

From LeakyCauldron.org:
CNN has a special feature article now online, highlighting the use of Harry Potter as curriculum at some of the universities in the States, including at Yale Divinity School, where graduate student Danielle Tumminio is teaching a course called "Christian Theology and Harry Potter". CNN reports, "The course uses all 7 Potter books and the students examine Christian themes such as sin, evil and resurrection." The article continues to note that others, such as authors John Granger, Philip Nel, and Ed Kerns have long saw the benefits to using Harry Potter in an academic situation. Edmund Kern, author of The Wisdom of Harry Potter and professor at Lawrence University, was originally attracted to the books based on his training as a historian of early religion, magic and witchcraft. For him, the books' historical impact, rather than their literary context, makes for a more intriguing analysis.

Emma Watson Embarrasses Co-Stars With Skills

From WizardNews.com:
Emma Watson has left her Harry Potter co-stars red-faced, after beating them at ping pong. Rupert Grint says, "I've got a table tennis on set and we're always playing between scenes. Emma is brilliant. We rarely play her now because it gets quite embarrassing."

J.K. Rowling Says Daughter Saved Her Life

From WizardNews.com:
J.K. Rowling has admitted she had "suicidal thoughts" while suffering from depression after her first marriage broke down and love for her daughter had made her seek help. Counselling she then received helped her to "get out" of her depression and she urges anybody suffering from depression to "go and get help".

Natalia Tena Talks Filming as Tonks

From LeakyCauldron.org:
Natalia Tena talks flying, wizard style, in a new interview with the Swindon Advertiser. She has been filming recently for her return appearance as the Auror Tonks in the upcoming Half-Blood Prince film and recalls filming her flying scenes for OotP. Natalia said, "The flying stuff was so cool." She described the process as, "We are wrapped in green skin stuff and have this pole attachment. It moves like a buckaroo. They take a plaster cast of your bum, so you get a proper seat on the broomstick. I love heights and these hot men (the technicians) blow air at me to make me look sexy – it was amazing." She admits to not having read any of the HP books nor seeing the movies before she landed her part. "At the first audition I tripped over a chair, but I loved the idea of the hair changes that Nymphadora has, because that's what I do." She goes on to say, "I was born on Nov. 1st, so Halloween was always important and on my 18th birthday my mum gave me a witch's broomstick and a wooden spoon, showing that I had become a witch and a woman."

Terminus Announces Guests Of Honor

From WizardNews.com:
The planning team for Terminus has announced Guests of Honor Cheryl Klein and Tamora Pierce, who will present keynotes on their unique experiences with the Harry Potter series and phenomenon. "Tamora Pierce has written some of our favorite books and Cheryl Klein has edited some of our favorites," noted Hallie Tibbetts, a Lead Event Organizer.

March 23rd, 2008

March 19th, 2008

Maggie Smith Battling Cancer; Prognosis Good

From WizardNews.com:
Dame Maggie Smith is reported to be battling breast cancer. A friend told The Daily Telegraph, "She is dealing with it in her typically brave and understated way. This was precautionary and the prognosis looks good. The last thing she wants to do is to make a fuss about it." It did not affect her filming on the current Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Win a trip for two to School of Wizardry in England

From HPANA.com:
HP Fan Trips has announced an interactive online quest for players to win weekly prizes and a grand prize: a trip for 2 to their new 5 day School of Wizardry at Ford Castle in England. Playing the quest will take fans to a variety of Harry Potter fan sites and communities while looking for clues.

New Interview with Rupert

From Veritaserum.com:
Rupert Grint talked to The Sun recently about filming the Quidditch scenes in Half-Blood Prince. He said, "You sit on a broomstick for hours and it starts to hurt. It gives you a numb bum." He also spoke about his future, saying, "We'll be finished filming in a few months. Then we'll be making the final ever one. I think I'll miss it... I'd like to do a comedy movie next, but we'll have to see what comes up."

New Diagon Alley Video

From Diagon Alley:
If you didn't get a chance to make to our secret private show, here it is... the Diagon Alley Music Video! Check it out here.

Potter bridge to disappear

From WizardNews.com:
Campaigners are trying to save one of the most iconic features of the Harry Potter series. A bridge and a 100-year-old clock at London's King's Cross station are to be knocked down as part of major expansion plans. The landmark is famous as Harry Potter's entrance to King's Cross on the imaginary platform nine and three quarters, to catch the train to Hogwarts.

Harry Potter books auctioned at Christie's

From HPANA.com:
An auction at Christie's International auction house in London today will include a rare first edition of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, one of only 500 printed, and is expected to fetch between $8,075 to $12,100. The book, part of the Fine Printed Books including Children's & Illustrated Books auction is just one lot of the series, which also includes a first edition of Chamber of Secrets and an uncorrected edition of Prisoner of Azkaban.

Australian kids love Potter books

From HPANA.com:
For the 2nd time in 3 years the Harry Potter books have been voted in the top spot in Angus & Robertson's Top 50 book poll. The poll, taken by kids aged from 5 to 17 were given a month to vote online, in store and through their schools for their all-time favourite books, with the Roald Dahl stories, in 2nd place.

Programming Schedule for Accio 2008 Announced

From LeakyCauldron.org:
Upcoming fan conference, Accio 2008, has recently released the full programming schedule for their upcoming event at Magdalen College in Oxford, England. The 3 day conference, which takes place from July 25 � 27, 2008, will begin with an Opening Session followed by 3 days of formal programming from a variety of speakers on a wide array of topics related to Harry Potter. Presentations will be made throughout the weekend on religion, the effect the series has had in other countries, ethics and evil, and the films. Further presentations will give character and psychological analyses along with a literary look at wizard rock. Emer O'Sullivan and Gillian Hall will be speaking at the event.

March 17th, 2008

IT'S CONFIRMED! DH TO BE TWO FILMS!

From WizardNews.com:
After months of speculation, Warner Brothers announced on Friday that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be filmed as Part I and Part II, and that David Yates will direct. "It was born out of purely creative reasons," producer David Heyman said, "Unlike every other book, you cannot remove elements of this book." The question will be, where do you break book 7 into two parts? And how do you make them one, but two separate and distinct stories?" producer David Heyman asked in a recent LA Times story. "Do you break it with a moment of suspense or one of resolution? These are the interesting challenges."

Half-Blood Prince headed to IMAX

From HPANA.com:
The IMAX corporation confirmed on Friday that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will be released in IMAX theaters on November 21st, the same day the film hits regular screens, and with an expectation of having a 3D finale much like last summer's hit Order of the Phoenix.

Scandanavian Yule Ball 2008

From Marisha:
According to the Luna Wrockcast Podcast, there has been much talk about it and, this year, it's finally going to be done. Luna Wrockcast, and a bunch of danish Harry Potter fans, will be hosting the very first ever Scandinavian Yule Ball to be held on November 21st-23rd, 2008. It will be held in �rhus, Denmark. Anyone attending on the 21st can sign up to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Email abchii@hotmail.com or message at www.myspace.com/wrockcast for information and tickets, or if you are interested in playing at the ball or helping out. You can check out the official Scandanavian Yule Ball 2008 site here.

J.K.'s New Book Idea

From WizardNews.com:
J.K. Rowling wants to write a book about a stand-up comedian. J.K., who is currently working on a Harry Potter encyclopaedia, said she had a "real thing" about the comedy idea, but hadn't started work on it yet. Rowling also said that she was currently working on two other projects.

Emma's new romance

From WizardNews.com:
Emma Watson has spoken about her new boyfriend, after being photographed with him at the Empire Awards after-party. According to the Mirror, the 17 year old actress said, "I'm really happy. I'm not sure if he is 'the one' just yet, we've only been going out together for three weeks, but it's brilliant at the moment. He is a friend of a friend."

Tilda Swinton blasts Harry Potter!

From WizardNews.com:
Oscar winning actress Tilda Swinton says she can't stand the Harry Potter books because they make kids think it's fun to be at boarding school. Swinton says the novels glamorize what for her meant a lonely childhood.

Wizard Rock in the News

From WizardRock.org:
On March 10, an article appeared in The Canton Repository newspaper letting readers know about The Remus Lupins concert that was to take place the next day. The amusing article got most of its facts wrong, including that "J.K. Rowling endorses The Remus Lupins and flies the band to concerts throughout the country."

New Song from Hawthorn and Holly

From WizardRock.org:
Hawthorn and Holly has recently come out with a new song called "Fizzing Whizbees Baby". The four-member, South Carolina-based band plans to put on a concert at the end of May in conjunction with The Blibbering Humdingers.

March 12th, 2008

Please Help: Sign "Project FIVER" Petition

From The Brobdingagian Bards,

(Edited) From Chris Kern (fan of The Bards):

Many of you may know my wife, Melissa Kern. She has helped with the Tolkien and Young Adult Literature tracks, helped plan the HP Yule Ball and infamous Pirate Party, and appeared in a well-known Dragon*Con TV commercial. But she has received some grave news. Melissa has been diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. It is progressive, incurable, and gradually paralyzes you. Average life expectancy is 3-5 years. In September, she marched with fellow LotR fans in the Dragon*Con parade, but now she needs my help walking, dressing and using stairs. We have a 6 year-old son and I'm not sure how much he knows. I wanted to do something for Melissa to her the impact she's had on people in the LotR, Pirates, HP and Dragon*Con communities. To that end, I have put together an online petition called "Project FIVER" (her website community name). It's a petition to have New Line cast her as an extra in THE HOBBIT. Even being a non-speaking crowd-hobbit in the background of one scene would mean the world to her. It would be her reason to hang on. If you wouldn't mind, please Go to ProjectFiver.com and sign the petition. Thanks for helping!

Marisha's Band Has A New Song

From Marisha:
My wrock band, Blue and Yellow Wand, has a new song out called "Harry Potter Not Done". Please check it out . It is a remix of the SpongeBob Squarepants theme song.

