Pics From Collector Mania 6
One of our members, Jess, attended the CollectorMania 6 Show just today. No report yet, but we do have a few pics of our Harry Potter stars there.
Click to see larger view, and Enjoy!!

Another Interview with J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling's recent interview with GirlGuiding Scotland is now available online and a very good read. Rowling speaks about many different things, including Scotland ("Scotland is one of the most hauntingly beautiful places in the world, the history is fascinating, the men are handsome and the whisky is delicious."), Girl Guides, being a woman, careers and, of course, Harry Potter.

When asked how she manages to stay on track when writing her books despite the huge amount of pressure and fan expectations, the celebrated author had this to say:

"I am very protective of my characters and the storyline; I stick fiercely to what I believe is right for them even if I know that it will make some fans unhappy (for instance, some of the romance in book six disappointed readers who were hoping for other pairings). However, resisting this kind of pressure is not as difficult as you might think, because I did a lot of planning in the seven years between having the idea for the Potter books and the publication of Philosopher's Stone, so I have a kind of map to keep me on track."

Source: HPANA

Lucius Malfoy's Link to Paris Hilton

Actor Jason Isaacs, who portrays Death Eater Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies, admitted in a recent interview with Empire that he has yet to read the script of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: "They started without me." Isaacs said. "Like most things in my life. I haven't even read the script yet. To be honest, I don’t know what happens in it. I know that I’m meant to end up in prison - that’s no great secret."

When Asked about whether he will make an appearance in the movie, Isaacs replied, "I hope so, I can’t bear the idea that somebody else would get to wear my Paris Hilton wig, but you never know." He then added: "The wig is on time-share with Paris Hilton and she comes round. It takes a lot longer to prise it off me at the end of the day because I fancy myself as the lead singer of Sweet. Nah, it’s not very long, they’re all terribly slick with it. I miss it. I like the wig."

Ah yes... there's nothing as refreshing as a Death Eater with a good sense of fun!

Chris Rankin on Percy Weasley

Actor Chris Rankin, who portrays Percy Weasley in the Harry Potter movies, had this to say about the evolution of his character in Order of the Phoenix in a recent article on icSurreyOnline:

"My character didn't appear in the last film but, when he makes his return in the next one, he starts to become really obnoxious. By that stage, of course, he's working for the Ministry of Magic and he's become so power-hungry that he'll step on anyone to get where he wants. And let's just say that the Minister for Magic has his shoes well and truly kissed!"

Source: HPANA

New Composer
David Yates, the director of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, has announced the appointment of his long-term friend Nicholas Hooper as the composer for the new Potter movie.Hooper, whose work for The Young Visitors won him the BAFTA for Best Original Score, will take over the reigns from internationally acclaimed composer John Williams, who left after the last film.It has been speculated that this appointment could well change over the next months, with work on the score not actually due to start until 2007, but sources suggest that the announcement is correct and will remain the same.
**This from Digital Spy

A Little More from Rupert about OOTP

In yet another interview, this time with MTV, Rupert Grint talked a little more about what's currently happening on the set of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: "I'm dueling Hermione, and I get thrown back a lot, which we do with me wearing a harness. We're doing quite a few stunts, but the really big fight scenes are coming up."

Grint is of course referring to a key sequence in which Harry teaches Defense techniques to a group of 'rebel' students known as Dumbledore's Army in a magical room at Hogwarts known as the "Room of Requirement." The students need to learn to fight, so they practice stunning, disarming and various spells on one another.

Sounds exciting!

Vote for GOF in the MTV Movie Awards!

The nominees for the 2006 MTV Movie Awards have just been announced, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was nominated in three categories:
- Daniel Radcliffe in the Best Hero category
- Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint & Emma Watson in the Best On-Screen Team category
- Ralph Fiennes in the Best Villain category

You can vote online by going to the MTV Awards Online Voting Page, or from your mobile phone by texting MOVIEAWARDS to 91757 in order to receive a ballot (standard messaging rates apply). The deadline to vote is May 19th, and the winners will be announced on Thursday June 8th on MTV, so go vote now and often!