Please Help Lena

From Lena of The Butterbeer Experience:
I need your help! I am writing to Warner Bros., J.K. Rowling, and David Yates asking to be a part of the process of writing the music for Deathly Hallows. This has been my dream since 7th grade and I think that I can make it with your help! I have already gotten 250 signatures in the past day and a half and I'm really excited to see what will happen! Please reply to me blog on my MySpace page or email me at hpmusicqueen@yahoo.com with your signatures. Thanks so much for all of your support! <3 Lena

Trial Date Set for JKR/WB vs. RDR Books

From LeakyCauldron.org:
A trial date has been set for the WB/JKR vs. RDR Books case, in which WB and JKR are attempting to stop publication of an unauthorized Harry Potter encyclopedia. The trial has been set for March 24, 25 and 26, starting at 9:30 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Manhattan.

Yates wins at Empire Awards

From WizardNews.com and LeakyCauldron.org:
David Yates won the best director award for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at Empire magazine's annual awards ceremony held on Sunday. While at the awards, David Yates said, "I'm tempted" when asked if he will be returning to helm the final film in the Harry Potter series. Further saying he can't really say much about it, he does note they "talk about it" every day, but declined to elaborate.

Filming at Millennium Bridge

From WizardNews.com:
The Millennium Bridge in London was shut to pedestrians for a time on Saturday and Sunday to allow the filming of a special effects sequence for the next movie. Harry Potter fans report that the filming, which didn't involve members of the cast, was for a special effects sequence which features the destruction of the bridge.

Rowling in court to ban photo of son

From WizardNews.com:
J.K. Rowling returned to court to try to ban publication of a photograph taken in the street of her son, David, when he was 18 months old. The author, who lost her High Court action last year, claimed the child's right to privacy has been infringed. Photo agency Big Pictures said there was no proof the child had been hurt.

March 10th, 2008

Jo 'slowly piecing' encyclopedia together

From Veritaserum.com:
In an in-depth interview with the University of Edinburgh's Student newspaper, J.K. Rowling was asked about her work on her Harry Potter encyclopedia. She said, "I am working on it in fact. I just don't want to have to work to a deadline, but I am slowly piecing it together." Jo also reiterated that she is working on a children's book and a book for adults that "may never see the light of day at all." But she wouldn't reveal any more than that, saying, "The minute I say anything, immediately my life becomes more complicated."

Ralph Fiennes Not in Half-Blood Prince

From LeakyCauldron.org:
While promoting his new film In Bruges, Ralph Fiennes gave a new interview in which he discusses his role as Lord Voldemort. Ralph says he will not be appearing in the upcoming Half-Blood Prince and has not yet signed on for Deathly Hallows. He "particularly liked" doing Goblet of Fire under the direction of Mike Newell. Noting that he was never an avid reader of the Harry Potter book series, he said that it wasn't until he went "to the premiere of the first that I got a real sense of the extraordinary nature of it all." About not being in HBP, Ralph says, "My nephew is playing, I think just for a couple of scenes, the younger Voldemort. I understand that the bulk of the bulk of the backstory of Voldemort is played by another, slightly older actor (Frank Dillane)."

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Wizard Rock in the News

From WizardRock.org:
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review recently published a very good article on the Wizard Rock phenomenon, with quotes from Alex Carpenter of the Remus Lupins, Stephanie Anderson of Tonks and the Aurors, and Matt Maggiacomo of the Whomping Willows. You can view the article online here.

OotP Wins Award for Video Game

From LeakyCauldron.org:
The score to the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix video game was a recent winner at the Movie Music UK Awards. The music for the 5th Harry Potter video game, composed by James Hannigan, was named "Best Score-Game", beating out scores from Halo 3, Lair, Bioshock and Mass Effect.

Jim Dale to Speak at Portus 2008

From LeakyCauldron.org:
Jim Dale, narrator of the US edition of the Harry Potter audio books, will be a speaker at the upcoming Portus symposium later this summer. HPEF has now announced that Mr. Dale will give a special presentation on Saturday, July 12th at the Portus 2008 Harry Potter Symposium in Dallas, Texas, followed by a Question and Answer event, as well as autograph opportunities later that same day. The presentation and autograph sessions are free to Portus attendees.

Streakers hold up HP filming

From WizardNews.com:
Two male streakers held up filming of the new Harry Potter film, Britain's tabloid Sun newspaper reported. The two ran through undergrowth during a woodland scene forcing Daniel Radcliffe and Helena Bonham Carter to retreat to their dressing rooms while security chased the pair off.

Dan Radcliffe gets guards for his dogs after stalker threat

From WizardNews.com:
Daniel Radcliffe has apparently demanded a two-man SAS team to walk his dogs. The Harry Potter star, who has reportedly been given four bodyguards after he received a threat from an alleged stalker, is terrified his beloved pet collies Binka and Nugget will be kidnapped, according to The Sun.

Rowling only British woman on Forbes list

From WizardNews.com:
J.K. Rowling is Britain's only woman on the latest Forbes rich list, coming in 1,062nd with $1 billion. A total of 35 UK citizens are dollar billionaires, but the UK is home to 49, with 36 calling themselves Londoners. The world's richest woman, Liliane Bettencourt, takes 17th place on the list with $22.9 billion.

March 3rd, 2008

New Song From The Curse Breakers

From the Editor:
Jessie, from the wonderful wrock band The Curse Breakers, has posted a new song entitled "Erised". She says, "Yes, Erised is moody, it's brooding... Definitely a change for me! Hope you like it!" We do and we know you will too! Check it out HERE

New Music from Potter Noyz

From the Editor:
The boys from Potter Noyz have posted version 2 of their song "The Bravest Man I Ever Knew". Check it out HERE.

Phelps twins and Stanislav Ianevski to appear at Florida Supercon

From WizardNews.com:
Florida Supercon is back and bigger than ever! The Florida Supercon is moving to its new "super-sized" location, The Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Resort in Weston, FL. The current guest list for FSC includes James and Oliver Phelps and Stanislav Ianevski.

Wyrd Sisters demand Harry Potter DVDs, video games destroyed

From WizardNews.com:
The Winnipeg folk group's $40-million lawsuit against Warner Bros. calls for the destruction of all DVDs, CDs, video games and other items that refer to a musical act named The Weird Sisters. "The Wyrd Sisters claim to have spent over 15 years working on and developing the goodwill associated with their band's name," said the group's court claim.
Apparently, they've never read Harry Potter!

Mrs. Weasley voted 'Best Mom' in new poll

From Veritaserum.com:
The Sunday Mirror reports that Molly Weasley has been voted the number one best mother in movies in a new poll conducted by LoveFilm, beating out Marge Simpson of The Simpsons and the title character in Erin Brockovich.

March 2nd, 2008

If You're Near NJ Don't Miss This Event!

From Uncle Ben:
I am about to do a wrock show show that I think is going to be an event you won't want to miss! Wizard and Witchcraft Entertainment is proud to present its first ever wizard rock event in New Jersey called "Wizards, Witches and Pancakes".
The profits from this event will go to benefit the HP Alliance. It will be held on Sunday March 9th from 6:00pm - 11:00pm at the IHOP located at 1129 Broad St., Bloomfield, NJ 07003. The IHOP kitchen closes at 9:30pm. The cost is $6 per adult ($5 if in costume), under 16 is $5 ($4 if in costume), and under 5 is free. Costumes can be of any type or HP related clothing. Confirmed performances include: Swish and Flick, Nagini, Snidget, Expelliarmusses, The Gringotts Grrls, Mary and the GrandPres, and Snape44. There will be a costume contest and Harry Potter trivia for prizes, along with a tarot reader and Fangsmith.

New Month = New BotM and FotM

From the Editor:
That's right - another new month, another new Band of the Month and Friend of the Month to welcome! Our new March Band of the Month is PEEVED! You can check out Peeved's new feature on Page 3 to find out more about the band and links to his webpage.
Our new March Friend of the Month is STEPH! Check out her super cool MySpace page and add her as your friend here.

New Band Proverb For Puremuggles

From Marisha:
Hey everyone, Marisha here. I have joined an awesome wrock band called Proverb For Puremuggles. Rikke and I are back with this new version of the old awesome band. Rikke asked me to join her because I loved her music and she didn't want to wrock alone. She's an awesome girl and I love to write with her, so it seemed like an good idea. So here we are, ready to wrock your socks off. Please stay tuned for awesome stuff that will be coming your way as soon as possible.

J.K. updates site and nixes rumors

From JKRowling.com:
J.K. Rowling updated the rumor section of her website Friday to inform fans that she does not have a profile on any social networking sites, including MySpace, Facebook, or Bebo. All profiles in her name on the popular social networking sites are indeed fake. "No, sorry, not even one of them, though they do seem to lead very exciting lives, these fake J.K. Rowlings. I like to imagine them partying with all my imaginary friends in some bright and shiny alternative universe. But meanwhile, on planet earth, the dull human J.K. Rowling hasn't got, and has never had, a profile on MySpace, Bebo or any similar site."

J.K. Rowling says Harry Potter Lexicon would hurt fans

From WizardNews.com and Veritaserum.com:
In papers filed for a lawsuit in Manhattan, J.K. Rowling said that the defendants' invocation of her warm relations with fans online threatens to undermine author-fan relations. She feels betrayed by "fan" Steven Vander Ark for his role in trying to publish an unauthorized reference work Harry Potter Lexicon. J.K. said, "If RDR's position is accepted, it will undoubtedly have a significant, negative impact on the freedoms enjoyed by genuine fans on the Internet. Authors everywhere will be forced to protect their creations much more rigorously, which could mean denying well-meaning fans permission to pursue legitimate creative activities. I find it devastating to contemplate the possibility of such a severe alteration of author-fan relations."

Julie Walters given CBE

From WizardNews.com:
Julie Walters has received her CBE from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. Ms. Walters, who was made an OBE in 1999, revealed the prince was a fan of the Harry Potter films, "The Prince said he loved the Potters and said what great films they were and what great fun they were."

Radcliffe & Watson included in EW list

From HPANA.com and LeakyCauldron.org:
Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson have been included in Entertainment Weekly's "30 Under 30" actors list, which can be found in the latest issue. Dan made the list at number 29, while Emma came in just ahead at number 28. As to why Dan, the magazine stated, "HeÃ¯Â¿Â½s utterly charming and managed to do the growing up thing with grace, even with a skin-baring role in a West End production of Equus." In regards to Emma, "Because she's matured from a precocious pre-adolescent to a confident young actress, right in front of her eyes. And she's done it without ever appearing in the tabloid pages."

Dan buys another apartment in New York

From WizardNews.com:
Dan Radcliffe has shelled out a whopping $4.9m on his second New York apartment. The 18-year-old actor, who already owns a 2 bedroom $4.3m home in Manhattan, has now purchased a 3 bedroom, 2,450 square-foot property in the city.

John Williams Conducts American Youth Symphony

From WizardNews.com:
Composer John Williams will conduct the American Youth Symphony in a concert of his film music on March 23rd at 6:00pm at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in the Los Angeles Music Center. Selections scheduled for performance include his music from the Harry Potter films.

For the month of February 2008

2008-02-17T00:14:00.000-08:00

February 24th, 2008

Study concludes Harry Potter is addictive

From Veritaserum.com:
A study conducted by researchers at Pennsylvania's Muhlenberg College has concluded that, for 10% of fans, Harry Potter is "addictive." Professor Dr. Jeffrey Rudski "used craving scales established for smoking, substituting Deathly Hallows for cigarettes". The 10 percent of respondents that Rudski considers addicted described spending more than 4 hours a day on Potter-related activities, experiencing interference with appetite and sleep patterns, engaging in less physical activity, having a lower sense of well-being and being more irritable after completing the series."

Rumor: Yates to direct final HP film

From WizardNews.com:
Could it be that David Yates, who shot Order of the Phoenix and is in the middle of Half-Blood Prince, will be the last director to leave his mark on the Harry Potter films? Children's writer Lois Lowry thinks so. As she wrote on her blog Tuesday, she told her fans that Yates had pulled out of shooting an adaptation of her book The Giver so he could do Deathly Hallows instead.

Confirmed new scene for Half-Blood Prince

From HPANA.com and Veritaserum.com:
With filming currently ongoing for the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie, producer David Barron has confirmed that there will be a new scene added to the movie featuring the Burrow that did not appear in the book. Barron offered some details saying, "Jo was able throughout the quite lengthy book to keep dropping little snippets of what was happening in the outside world - The book is peppered with those moments, but we couldn't do that quite so easily in the film. So the extra scene comes in the middle of the film and it just reminds us the world is no longer a safe place. Even in what would normally be considered the safe haven of the Burrow, nobody's safe. I think you'll like it. It's quite effective."

Dan Radcliffe attends Theatregoers' Choice awards

From HPANA.com:
Earlier today, Daniel Radcliffe attended the Theatregoers' Choice awards in London where he received two awards for Equus.

Dan and Emma have secret Valentines date

From WizardNews.com:
Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson have sparked romance rumours after they spent Valentine's Day evening together. The single pair decided to spend the evening together at the Imperial Arms pub in Fulham, West London, near Dan's home. An onlooker said, "Throughout the night, Dan just kept giggling like a love-struck teen."

February 20th, 2008

EW's Favorite Fictional Lovers

From LeakyCauldron.org:
With Valentine's day just past, Entertainment Weekly released a list of Pop Culture's Best Couples, a ranking of 26 of our favorite fictional lovers. The fictional pairing of Ron and Hermione are included at #8, which says, "Jealousy, betrayal, love potions: That's teen wizard romance for ya. Harry Potter's best friends didn't officially become a couple until Deathly Hallows but their love/hate relationship turned soap opera in Goblet of Fire. At times they've been controversial, but that's as risque as this teen duo gets." Also on the list, Superman and Lois Lane, Ricky and Lucy Ricardo, and Ross and Rachel.

Toy Fair 2008

From LeakyCauldron.org:
Toy Fair 08 is currently underway in New York City, where manufacturers preview their new products for the upcoming year, and on display are a few new Harry Potter items. Gentle Giant revealed a Fred and George Weasley mini-bust 2-pack and a rather alarming Remus Lupin "werewolf variant mini-bust". They are also offering the Tri-Wizard Champions set, featuring Cedric Diggory, Victor Krum, Fleur and Harry Potter. These items will be limited in availability. Others due to be released soon include the Tonks, McGonagall and Lupin (non-werewolf state).

Wrockstock 2008 Registration Open

Tickets to Wrockstock 2008, a weekend full of wrock held Memorial Day weekend, are now available. Wrockstock is a fund raising event to help benefit the Harry Potter Alliance and will be held at the YMCA Trout Lodge in Potosi, MO. The cost is $100 for adults, $75 for teens 14-17 yrs. old, and $25 for children 4-13 yrs. old. Space is limited to 500 fans. For more information about the bands due to perform, lodging and registration, click the link in our HP Conferences section right here on the front page.

OotP nominated for Saturn Awards

From HPANA.com:
The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror films has announced the nominations for the 34th Annual Saturn Awards and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has received 9 nominations.

Harry Potter collection goes to auction

From WizardNews.com:
A Harry Potter fan who has collected 553 first editions of J.K. Rowling's wizard works plans to auction them off in London. Tim Toone began collecting a copy of every version of Rowling's works in October 2002, spending up to $8,800 on a single book. His collection, which spans 63 languages, was given a preliminary value of about $78,000.

February 17th, 2008

Half-Blood Prince Casting?

From HPANA.com:
Various reports have appeared online stating that the role of Fenrir Greyback will be portrayed in Half-Blood Prince by martial artist Dave Legeno (pictured here), while Ralph Ineson will be playing Amycus Carrow.

No Fleur Delacour for 'HBP'

From HPANA.com:
According to Clemence Poesy in her interview with MTV news, her character Fleur Delacour will not be making an appearance in Half-Blood Prince, which is currently being filmed in the UK.

Wrocking the Alley

From WizardRock.org:
Thursday, February 21st, Tonks! and The Hermione Crookshanks Experience will be playing at Whimsic Alley. The show starts at 4:30pm and is FREE! Whimsic Alley is located at 2717 1/2 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica, CA. If you have any questions, email Erin@WhimsicAlley.com.

Emma denying recent media reports

From HPANA.com:
Earlier this week, Emma Watson attended the Burberry & Vanity Fair Portraits party in London and has updated her website denying recent news that she is dating Razorlight member Johnny Borrell.

J.K. Rowling receives award and refuses to close the door on Harry Potter

From WizardNews.com and HPANA.com:
J.K. Rowling gave a glimmer of hope to the millions of fans of the phenomenally successful books when she attended the Literary and Historical Society at University College Dublin to receive the James Joyce award. At the event J.K. read a chapter from Deathly Hallows and answered questions from college students. While speaking to the rapturous audience, J.K. said she would "never say never" to another in the series.

Dan trashes Spielberg rumors

From WizardNews.com:
Daniel Radcliffe insists rumours Steven Spielberg is to direct the 7th Harry Potter film are "absolute rubbish". Speaking on the red carpet at the Bafta awards ceremony in London, he said, "It's absolute rubbish that Spielberg is directing the final film. It's not true. There's absolutely no foundation in that at all."

Jason Isaacs on a Return to Harry Potter

From WizardNews.com:
Jason Isaacs told Rotten Tomatoes at the BAFTA awards in London that he was disappointed not to have returned as Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. "It's a source of great embitterment in the Isaacs household," he joked with RT, "but he's in Azkaban so what can you do?"

February 14th, 2008

February 11th, 2008

Jim Dale wins Grammy for Deathly Hallows

From HPANA.com:
Sunday night, the 50th annual Grammy Awards were held and Jim Dale won in the category of "Best Spoken Word Album for Children" for his work on the U.S. audiobook version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Congratulations Jim!

Radcliffe & Isaacs attend BAFTA's

From HPANA.com:
Also on Sunday evening, the BAFTA's took place in London with Daniel Radcliffe and Jason Isaacs in attendance. Sadly, Order of the Phoenix did not receive any awards, even though it had been nominated in 2 categories. Pictures from the awards show are now online.

JKR to receive James Joyce award

From HPANA.com:
On Tuesday, February 12th, J.K. Rowling will receive the James Joyce Award from the Literary and Historical Society at University College Dublin.

February 10th, 2008

Photos, reports from Gloucester filming

From Veritaserum.com:
Several reports and batches of photos have emerged online from Thursday's and Friday's Half-Blood Prince filming at Gloucester Cathedral in England. Among those on set were Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, and Tom Felton, along with 170 students from a local school who will participate as extras. Reports can be read at This is Gloucestershire, and photos can be seen at Potterish and UniversHP.

Wizards, Witches and Pancakes: A Wizard Rock/Filk Event

From WizardRock.org:
Save the date! The IHOP in Bloomfield, NJ will be hosting Wizards, Witches and Pancakes: A Wizard Rock/Filk Event on March 3rd, from 6-9 PM. The cost is $6 for adults, $5 for children 5 and up, and free for children under 5, although there's a dollar off admission if you come in costume. All proceeds from the event will go to the HP Alliance. Guests include Swish and Flick, Nagini, Snidget, the Expeliarmusses, The Gringotts Girls, Mary and the GrandPres, and Snape44.

Wrock Special Report

From Marisha:
There will be a Hallows & Horcruxes Ball on March 8th at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. All proceeds will be donated to First Book, whose mission is "to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their 1st new books." Performing are: The Remus Lupins, Ministry of Magic, The Parselmouths, The Moaning Myrtles, The Mudbloods, and Ginny and the Heartbreakers. This event is hosted by the K-State Children's and Adolescent Literature Community, the K-State Department of English, and others. For more details go HERE.

Ralph Fiennes says he thinks a lot about directing

From WizardNews.com:
Ralph Fiennes is starring in the new film In Bruges, which also features Brendan Gleeson. In a new interview, Fiennes says, "I realize now that I'm very interested in choices directors make. I think about directing a lot."

Gary Oldman haunting supernatural thriller

From WizardNews.com:
Gary Oldman is in negotiations to star in a Holocaust-themed supernatural thriller from David S. Goyer, the filmmaker behind the Blade movies. The untitled project follows a 19-year-old girl (Odette Yustman) who is haunted. Oldman would play the spiritual specialist who helps the girl.