Source:DanRadcliffe.com

Potter Books Getting Yanked Again?
Here's one I saw at Veritaserum. It was TOO funny Not to mention, so! Here it is.
There's a big uproar in Georgia, as some are trying to get our beloved Potter books off the shelves, YET again.
This one, as amusing as most, as the 'leader'- Ms. Mallory has never bothered to read any of them. Although, this one actually admitted her own stupidity, which is something most don't go so far as to say it. She openly claims that: they're "really very long". Pretty bad, as there are some as young as 8years old who can manage to read the whole book(s).
Also, she claims that it would be "hypocritical for me to read them".
I truly do love the raving, mad ones who even claim to have no idea of what they're talking about. She of course, is bein tedious in claiming as all other anti-HP fanatics, that the book has 'evil themes' throughout. --Always a tough claim when you've never done your research. ;)

But there is backup to help stand against these actions.
Many Gwinnett Harry Potter fans, including students and parents, were shocked when they heard about the possibility of the books being taken off school shelves.
Jessica Grimes, a 10-year-old student at Duncan Creek Elementary School, faxed a letter to the school system in support of the books series. “The books never at any time turned me into a wizard or witch,” Grimes said. “I go to church every Sunday, go to Sunday school and never at any time did I think the books are true.”

TOO cute, and too true. It'd be nice, if just Once adults would try listening to the youth.:/ Here's to hoping!

The Gwinnett County Board of Education will decide whether or not the books should remain in the district's school libaries during the coming weeks.

Grint On Driving Lessons
Coming Soon has a good interview with Rupert Grint on his latest movie.
Just in case you've not heard, here's a rough on the movie:
In the movie, he plays Ben, a teenager with an ultra-religious mother, played by Laura Linney, who befriends an eccentric actress played by Julie Walters, when she agrees to give him proper driving lessons.
Here's a little on the interview:
CS: How did you find time to make this movie?
Grint: Well, just in between the fourth one and the fifth one. It was only a six-week shoot filmed down in London, so it was quite easy to fit in, really.
CS: Both in this and in "Potter," you're really good at playing the awkward, uncomfortable type. Is that a natural part of yourself or is that nothing like you really are?
Grint: Slightly. It depends really what it is. Ron finds it really hard to get it on for the dance and Ben is quite awkward with the girls as well. That's something quite similar in both characters, but it's sort of typical teenage behavior, I guess.
CS: Do you get to stay at home while you're working on the movie?
Grint: I live about a half hour away from the studios, a place called Wattford. A lot of them come up from Leeds, and there's two from Ireland, so they all have to be put up in hotels. I'm quite lucky, in that sense. We've all got our own dressing rooms, and they've got a big games room with pool tables and table tennis.

As for this bit:
CS: How far along are you on the new "Potter" movie?
Grint: The fifth one? We're almost halfway there. We only sort of started, but there's still a long way to go, but it's going really well.

Don't go getting to excited all. I'm sorry to say, but I don't think he realizes how much there is on this one, as they're so Far from being half-way done.:/ Sorry guys.
For the complete interiew, check it out at the source, at Coming Soon.

International release dates Confirmed for Order of the Phoenix

Warner Bros. has just confirmed the release dates for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in several countries:
France - July 11, 2007
Germany - July 12, 2007
U.S.A, Canada, UK and Ireland - July 13, 2007
Bulgaria - July 20, 2007
Australia - September 6, 2007

Source: HPANA

Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People Poll

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is included in a new poll conducted by Time Magazine on the most influential people of 2006. Each week, readers have been asked to vote in various categories, and this week's category just happens to be "Artists & Entertainers."

J.K. has garnered about 2 percent of the popular vote so far, so click here to vote for her and show your support for everyone's favourite magical author!

Rowling's Gift from the Heart

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has just made a very generous donation to help set up a multiple sclerosis research centre at Edinburgh University. The celebrated author, who is a patron of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Scotland, was quoted as saying that "It is an extremely exciting step forward in the ongoing battle to try to unlock the mysteries of MS and which will hopefully, one day, lead to a cure." Rowling's own mother died of the disease at the age of 45.

According the an article on BBC News, the new MS centre will be housed at The Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the university's medical school, next to the city's new Royal Infirmary.

Source: BBC News

Weasleys on Jo Whiley show

As reported in an ealier post, Rupert Grint and James and Oliver Phelps were interviewed on the Jo Whiley radio show this morning. Of course, they talked about the filming of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!

When asked which scene they were currently filming, Rupert answered that they were doing one of the last scenes in Umbridge's office: "It was really cool. I'm getting restrained by one of Malfoy's henchmen, and Dan gets slapped."

You can hear a repeat of the interview by clicking on this BBC link

Enjoy!

Goblet of Fire Shatters IMAX Records

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: The IMAX Experience has become the first IMAX movie to gross more than $20 million at the box office.

We are thrilled with the unprecedented box office performance of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in IMAX theatres," said Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. "The IMAX release helped contribute to the overall excitement surrounding the Harry Potter campaign as well as the theatrical success of the film."

"This milestone is another testament to the winning combination of fantastic filmmakers, the efforts of the talented marketing and distribution teams at Warner Bros. Pictures and IMAX Corporation, and the power of The IMAX Experience," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment.

Source: Yahoo News

Happy Birthday to Emma and Emma

Emma Watson, who plays Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies, is celebrating her sweet 16th birthday today, while Emma Thompson, who plays the vaporous Professor Trelawney, celebrates her 47th. Many good wishes to both actresses from all of us at HP4U.CO.UK!

Weasleys on the Radio!

Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and James & Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley) will be interviewed on the "Joe Whiley Show" on BBC1 radio on Wednesday, April 19th. The show will air from 10 AM to 12:45 PM local time, and fans will be able to listen to it online by clicking on this link on the date and time listed above, or as a rerun once it is posted on the bbc.co.uk website.

Arthur Weasley would be so proud!

Portrait of Daniel Radcliffe on Display at National Gallery

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe will become the youngest non-royal to have his portrait displayed at the National Portrait Gallery in England. According to an article on the BBC News website, Radcliffe, who is now 16 years old, posed for artist Stuart Pearson Wright when he was 14, and had this to say about his portrait:

"I love it. Until recently, I'd seen a peek of it in the catalogue, but not actually seen the real thing.
It was strange seeing myself as I was two years ago, not as I am now. If you look at each individual part of my face they look exactly like part of my face. Together it's surreal."

Radcliffe's portrait is part of an exhibition entitled "Most People are Other People: Portraits of Actors from Britain and Ireland", and will be unveiled at the National Theatre before moving to the National Portrait Gallery.

Source: BBC News

UPDATE: you can read another excellent article about the creation of Dan's portrait in today's edition of The Guardian.

Birthday Wishes to Katie Leung

Actress Katie Leung, who plays Cho Chang in the Harry Potter movies, is 18 years old today. Happy birthday, Katie!

Sometimes it's good to be predictable
Sometimes not. Take it how you like.
WB is on the warpath again, charging Bajaj Auto Ltd (India's largest two and three-wheeler maker ), with plagarism.
It's a charge of copyright violation for using a Harry Potter lookalike model in the advertisements for its bike Discover.
Sources told The Times of India that Warner Brothers has issued a legal notice to Bajaj Auto for using its Harry Potter franchise without permission. The company, however, termed it a misinterpretation saying its character - Jadoo - is independent of the popular wizard boy from the West.
They're response?
"The West feels that anyone in a red bikini is Baywatch and any flying boy is Harry Potter. Our concept of Jadoo is unique and we don't believe it's copied from Harry Potter," a company official said. "We feel the claim is exaggerated."