Harry Potter book series nominated for Kids Choice award

From WizardNews.com:
The nominations have been announced for the Nickelodeon cable network's 21st annual Kids Choice Awards. The Harry Potter series has been nominated in the Best Book category. The awards will be televised on March 29.

February 7th, 2008

Rowling Discusses Inspiration and More in New Interview

From LeakyCauldron.org:

J. K. Rowling is the subject of an interview which ran this past weekend in a number of Spanish language publications as part of the XLSemanal section. This interview first took place a number of months ago and features Jo speaking of her inspirations for events and characters which played heavily in the Harry Potter series, a little about her past, and candidly about her husband, Dr. Neil Murray. The entire article is not yet available, but here are some rough excerpts: Rowling denied any influence between September 11, 2001 and Harry Potter; "My model of the world after Voldemort's return was, directly, the government of Neville Chamberlain in Great Britain during the Second World War, when he tried to minimize the menace of the Nazi regime for political convenience."; "I had decided not to marry again. I have a daughter who I adore, I have success, and deep down, I am happy. My sister introduced us and I thought he was a very solid person. What I most adore about him is that, everyday, Neil knows more people that want to know if he can help them, without having to ask who he is married to."; "None of the characters of my books are based on my ex. Whatever happened in our marriage, the truth is that my ex-husband contributed 50% to one of the most beautiful things that has happened in my life, which is my eldest daughter. So, I’d never used him in a fairy tale. He's her father."

Audie Award Nomination for Jim Dale and "Deathly Hallows"

From LeakyCauldron.org:

Jim Dale has been nominated for his audio recording of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at the 2008 Audie Awards. Recognized for his voice work in the category of "Solo Narration-Male", Jim Dale is nominated along with Edward Herrmann, David Halberstam, John Lee, Slavomir Rawicz, Jay O. Sanders, and Joseph Heller. The 2008 Audie Awards will be presented May 30th in Los Angeles, CA.

February 4th, 2008

HBP Rumor: Pansy Parkinson cast?

From HPANA.com:
According to the A & J Management website, the same agency handling actress Jessie Cave (Lavender Brown), 17 year old Scarlett Byrne has been cast in the role of Pansy Parkinson for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

The Curse Breakers - New Music, New Contest!

From the Editor:
With Valentine's Day right around the corner, Jessie of The Curse Breakers has concocted a new song in the spirit of the upcoming holiday called "Be My Dementor". The single song is free to download or you can purchase her limited edition Valentine CD from her MySpace HERE.
She will also be giving away some great stuff from her Curse Breakers Wrock Shop! If you want in on this, show your artistic side with VALENTINE'S DAY THEMED FAN ART. It doesn't matter what it is as long as it remains in the theme of the holiday. For complete details check out her bulletin HERE. As Jessie would say, "AWOOOOOOOOO!"

OOTP gets 6 nods at Empire awards

From Veritaserum.com:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has received 6 nominations for next month's Empire magazine awards. The movie's nominations include 'Best Picture', 'Best Actor' for Dan Radcliffe, 'Best Actress' for Emma Watson, 'Best Director', 'Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film', and 'Best Soundtrack'. The Empire awards ceremony will be held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Sunday, March 9th and be hosted by comedian Rob Brydon.

Fiona Shaw to speak at Princeton today

From WizardNews.com:
Fiona Shaw, a leading Irish actress who regularly appears on the London stage, and is Aunt Petunia in the popular Harry Potter films, will present a lecture at 4:30 pm Monday, February 4th, in the Berlind Theatre on the Princeton University campus. Shaw will speak on "Shakespeare and Friends, Ibsen and Enemies."

February 2nd, 2008

February 1st, 2008

New BoM, FoM

From Marauder:
Already it's another new month, and that means that the Official PA is proud to announce another new Band of the Month and Friend of the Month. This month's Band of the Month is... Creevey Crisis, whose information can all be found on Page 3 of The Daily Prophet.
This month's Friend of the Month is... Raven Meadowes, whose page link can be found in the Kitchen of The Burrow.

Deathly Hallows Czech Translation Released

From LeakyCauldron.org:
Yesterday brought the release of yet another translated edition of Deathly Hallows, this time in the Czech Republic. Czech news source Rozhlas reported the main release event was held at the Kanzelsberger Bookshop, where hundreds of eager fans lined up starting Wednesday to get their copy at midnight. The store held an all day event for fans of all ages, which included a discussion with the Czech translator of the novels, Pavel Medek. Klara Honzikova, organizer of the event, compared it to the previous releases by saying, "I think this was the 3rd time we've done this in the bookstore. Maybe this time attendance was a little bit higher because this was the last book. I think it turned out great."

JKR named 'Morgan Stanley Great Briton of 2007'

From HPANA.com:
Last month, it was announced that J.K. Rowling was one of three nominees for this year's Morgan Stanley Great Briton 2007 awards. Rowling won the Arts category and was named the Morgan Stanley Overall Great Briton of 2007. The judges said, "Miss Rowling had transformed the world's view of Britain."

Terminus programming deadline extended

From WizardNews.com:
The planning team for Terminus, a five-day Harry Potter conference to be held August 7-11, 2008, has announced that the deadline for programming proposals has been extended to Sunday, February 3.

J.K. Rowling honoured at South Bank awards

From WizardNews.com:
J.K. Rowling has been honoured with an outstanding achievement prize at the South Bank Show awards. "I think it is the best book that I have written," she said while accepting her award. "It was my favourite story and I got to say all the things that really the books have been about all along, but I've never been able to be open about."

For the month of January 2008

2008-01-20T13:13:00.000-08:00

January 30th, 2008

Whompy's Whomp the House Tour 2008

From Marauder:
If for some reason you haven't heard by now, Matt of The Whomping Willows has put together a wrockin' house party tour. Check out Matt's "Official Guide" here, which contains information about the times, dates, and locations of the tour stops. If you are interested in attending the February 13th show in Denham Springs, LA, contact me, Marauder, or Laurie of The Purebloods, and we will give you more details.

Daniel Radcliffe splits with girlfriend

From WizardNews.com:
Daniel Radcliffe has split-up with his girlfriend Laura O'Toole. Radcliffe had been dating the actress since meeting her during his run in Equus on the London stage, but the pair have now decided to break up. "Daniel and I are still good friends and have a good time when we see each other," she says.

Emma's pleased to get her license

From Veritaserum.com:
Emma Watson updated her official website with a post announcing that she has received her driver's license. She wrote, "I passed my driving test at 10 o'clock this morning! It went really well and I am so pleased I can be independent in getting myself around now. My exams went pretty well, too."

Final Harry Potter installment hits bookstores across Poland

From WizardNews.com:
The Polish translation of the final Harry Potter book hit the stands at midnight, Friday, January 25th. Over 600,000 copies of the book are now available at Polish bookshops, malls and stands.

January 27th, 2008

Split Seven Ways needs your HELP NOW!

From Marisha:
The deadline for the BEAT compilation (which really does need a name) is the 31st of January - that's Thursday - and SHE NEED MORE SONGS! So, if you have one, please message her and she'll tell you where to send it. All she asks is that they be wrock and not have been available as free downloads. Other than that it can be anything - happy, angsty, serious, silly, anything! Please help her! Message Split Seven Ways HERE.

January 26th, 2008

HPWR2: An all new Potter Noyz Podcast!

Our great friends the boyz of Potter Noyz have just released an all new podcast, Harry Potter Wizard Rock Radio (HPWR2): A Potter Noyz Podcast. This all new project features more Potter Noyz humor plus songs by 7 other great Wrock artists. Be sure to give it a listen HERE, then join the DA II (instructions found in their blog on the Potter Noyz page here).

Crew gears up for HBP filming in Gloucester

From Veritaserum.com:
The Harry Potter crew is currently setting up for Half-Blood Prince shooting at Gloucester Cathedral, which served as one of three settings for Hogwarts in the first several films. According to This is Gloucestershire, Daniel Radcliffe, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Maggie Smith, and Julie Walters will all be on set during the shoot, indicating that the Order/Death Eater fight may be slated for filming.

Jason Isaac to speak at Holocaust Memorial

From Metro.co.uk:
Actor Jason Isaacs , best known for playing blonde baddie Lucius Malfoy, will be speaking at Holocaust Memorial Day in Liverpool tomorrow. When asked, "Why are you taking part in Holocaust Memorial Day?", Jason replied, "It's a worthwhile cause that reminds us to root out discrimination wherever it appears. A lot of people still say the Holocaust didn't happen, so it's important everyone understands the full and true horror of it. It's also about learning lessons from it and recognizing where discrimination can lead to. There are groups around that will happily make things worse in our society and we need to make sure the decent among us stand up for what's right."

J.K. Rowling demands a green Finnish for Harry

From WizardNews.com:
J.K. Rowling has blocked the Finnish version of her latest book from being printed on local paper because it lacks the ecological certification. Finland is one of the world's biggest paper producers, but Rowling has insisted that the printer import more environmentally-friendly paper for the publication of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows.

Dan Radcliffe talks about his next role

From WizardNews.com:
Daniel Radcliffe is to star in Journey as Daniel Eldon, a photographic journalist who was stoned to death by a mob in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993. Though he beat the likes of Orlando Bloom and Joaquin Phoenix to the coveted role, Dan has admitted the film is not as close to commencing production as had been previously reported.

January 24th, 2008

New Tonner Dolls and NECA Action Figures

From LeakyCauldron.org:
Tonner, the collectible doll makres, has announced new additions to their Harry Potter line: Severus Snape, Cho Chang and Kreacher dolls, which are due out later this year. Molded in the likeness of actress Katie Leung, the Cho Chang doll is dressed in her school uniform, including her Ravenclaw robe and her wand. The Professor Snape doll will be dressed in an authentic reproduction of his signature costume from the film. Of Kreacher, "Kreacher assures his mistress of the house that all the filthy traitors have left 12 Grimmauld Place." How lovely! Also, NECA updated their Myspace page with plans to release new Half-Blood Prince action figures. Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange, and a casual dressed Harry Potter holding the prophecy are due to be shipping to stores later this month. NECA reps also said that 5 more figures are completed and due out later in the fall.