Ok, we all know certain companies are sue happy, but on the side of fairness; this company has also been facing copycat issues with their Chinese rivals.
So? Take it how you like. At least most sites and 13 year olds are safe online nowadays.
;)
**The Economic Times

Watson trades her broomstick for a Hockey stick
Emma Watson attended the Oxford's first International Young Women's Hockey Festival over the past weekend. She not only attended, but became a member of the Rover Sports Oxford hockey team.
The matches were played at the new Oxford University Sports Centre. The girls also enjoyed a disco, ice-skating and a reception hosted by Jim Campbell, the Sheriff of Oxford, at the Town Hall.
One of the organisers, Oxford City Council's international officer May Wylie, said: "We have been looking at hosting more events and thought hockey was a great sport we could focus on. All of the girls stayed with local host families."

The hockey festival was abandoned with just one match to go on Sunday, because of a hailstorm. Unfortunately, the Rovers' were not named the victors, but hope Ms. Watson as well as everyone else attending had lots of fun.
**This from This is Oxford

British Book Awards Video

TLC has posted two video montages of J.K. Rowling and Jason Isaacs at the British Book Awards, in which Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince won the Book of the Year Award.

Click on the links below to view the videos:

The Arrival
The Acceptance Speach

Source: TLC

WB Confirms Order of the Phoenix Release Date!

Warner Brothers has just confirmed that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be released on July 13th, 2007... which goes to prove that 13 is not necessarily an unlucky number!

Source: HPANA

Waiting for W.O.M.B.A.T.'s

There is a new filing card on J.K. Rowling's desk on her official website with the letters W.O.M.B.A.T. printed on it. If you were one of the few/brave/really smart and/or really lucky ones to puzzle your way through into J.K.'s hidden room (maybe with a little help from this site!), take the W.O.M.B.A.T. test and receive a student code, click on the card. You will then be prompted to enter you student ID number in order to be taken to a new page with a magical clock indicating three possible options for your results: Paper being marked, Results in the Post, or Results delivered.

I'll update here as soon as I have more news on what's happening with the tests!

Update: I received my W.O.M.B.A.T. results today (April 7th), and I am proud to report that I scored an "Acceptable" and was awarded a lovely certificate!

Rowling Visits Order of the Phoenix Set

J.K. Rowling has just updated her official website diary page with some news about book 7 and a visit she made to the set of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Rowling says that despite the hardship of trying to find paper to write on in downtown Edinburgh, "The book's still going well."

She also talks about her recent visit to Leavesden Studios, home of the Harry Potter movies: "It was exciting to see some of the new Order of the Phoenix sets, but most of all to see the actors again – slightly unnerving to realise that nearly all of them are taller than me now (I speak, of course, of the teenagers; Michael Gambon was always taller than me, and very lovely he looked in his new robes, too.) Apart from the pleasure of seeing Tom Felton, Devon Murray, Alfred Enoch, Sitara Shah (and waving through the door at Bonnie Wright, who was busy being tutored), I had a great time talking to Dan and Matthew about books, Rupert about how his sisters never wind him up, Oliver and James about how difficult they find it to wind each other up, and Emma about Hermione's love life. Also met, and had a long chat, with Evanna Lynch (Luna), about whom there is only one possible thing to say: perfect."

The Rumours and the Extra Stuff sections have also been updated.

Source: jkrowling.com

Bloomsbury Loves Harry's Magic

While Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, published last July, broke all records set by J.K. Rowling's previous books in the series, Bloomsbury has announced that they have plans for Harry Potter beyond book 7, with continued sales of audio books, boxed sets and even a special cloth-bound gift edition of all HP titles which is sure to become a collector's item.

Source: This Is Money, UK

Daniel Radcliffe Praises Yates and Staunton

In his latest newsletter to his fans, actor Daniel Radcliffe has nothing but praise for new Harry Potter director David Yates as well as for actress Imelda Staunton, who plays the part of cold hearted Professor Umbridge in the upcoming production of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Source: Danradcliffe.co.uk

New Wizard of the Month

A New Wizard has been added to JK Rowling's Official Web Site for the month of April:

Grogan Stump (1770-1884)
Popular Minister for Magic, appointed in 1811

GOF wins Kids' Choice Awards

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire just won the 'Best Movie Award' and the Harry Potter series the 'Best Book Series Award' at this year's Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.