Hallows and Horcruxes Valentines Compilation CD

From Marisha:
The Valentines Day Compilation CD, "Be my Wrocking Valentine", is now available for pre-order for $10 by check or money-order - but hopefully Paypal will be available soon. There is no S&H if you pre-order. The official release date will be released soon. Please message them on MySpace to pre-order your copy. Proceeds from this CD will be going to the Susan G. Komen charity.

Split Seven Ways Needs Your Help!

From Marisha:
Split Seven ways is need of songs for her compilation CD "B-EAT". Have you got an awesome new wrock song? Send it to them here. It's for a charity called "Beat", which is for awareness of eating disorders.

CatchLove is on iTunes!

From Marisha:
CatchLove's album "Where Do We Go From Here?" is now available on iTunes! This album includes: "The Second War Begins", "The Lonley Life of Sir Nick", "I Told You So", "Krum and the Mighty Ocean", "I Found Love in Wizard Rock", "In Which Our Claps Defeat Lord Voldemort", "Headed to the Ministry", "Where Do We Go From Here", "Mothers Day (Your Love)", "This Will Never Work", "Remember the Good Times?", "Dumbledore (Show Us What You're Made Of)", "Ron, I'm Telling You...", and "It'll Be Ok". Just do a music search, and buy your copy of "Where Do We Go From Here" on iTunes!

January 22nd, 2008

Dan Radcliffe to Suit Up For Sunday Cricket Match in LA

From LeakyCauldron.org:
Sports fan Dan Radcliffe may be coming out to Los Angeles, CA this weekend to take part in a celebrity match of one of his favorite sports - Cricket. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that organizers for the Australia Week G'Day USA festival have added this event to their schedule in hopes to further promote Australia in the US. Dan may appear at the game, which is also said may include Russell Crowe, Jude Law, Robbie Williams, and Mick Jagger.

No Mad-Eye in Half-Blood

From LeakyCauldron.org:
Brendan Gleeson, currently attending the Sundance Film Festival to promote his new film In Bruges, told MTV that he would not be seen as the auror Mad-Eye Moody in the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, but he will return for Deathly Hallows. He described his broom in OotP as, "The Harley Davidson of brooms." In Bruges also stars Ralph Fiennes and Clemence Poesy.

Deathly Hallows Nominated for Two Nebula Awards

From LeakyCauldron.org:
The 7th book in author J. K. Rowling's series has been nominated for 2 awards in the preliminary ballot for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America's Nebula Awards. This non-profit group, which aims to bring together the "most successful and daring writers of speculative fiction throughout the world", presents awards each year to a particular story that eligible voters have deemed the best of the year. Deathly Hallows has been nominated in the "Best Novel" category. The awards ceremony will take place the weekend of April 25th in Austin, Texas.

Order of the Phoenix honored with Golden Tomato

From WizardNews.com:
The 9th annual Golden Tomato Awards pays tribute to the best-reviewed films of the previous year as determined by the website RottenTomatoes.com. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix took a Golden Tomato for Best Science-Fiction/Fantasy Movie.

Ace of Cakes Premier

From LeakyCauldron.org:
The season premiere of the Ace of Cakes program on the Food Network will feature a very special cake of Hogwarts Castle and brief interviews with some of the actors from the Harry Potter movies including Dan Radcliffe. The Hogwarts Cake, created by Duff (aka The Ace of Cakes) was featured at the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Premiere Party in Los Angeles, CA. The Ace of Cakes program, featuring the Hogwarts cake, will air on Food Network Thursday, January 24th at 10:30pm ET.

Help Out A House-Elf!

From Marisha:
Hey all! Dobby & the House Elves will soon be releasing their debut EP entitled "Rock Out With Your Sock Out". The problem is - they need a cover! SO, they are hosting a competition and whoever makes the best cover for their EP wins! The conditions are: 1. It has to say somewhere on it "Rock Out With Your Sock Out" and the band name, 2. On the back it has to say the names of the songs ("Sock In The Book", "Dobby Is A Wrockstar", "Go Dobby Go", "Love Song For Winky", "Wizard Science", and "Good vs. Evil", 3. Theme it similar to their banner. The winner gets a dedication on the EP and a free copy! Message them if you would like to enter.

January 20th, 2008

Deathly Hallows Rumors Are False

From Veritaserum.com:
The Daily Mail previously published a buzz-worthy article stating that, according to "crews working on the 6th movie", the 7th and final Harry Potter film would be split into 2 movies. Warner Bros. has now confirmed to Empire Magazine that these rumors are false. According to the magazine, Steve Kloves, who will be the screenwriter, hasn't created the script yet, therefore no decision about the 7th movie has been taken so far.

Timothy Spall confirms he'll be back as Wormtail

From WizardNews.com and Veritaserum.com:
Moviehole talked to Timothy Spall who confirmed he'll be back as Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie. "I think they might be shooting 2 of them back-to-back, hard to know though, what with this writer's strike and all. They're shooting the penultimate one at the moment, which I have a brief appearance in it."
Note - No decision has yet been made about the Deathly Hallows movie.

JKR to receive honorary degree

From HPANA.com and LeakyCauldron.org:
J.K. Rowling will be the principal speaker at this year's Harvard Commencement ceremony on June 5th, where she will also receive an honorary degree. This will be the prestigious university's 357th graduation ceremony held this summer in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The president of Harvard said, "Perhaps no one in our time has done more than J.K. Rowling to inspire young people to experience the excitement and the sheer joy of reading. Her tales have cast a spell on millions of readers around the world. Harvard isn't exactly Hogwarts, but I'm sure that her visit with us will be a moment of magic." Jonathan Byrnes, president of the Harvard Alumni Association, added, "There are countless Harry Potter devotees throughout the Harvard family and we look forward to warmly welcoming one of the world's best-read authors to our Commencement festivities."

Deathly Hallows Audio Book Honored by ALA

From Leaky Cauldron.org:
The American Library Association announced their winners for the year's top books, videos, and audiobooks for children and young adults. In the first ever Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production, the audiobook of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, narrated by Jim Dale, was named an honor title. Deathly Hallows was further named on the list of 2008 Notable Children's Books, specifically in the "Older Reader" category. According to the ALA, "as applied to children's books, 'notable' should be thought to include books of especially commendable quality, that exhibit venturesome creativity that reflect and encourage children's interests in exemplary ways."

Signed Potter books sell for $14,000

From WizardNews.com:
A unique set of Harry Potter books have raised nearly £7,000 at an auction for a rugby club destroyed by fire. The 7 signed books were personally donated by J.K. Rowling to raise funds for Portobello Rugby Club in Edinburgh. The set was bought by an unnamed buyer from Scotland who said he would be keeping the books as an investment.

Daniel getting fit for Equus?

From WizardNews.com:
It seems Daniel Radcliffe is set to embark on a gruelling fitness regime to get back into shape for his Broadway debut after apparently piling on the pounds over Christmas. A source said, "Daniel has started stressing about the Broadway show of Equus. He starts rehearsals this summer and wants to be in peak condition by then."

Vatican says Harry Potter is 'wrong kind of hero'

From WizardNews.com:
The Vatican condmened J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter today describing the teen wizard as "the wrong kind of hero." In a lengthy article in the Vatican's official newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, headlined "The Double Face of Harry Potter", it said it was wrong to compare Rowling's books with the other childrens greats such as Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia.

2008 Wizard Rock EP of the Month Club

From WizardRock.org:
If you're subscribed to the Wizard Rock EP of the Month Club, it's time to renew your subscription for 2008. New subscriptions are also being welcomed, but re-subscribers will receive a mysterious, but "decidedly awesome", bonus gift at "an unspecified point in the year." For more information about this and other great Wrock news, check out WizardRock.org .

January 14th, 2008

Rumor: Final Harry Potter book may be made into 2 films

From WizardNews.com:
It may take 2 full-length movies to do justice to the final Harry Potter book, Hollywood sources say. Crew members currently working on the film adaptation of Rowling's novel Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, have said the final book of her magical series, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, will be released as 2 films, the Daily Mail reported.

New Poll on Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Universal's official website for news regarding The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has a new poll. Visitors can vote on "Where you would most like to get a refreshment or snack in Hogsmeade?" Choices include The Hog's Head, The Three Broomsticks, or Honeydukes. Currently in first place is "The Three Broomsticks" with 52% of the vote.

Emma Watson films Slughorn scenes for Half-Blood Prince

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
Last Thursday, Emma Watson filmed scenes with Jim Broadbent (Horace Slughorn) for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, according to a diary entry on her website. She writes, "Today is my first day with Jim Broadbent as Professor Slughorn. It is amazing to be working with him. It is also great because I have been eating profiteroles ALL DAY at Slughorn's dinner party!!!"

OotP wins at People's Choice Awards

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has picked up the award for "Favourite Movie Drama" at the 2007 People's Choice Awards. The winner was chosen by fan vote.

J.K. to be Honored by South Bank Show Awards

From LeakyCauldron.org:
There is a new report online claiming that J.K. Rowling is to receive a special honour. Richard Kay, columnist for The Daily Mail writes that the Harry Potter author is "due to receive an award for outstanding achievement" at the 12th annual South Bank Show Awards. The South Bank Show Awards will be presented at the Dorchester Hotel in London, England, on January 29th, then later broadcast on UK channel ITV Sunday, February 3rd.

January 13th, 2008

The Weasley Twins and Krum to appear in Florida in May

From WizardNews.com:
James and Oliver Phelps and Stanislav Ianevski will be among the guests at the Florida Supercon at the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Resort in Weston, Florida on May 23rd - 25th. The convention will include a lot of Q&A segments, parties, costume contests, anime programming, cosplay, workshops, panels, and photo shoots.

Helen McCrory excited about Harry Potter 6

From WizardNews.com:
Helen McCrory has revealed she can't wait to star in the next Harry Potter film, Half-Blood Prince. She is due to start filming her role as Narcissa Malfoy. She said, "I'm looking forward to it. It's unusual to have such a successful film only starring British actors."

Rumor: First official Half-Blood Prince poster?

From WizardNews.com:
Though there has yet to have been any word from Warner Bros. on this, it looks like the first official poster for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has found its way online. It depicts the entrance to a very important cave, one where something very important might be hidden. However, there is a very good chance this poster was made by a fan.

Rugby club to convert Potter books into cash

From WizardNews.com:
A rare collection of signed Harry Potter books is to be auctioned to raise funds for a rugby club in Edinburgh. Proceeds from the sale of the 7 book set, which has been donated by author J.K. Rowling, will help fund the restoration of Portobello Rugby Club's clubhouse, which was burned down by vandals.

January 6th, 2008

Radcliffe and Fry to donate glasses

From HarryPotterFanZone.com and WizardNews.com:

Stephen Fry and Dan Radcliffe have both donated eyeglasses to a Holocaust memorial art exhibition. The exhibition in Liverpool will open January 21st. On donating the glasses, Dan said, "Please find enclosed my first pair of glasses which I wore at school at six." Jason Isaacs, who stars as the sinister Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, will also take part in the service.

Del Toro definitely interested in Harry Potter 7

From WizardNews.com:
In a new interview with director Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy and Pan's Labyrinth), he says he was "definitely interested" in possibly directing the final Harry Potter film, saying "after Alfonso Cuaron directed Prisoner of Azkaban, the movies have evolved greatly into a very nice universe to play at."

Miriam Margolyes to join Broadway's Wicked on January 22

From WizardNews.com:
Miriam Margolyes, known to Harry Potter fans as Professor Sprout, will take over the role of Madame Morrible in the Broadway production of Wicked on January 22, replacing current portrayer and original star Carole Shelley. Margolyes originated the role of Madame Morrible in the London production of Wicked.

OotP included on BAFTA longlists

From HPANA.com:
With the awards season slowly upon us, news comes from Britain that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has been included in the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA's) longlists for this year in 6 categories.

Radcliffe and Watson on IMDB 'Top 25 for 2007'

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
Dan Radcliffe and Emma Watson have both placed on IMDB's Top 25 for 2007 stars list. Dan placed 17th on the list, while Emma placed 22nd. The list was topped by actor Johnny Depp.

January 1st, 2008

Happy New Year and welcome to the year 2008! It's a new year and a new month and that means a new BoM and FoM - The Curse Breakers and Amanda, respectively. Check out The Curse Breakers right here on page 3 of your Daily Prophet and swing by The Kitchen of The Burrow or our MySpace page for a link to Amanda.

Dan Radcliffe to star in story of photo-journalist

From WizardNews.com:
Daniel Radcliffe will star as photographer Dan Eldon in Journey, about civil war in Somalia. Eldon was one of 4 journalists stoned to death by a hate mob there in 1993. Accepting the role shows Dan is fast becoming a serious actor. Several top Hollywood actors like Heath Ledger and Orlando Bloom wanted the coveted role, but Eldon's family decided Dan was the only one who could play the part.

The 13 Days of Christmas?

From WizardRock.org:
Bands 12 and 13 were announced for Wrockstock 2008 earlier this week. The Bandon Banshees and the Mudbloods will be joining in on the Wrockstock fun this May.

For the month of December 2007

2007-12-08T21:13:00.000-08:00

December 30th, 2007

Room of Requirement Door Open at JKR's Web Site!

JKRowling.com's "Room of Requirement" door is now open, revealing the map of the future generations of Harry Potter characters. Jo drew this chart while being filmed for the documentary, "JK Rowling, A Year in the Life", which will be airing on British ITV. You can access the RoR by clicking the eraser on her main desk and then clicking the handle on the door.

Deathly Hallows USA Today Book of the Year

From WizardNews.com and HPANA:
USA Today has named Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as "Book of the Year" stating that is due because "Rowling gave her story an ending that was as graceful, unpredictable and satisfying as the series itself." Deathly Hallows sold a record-breaking 11.5 million copies in the USA during its first 10 days on sale in July.

J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter rank high at AbeBooks

From WizardNews.com:
Over the past year AbeBooks.com, the world's largest online marketplace for books, has tracked the bestselling and most expensive books sold on their site for a couple of different categories. J.K. Rowling took the title of bestselling author, beating out Shakespeare, and two of her books (Deathly Hallows and Sorcerer's Stone) made the top 5 overall bestsellers.

Harry Potter tops book and DVD charts in the UK

From WizardNews.com:
Harry Potter dominated both the 2007 book and DVD best-sellers lists released by Amazon.co.uk. The 7th and final book in author JK Rowling's series about the young wizard sold more units via the online retailer than any other product. It was followed in 2nd place in the Amazon chart by the DVD of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Richard Griffiths and Julie Walters awarded British honors

From WizardNews.com:
Last Friday, Richard Griffiths was awarded an OBE (Orders of the British Empire) for services to drama. Also on Friday, Julie Walters was made a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) for her services to drama.

'Potter' comic in 'Mother Goose & Grimm'

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
Harry Potter is the subject of Monday's Mother Goose and Grimm comic strip. The rather amusing comic focuses around the Christmas wish of many Potter fans - an 8th book. Check it out by clicking here.

December 24th, 2007

J.K. says she's tempted to write eighth Potter novel

From WizardNews.com:
J.K. Rowling has given hope to millions of Harry Potter fans by hinting of plans to add an 8th book to the boy wizard franchise, although the story may not be built around the title character. She says, "There have been times since finishing, some weak moments, when I've said, 'Yeah, all right', to an 8th novel."

J.K. Rowling discusses 'Beedle the Bard' and more

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
J.K. Rowling has updated her official website today with a new news entry, FAQ answer and fan site award. Jo discusses The Tales of Beedle the Bard and reacts to the auction at which it fetched a whopping £1,950,000. In the FAQ section, Jo briefly comments on the upcoming encyclopedia. She also added a new fan site award, given to one of our own OPA friends, The HP Alliance.

Colin Creevey awards Potter prizes at his school

From WizardNews.com:
The Harry Potter Competition, also known as "Potty about Potter", at the Pilgrims School in Winchester, England, reached its conclusion when the prizes were awarded by Hugh Mitchell, the actor who plays Colin Creevy in the Harry Potter films. Hugh was a pupil at The Pilgrims' School when he attended an audition that landed him the role.

Bands 10 and 11 of Wrockstock

From WizardRock.org:
The 10th and 11th bands have been announced for Wrockstock 2008 and they are Hogwarts, A History and Gred and Forge respectively. In other news, the 10th episode of the Podcast of Awesome has been released.

December 20th, 2007

More Half-Blood Prince film casting revealed

From WizardNews.com and HarryPotterFanZone.com:
CBBC Newsround revealed today the names of more actors chosen to star in The Half-Blood Prince. Cormac McLaggen, the wannabe Gryffindor Keeper who Hermione uses to try and make Ron jealous, will be played by Freddie Stroma. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Louis Cordice will play Blaise Zabini, a Slytherin student who dislikes muggle borns. Gryffindor chaser Katie Bell will be played by Georgina Leonidas, while her friend Leanne will be played by Isabella Laughland. Romilda Vane will be played by Anna Shaffer, while Robert Knox will play Marcus Belby. In November, Jessie Cave was announced as the actress who would play the role of Lavender Brown. The new cast will begin filming early next year.

JKR ranked third for Time Person of the Year

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
Despite high support from fans, J.K. Rowling has been ranked as a runner-up by Time for their Person of the Year. Rowling came in at the number three spot. The list was topped by Russian president Vladimir Putin. You can read what Time said about Rowling by clicking here.

Patrick Doyle talks scoring Potter

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, composer Patrick Doyle talks about scoring Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Doyle talks about following in the footsteps of composer John Williams, and the process involved with scoring the fourth Harry Potter film. Read it here.

December 19th, 2007

Amazon reviews final Beedle tale

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
Amazon has reviewed the final fairytale from J.K. Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard titled "The Tale of the Three Brothers" - the tale that was crucial in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. You can read the review by clicking here.

Lucius Malfoy on Forbes rich list

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
Forbes has released their annual listing of the fifteen richest fictional characters. Lucius Malfoy features on this year's list at the number fourteen spot with an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion.

Alan Rickman won't spill the beans on Snape

From WizardNews.com:
When MTV caught up with Alan Rickman in London for Sweeney Todd, they asked what he thought of what's finally revealed about Snape in Deathly Hallows, and he refused to answer. "There may have been people who have not read that book," he insisted. "I won't talk about it just in case somebody flips some channel, some computer screen, and they haven't got that far."

Daniel Radcliffe spends $4 million Manhattan penthouse

From WizardNews.com:
Dan Radcliffe has dipped into impressive fortune to secure a $4 million Manhattan penthouse in New York's trendy SoHo district. It's a notable purchase for Radcliffe, who has so far preferred to spend his $46 million fortune on books and CDs.

What, More Wrockstock News?!

From WizardRock.org:
That's right, the 9th band has been announced. Head on over to Ginny and the Heartbreakers' myspace page to congratulate them on being the 9th band announced. Here's the list so far: Ginny and the Heartbreakers, Justin Finch-Fletchley and the Sugar Quills, Tom Riddle and Friends, Quaffle Kids, Catchlove, The Remus Lupins, The Whomping Willows, and Draco and the Malfoys.

December 17th, 2007

Newsweek awards Deathly Hallows Best Book of 2007

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
Newsweek has revealed its list of the top fifteen books of 2007. The magazine gave Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows the top spot.

Official WB Description of "Half-Blood Prince" Film
HBP Film

From LeakyCauldron.org:
In addition to the first official photo from the upcoming Half-Blood Prince movie, Warner Bros has also released their official description of the 6th film, which states, "Fantasy Adventure. Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort's defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information. Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Harry finds himself more and more drawn to Ginny, but so is Dean Thomas. And Lavender Brown has decided that Ron is the one for her, only she hadn't counted on Romilda Vane's chocolates! And then there's Hermione, simpering with jealously but determined not to show her feelings. As romance blossoms, one student remains aloof. He is determined to make his mark, albeit a dark one. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again."

December 16th, 2007

First Look: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

From WizardNews.com:
Warner Bros released the first official production photo from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the 6th Harry Potter movie currently being filmed in England. The picture is Harry in muggle clothes, carrying what appears to be a school book and the marauder's map. You can view the pic here.

More on Amazon and the Beedle

From WizardNews.com and HarryPotterFanZone.com:
Online book dealer Amazon confirmed London art agents Hazlitt, Gooden and Fox bought a rare J.K. Rowling volume for $4 million on Amazon's behalf. Amazon, which said it doesn't intend to sell the book, is looking into how to share the collection of five fairy tales with fans without violating copyright rules, the Times of London said. Amazon has posted reviews of 4 of the 5 tales which can be viewed here (The Wizard and the Hopping Pot), here (The Fountain of Fair Fortune), here (The Warlock's Hairy Heart), and here.

J.K. Rowling nominated for Great Briton Award

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
J.K. Rowling has been nominated at the Morgan Stanley Great Briton awards under the category of "Arts". Jo is nominated alongside artist Damien Hirst and actor Sir Ian McKellen. The awards recognize key figures of the past year, as nominated by the British public.

More on Wrockstock

From WizardRock.org:
On the sixth day of Wrockstock announcements my true love gave to me Tom Riddle and Friends, The Quaffle Kids, the awesome band called Catchlove, all three Remus Lupins, The Whomping Willows, and Draco and the Malfoys in a pear tree!

December 14th, 2007

J.K. Rowling manuscript fetches £1.95 million

From WizardNews.com and HarryPotterFanZone.com:
A hand-written and illustrated tale of wizardry by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling fetched £1.95 million ($3.98 million), nearly 40 times its expected price, at auction on Thursday. The Tales of Beedle the Bard had been expected to go for up to £50,000 at the sale by Sotheby's in London. It has been revealed that Amazon.com was the purchaser of the book. J.K. Rowling was stunned by the staggering price it fetched. J.K. watched the auction live on the internet. When the book sold sold for £1,950,000, she said, "I'm stunned and ecstatic. This will mean so much to the children desperately in need of help. It means Christmas has come early for me."

Deathly Hallows hits the shelves in Bulgaria

From WizardNews.com:
The last book of the Harry Potter series, which is expected to break all sales records so far, was released in Bulgaria on Thursday. Fervent fans of the magician are already able to buy Book 7 at the price of BGN29,90 and the English-language edition of the book is expected to become a best seller in Bulgaria, according to Helikon bookstores.

Potter stars earn Golden Globe nominations

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
Four Harry Potter cast members earned nominations at the 2008 Golden Globe awards. Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), Jim Broadbent (Horace Slughorn), Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy) and Julie Christie (Madame Rosmerta) all received award consideration.

Here Comes Band Number Four

From WizardRock.org:
That's right, the fourth band to be announced by the Wrockstock crew is Catchlove!

December 13th, 2007

Robert Pattinson cast in new teen-vampire thriller

From WizardNews.com:
Robert Pattinson, who played Cedric Diggory in the Harry Potter movies, has been cast in the teen-vampire thriller Twilight, based on Stephanie Meyer's young-adult novel. Robert will play Edward, a teenaged vampire who falls for a non-vampire high school classmate. Pattinson has also been cast as Salvador Dali in the upcoming Little Ashes.

Behind-the-scenes look at the Ministry of Magic

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
There�s a very detailed behind-the-scenes look at the Ministry of Magic online over at Video Detective. In the clip, director David Yates and production designer Stuart Craig talk about the inspiration for the set, construction and filming. You can check out the video by clicking here.

Step-dad Guy Ritchie says Lourdes not cast in Potter movie

From WizardNews.com:
Recent reports that Guy Ritchie's step-daughter, Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon, daughter of Madonna, is set to have a cameo in "Half-Blood Prince" as a student at Hogwarts are untrue, insisted Ritchie, who told MTV News that the eleven-year-old will remain a Muggle.

The Third Band of Wrockstock

From WizardRock.org:
The third band of Wrockstock is none other than The Remus Lupins. Toby and Tyler join Alex for another round of wrocking good fun at Wrockstock 2008. If you're keeping track that means The Remus Lupins, The Whomping Willows, and Draco and the Malfoys are attending.

December 12th, 2007

Cho and Luna react to Deathly Hallows epilogue

From WizardNews.com:
For Luna Lovegood and Cho Chang, or at least, the actresses who play them, they're quite happy with their happily-ever-afters. "We do know what happens with Luna," Evanna Lynch said. "She marries Rolf Scamander, the grandson of Newt Scamander and becomes a famous naturalist. I can't do better than that." "I'm hoping Cho is like Luna, and happily married with kids," Katie Leung said.

Potter stars talk Half-Blood Prince with MTV

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
Dan Radcliffe, Evanna Lynch, Katie Leung, Bonnie Wright and director David Yates recently shared some thoughts on Half-Blood Prince with MTV. In the interview, the group discuss casting, humour and relationships. Dan comments on the humour in the film, noting, "If we pull it off, it should be the funniest of the films so far." Evanna Lynch comments on Frank Dillane, the actor cast to portray 16-year-old Tom Riddle, saying, "I saw him, but to go up and say, 'Hi'? He's Voldemort!" On relationships in the film, David Yates notes, "It's the 'American Graffiti' for this set." On Ginny's relationship with Harry, Bonnie Wright says, "I suppose our relationship lasts longer than Cho and Harry, but remember, at the end of Book 6, Harry and I can't be together." Finally, Katie Leung comments on Cho's failed relationship with Harry. She says, "There's still a slight jealousy there with Ginny to be resolved. I'm glad she's there fighting for the good side even though her relationship with Harry didn't work out in the end."

Second Wrockstock Band Announced

From WizardRock.org:
First Whompy releases a new song, and myspace page for his side project, and now he's the second band to be announced for Wrockstock! That's right folks, you'll be able to wrock out with your trunk out with the Whomping Willows at Wrockstock 2008. The previous band announced was Draco and the Malfoys. It's shaping up to be a pretty awesome event!

December 11th, 2007

Deathly Hallows paperback to be released July 5, 2008

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
Bloomsbury has released that the 7th Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, will be published in paperback on July 5, 2008. The book will be published with 2 covers - the children's jacket and the adult jacket, and will cost £8.99. It will be printed on 100% Ancient-Forest Friendly paper.

J.K. gives fairy tale reading before Beedle The Bard auction

From WizardNews.com:
J.K. Rowling gave a reading of fairytales mentioned in the final Harry Potter novel at a reception at Sotheby's auction house in London, before they are auctioned to raise money for a children's charity. Rowling has hand-written and illustrated just 7 copies of the Tales Of Beedle The Bard, which will not be published.

New interview with Evanna Lynch

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
A new interview with Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) has surfaced online over at the Winnipeg Sun. In the interview, Lynch talks about meeting Jo Rowling, being a Harry Potter fan, and life on set. You can read the full interview here.

30 new hi-res studio promos from OOTP

From Veritaserum.com:
Thanks to Oclumencia.com.br for finding 30 new hi-resolution studio photos of various characters in Order of the Phoenix, including Sirius Black, Ginny Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Dolores Umbridge, Sybill Trelawney, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Nymphadora Tonks, Severus Snape, Ron Weasley, Fred and George Weasley, Bellatrix Lestrange, Cho Chang, Mad-Eye Moody, and Draco and Lucius Malfoy. These photos can be seen here.

Wrockstock Band Announced

From WizardRock.org:
Keep an eye out, because every day for the next twelve days the bands performing at Wrockstock 2008 will be announced. So, who is the first of many amazing bands to be announced? Why if it isn't everyones' favorite Slytherins... Draco and the Malfoys!

December 10th, 2007

David Heyman: Harry Potter Films Reflect "Issues of Loyalty and Trust and Friendship"

From LeakyCauldron.org:
The popularity of fantasy films at the box office is the subject of a new article in the LA Times, and mentions the impact and influence of such films as the Harry Potter series. Producer David Heyman is among those interviewed and he notes that while there is a fantasy element in the movies, the themes often relate to real world issues. "Fairy-tale endings aside, the fantasy world is not always a pleasant place. The best fantasy films reflect what is going on today. I think the Potter films reflect, in some form, issues of loyalty and trust and friendship, and of propaganda and misinformation and people not being prepared to see what is before them, wanting to see only what they want to see." The article continues to describe how the success of the Harry Potter series broke through previously held conceptions by the studios, and showed how American audiences would react to fantasy films with a non American cast. "Harry Potter came along and all those cultural or geographical lines were broken."

Update: Special OOTP DVD packages from Target, more

From HarryPotterFanZone.com:
According to their respective Sunday ads, Target, Best Buy and Wal-Mart will be releasing special Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix DVD packages in the US on Tuesday. Target's "Deluxe Edition" ($24.99) will include a digital download of the movie, an exclusive 3D cover (left), and a bonus disc dubbed "Building the Magic". Best Buy's "2-Disc Special Edition With Collectible Mask" ($34.99) will contain just that: a collectible Death Eater Mask. Finally, Wal-Mart's "2-Pack Gift Set" ($19.96) will consist of three metal bookmarks - a snitch, broom and globe.

Deathly Hallows Italian Cover Art Revealed; Translations Published In Israel, Norway

From LeakyCauldron.org:
The Italian Publishers of the Harry Potter novels, Salani Editore, have revealed the cover art for their edition of the seventh book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. You can view the cover art for this edition here.

December 9th, 2007

Barbara Walters names J.K. Rowling year's most fascinating person

From WizardNews.com:
J.K. Rowling has been crowned the year's most "fascinating" person on the annual 10 Most Fascinating People list presented by Barbara Walters, who said Rowling deserved to top the list because of the entertainment her books had brought to millions, and "Like her Harry Potter series her life has been a dark yet wondrous fairy tale."

WFTV Awards

From WizardNews.com and HPANA.com:
J.K. Rowling was among those honored at the U.K.'s 17th Women in Film and Television Awards, awarded over lunch at London's Hilton, Park Lane. Rowling received the U.K. Film Council-backed script award, which recognizes the contribution of women in the U.K. film and TV industries. Evanna Lynch and Emma Thompson also attended the awards ceremony. Other attendees included Simon Cowell, Bob Hoskins, Rosamund Pike and Catherine Tate.

J.K. Updates Her Official Site

From WizardNews.com:
Thursday, on her official web site, J.K. Rowling revealed that for the last 12 months she has been filmed for a documentary which follows my life over the last year of writing Harry Potter and includes footage of me working on Deathly Hallows, on tour, at the launch and much more. Further, she updated her diary after a four-month absense, and talked about what she's been doing since the final book came out, how she felt as the story ended, and thanked fans for their support.

Potter stars nominated for Theatregoers' Choice Awards

From HPANA.com:
The Theatregoers' Choice nominees for 2007 were announced today and Daniel Radcliffe, from the Harry Potter movies, is up for the "Dewynters Award for London Newcomer of the Year" for Equus, while fellow actor Fiona Shaw was nominated for "Best Solo Performance" for her role in Happy Days.

"The Harry Potter Kids" documentary to air on the Biography channel in U.S.

From HPANA.com:
The U.S. channel, Biography, will air a special documentary called "The Harry Potter Kids" which will profile actors Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson from the movies later this month.

December 7th, 2007

Jim Dale nominated for a Grammy

From HPANA.com:
The 50th annual Grammy award nominations were announced earlier today and Jim Dale, the voice actor for the US Harry Potter audiobooks, has been nominated for an award for his work on Deathly Hallows, under the category of "Best Spoken Word Album For Children".

Rowling & Stephen Fry attend British Comedy Awards

From HPANA.com:
Last night in London, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling presented Stephen Fry, the voice behind the British audio books, the British Comedy Lifetime Achievement award, at the annual British Comedy Awards show.

Dan Radcliffe is world's top-earning young male actor

From WizardNews.com:
Daniel Radcliffe is apparently the world's top-earning young male actor. According to Forbes.com's 20 Under 25: The Top-Earning Young Superstars, the British star, who is most famous for playing Harry Potter, earned 15 million dollars, more than performers twice his age. The Harry Potter franchise also turned his co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint into instant millionaires.

Emma Watson among guests at exclusive Chanel dinner

From WizardNews.com:
Not many A-levels students receive an invite to an ultra exclusive dinner hosted by fashion maestro Karl Lagerfeld, but then again Emma Watson isn't your average schoolgirl. The 17-year-old actress, who recently appeared at number 15 in Forbes magazine's list of top earning celebs under 25, has become something of a Chanel ambassador of late.

Empire Names 100 Sexiest Movie Stars

From LeakyCauldron.org:
Empire Magazine has just released their list of the 100 Sexiest Movie Stars, and a number of actors from the Harry Potter films have been named. Joining the ranks of good looking actors from past, Harry Potter actors Alan Rickman (Professor Snape), Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), and Dan Radcliffe (Harry Potter) were chosen by voters to be included on the list. Empire says about Alan Rickman, who came in at 83 on the list, that no one does bad better than he. "It's the voice that does it, that and a commanding screen presence. Such is his ability to give good evil that he even makes the oily Professor Severus Snape somehow attractive." Following at number 72, Gary Oldman, while Emma Watson comes in at 26 with the note, "She's grown up well through the Harry Potter movies from bushy haired child to confident, elegant young woman." Dan Radcliffe, who placed at number 23, is said to have developed into a confident and fine-looking young actor. Radcliffe's future looks very bright indeed.

December 6th, 2007

Potter stars sign for run of Equus on Broadway

From WizardNews.com:
Daniel Radcliffe and Tony winner Richard Griffiths have inked a deal for the Broadway production of Equus, which will open next fall. To sign on for the New York production, Radcliffe had to stand up to Warner Brothers. who wanted the actor to make the final two Harry Potter movies back-to-back movies. Radcliffe balked, saying he wanted a break between movies to do Broadway, sources say.

Emma Watson is In Style

From WizardNews.com:
Harry Potter actress Emma Watson is being featured in the January issue of In Style magazine. In the article, on the photo shoot outfits, Emma said, "I love the clothes and that there's so much colour. I wish I could dress like this every day of my life." Emma shunned the services of a stylist, saying, "Getting someone else to choose things takes the fun out of it."

Signed copy of Deathly Hallows to be auctioned for charity

From WizardNews.com:
A signed copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is among the items in an AbeBooks.com's online charity auction taking place between December 6 and 11. Earlier this year, AbeBooks.com sold a signed copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for $5,500.

Potter stars included on Empire's '100 Sexiest Movie Stars' list

From HPANA.com:
British magazine Empire just posted their annual '100 Sexiest Movie Stars' list online and it includes Harry Potter actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Gary Oldman and Alan Rickman.

"Lord of the Rings" Tops "Harry Potter" in New Book to Film Poll

From LeakyCauldron.org:
There was yet another poll released in the UK asking people to vote for their favorite film adaptation of a beloved book series. The winner of the poll was Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien, with the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling coming in second place. This poll was sponsored by Lovefilm.com who asked 1,000 members to vote, with the website noting "It's hard to recreate the magic of the page on the big screen but every title listed here has managed to do just that."

December 5th, 2007

Construction officially underway on Harry Potter World

From WizardNews.com:
It's perhaps the most eagerly anticipated addition to Orlando's assortment of rides, shows and attractions in more than a decade: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is slated to open at Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure in 2009, and construction walls have been popping up all over the Lost Continent section of that theme park over the past three weeks.

Tim Roth desperate to appear in Harry Potter

From WizardNews.com:
British actor Tim Roth says he is desperate to appear in the final two Harry Potter films, despite turning down a role in the boy wizard franchise 6 years ago. The Reservoir Dogs star was offered the part of Severus Snape in the movie adaptations of the book, but passed up the role which was eventually given to Alan Rickman.

Sectus 2009 to take place in British castle

From WizardNews.com:
Following on the success of Sectus 2007 in London, Sectus 2009, a four-day Harry Potter convention for adults has now been announced. Set in a magnificent Grade II listed castle in Britain, this will be a unique event, combining a formal conference with a celebration of one of the best-loved fantasy series of all time.

Emma Thompson and Imelda Staunton attend charity event

From HPANA.com:
Emma Thompson and Imelda Staunton from the "Harry Potter" movies attended the Helen Bamber Foundation charity event earlier this week.

JKR Speaks of Multiple Sclerosis in "Your Total Health" Feature

From LeakyCauldron.org:
The nationally syndicated morning program "Your Total Health" featured a segment on this past weekend's show discussing the subject of Multiple Sclerosis, which included comments from author J.K. Rowling. This video features clips of Jo speaking on that subject, her efforts to raise awareness of MS, and of her 17 year journey with Harry Potter. You can view this segment via YouTube.

Air Date of Ballet Shoes Revealed

From LeakyCauldron.org:
The official Emma Watson website has now been updated to reveal the broadcast date of her new film Ballet Shoes. The movie will be aired in the UK December 26 on BBC1 at 8:30pm.

December 2nd, 2007

New BoM, FoM

It's now December and that means a new pick for the Official PA Band of the Month and MySpace Friend of the Month... Firenze and the Centaurs of the Forbidden Forest and Kelly, respectively. Check out the new BoM here in the Daily Prophet on page 3 and find a link to both our new BoM and FoM in our top friends of the Official PA MySpace page.

New "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" Poster

From LeakyCauldron.org:
Scholastic, the US publishers of the Harry Potter novels, has now updated their website with a brand new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows poster. This poster, which you can download and print out at home via this link features various artwork by Mary GrandePre featured in Harry Potter book seven, now in color. Enjoy!

Chris Rankin Visits Voyager School in the UK for ITV Documentary

From LeakyCauldron.org:
Students of the Voyager School in the UK got a treat the other day when actor Chris Rankin (Percy Weasley) participated in a drama workshop at the school. Peterborough Today reports on the visit which will be part of a new documentary set to be broadcast on ITV1 on December 20 at 7:30pm local time. Mr. Rankin spent the afternoon with the students, acting out scenes from Sorcerer's Stone, giving tips on acting technique and answering questions on many different subjects. Chris also spoke of the event saying, "It's been really good fun. It's something I really enjoy doing because, had it not been for the drama department at my school, I would not be doing this. When I joined drama school I was really shy and quiet. But when my school put me in a production I really loved it."

Update on ITV J.K. Rowling Documentary

From LeakyCauldron.org:
A reminder that later this month, UK channel ITV will be broadcasting an exclusive documentary on author J.K. Rowling as she completed Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. As reported by The Scotsman and The Telegraph, "the cameras follow the Deathly Hallows manuscript's journey from computer to agent and finally to the publisher. Rowling also guides viewers around her childhood home and locations featured in the Potter books."

Alan Rickman Donates Autographed Script Pages, More for Charity Auction

From LeakyCauldron.org:
Actor Alan Rickman has donated a few items he has gathered from his role as Professor Severus Snape to a charity auction. Included in the auction are Alan Rickman's original cast and crew Hogwarts/Quidditch shirt, two pages of his working script sides from Goblet of Fire, and headshot photos of the actor. Both the script pages and the photo are autographed by Mr.Rickman. The auction is for ANSA, or Artists for a New South Africa which support programs to help AIDS orphans in Africa. You can find out more and bid here via Charity Folks. This auction runs until December 14.

Katie Leung Joins "Poirot" Cast In Upcoming ITV1 Program

From LeakyCauldron.org:
Actress Katie Leung is taking on a new role in an episode of the long running British television drama Poirot. The Sunday Mail is reporting that Miss Leung is set to film an episode entitled "Cat Amongst The Pigeons", an adaptation of one of Agatha Christie's Poirot mystery novels. According to the article, Katie will be playing Hsui Tai, a pupil at a private all-girls school who helps the legendary sleuth solve a murder at the school and the mystery of a kidnapped Middle Eastern princess' for the drama set to be broadcast on ITV1 next year.