"If we turn our heads and look away and hope that it will all disappear then they will - all of them, an entire generation of people. And we will have only history left to judge us."
Posted By Matthew on 01-29-08 @ 7:58 PM - 38 comments | Link
The mysterious Room of Requirement on JKRowling.com has opened, revealing a family tree of the Weasleys, Draco's family, and Luna's family. There is no complicated path through the door this time around, so have a look for yourself!
JK Rowling honored at South Bank awards
Posted By Matthew on 01-29-08 @ 7:49 PM - 3 comments | Link
At tonight's South Bank Show awards in London, actor Richard Attenborough presented JK Rowling with an outstanding achievement prize for her Harry Potter books. Jo said that ending the series "has been the worst break-up of my life - far worse than splitting up with any man.
"But it has also been wonderful to stop and draw breath and think, 'My God, look what's happened with an idea I had 17 years ago on a train.'"
When Attenborough gave Jo the award, he complained that he was not included in the Harry Potter films and asked if there was a character he could have played, prompting this response from Jo: "Michael Gambon will shortly be having a hideous accident."
Emma 'so pleased' to get her license
Posted By Matthew on 01-28-08 @ 7:37 PM - 13 comments | Link
Emma Watson updated her official website today with a post announcing that she has received her driver's license. She writes: "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."
Check out the full post at her website. Thanks to everyone who let us know!
WB prepares Gloucester Cathedral for filming
Posted By Matthew on 01-27-08 @ 7:56 PM - 9 comments | Link
Our readers have written in to let us know that Warner Bros. crews spent this weekend preparing Gloucester Cathedral in Gloucester, England for upcoming filming in the Half-Blood Prince movie next month. Elaine writes:
WB have started to build a huge wooden platform, which, according to the one of the vergers, is to house the lighting as they will be filming on the nights of 7th and 8th February. WB representatives were visible today wandering around the cloisters where filming will take place. The cloisters are still open to the public. I spent half an hour walking around them today.
This is Gloucestershire also reports today that 174 local schoolchildren in Gloucester will get to stand in as extras in the scenes they shoot at the cathedral. We'll keep you posted as we learn more over the coming weeks.
Video from 'Ace of Cakes' episode
Posted By Matthew on 01-25-08 @ 10:38 AM - 14 comments | Link
Last night, the Food Network's "Ace of Cakes" aired an episode documenting the creation of the Hogwarts Castle cake at last summer's Order of the Phoenix premiere in Los Angeles. DanRadcliffe.com has posted video clips from the TV show -- check them out!
Crew gears up for HBP filming in Gloucester
Posted By Matthew on 01-25-08 @ 4:36 AM - 6 comments | Link
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.
Dan talks about upcoming film 'Journey'
Posted By Matthew on 01-24-08 @ 10:30 PM - 4 comments | Link
Empire Online has posted a new interview with Daniel Radcliffe about his upcoming film, Journey, in which he will star as Daniel Eldon, "a photographic journalist who was stoned to death by a mob in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993."
In the interview, Dan cautioned that the filming schedule is not yet set, saying, "There's a lot of stuff flying around about this at the moment. I am absolutely attached to it and it would be amazing to play that part. But people are making assumptions about when it's going to happen and it won't happen – if indeed it does happen – for a while yet."
He also spoke some about his role, mentioning that he has met with Eldon's family in preparation for the film. He said, "They showed me some of his diaries, which the film will be based on mostly. They're incredible....He was someone who died very young, but seemed to live as full a life as much as anyone who lived to be a ripe old age. It'll be incredible to play him."
Rickman to start HBP filming next month
Posted By Matthew on 01-24-08 @ 9:17 PM - 7 comments | Link
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the ever-reticent Alan Rickman declined to discuss Snape's role in the Harry Potter series, saying, "I never, ever talk about that character. Number one, because it's not fair on kids who haven't read to the end. And for me to say anything — there's a bit of it that just should be left innocent. It's real storytelling, what she's done, and I'm part of that. So I just never talk about it."
He did mention, however, that he begins filming on Half-Blood Prince at the beginning of February.
Rowling raises environmental standards
Posted By Matthew on 01-23-08 @ 3:00 PM - 7 comments | Link
The AFP reports that JK Rowling is requiring her Finnish publisher to print its translation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on environmentally-friendly paper rather than local paper.
While Finnish Harry Potter books have been printed on recycled paper in the past, this time, Rowling wants paper with the Forest Stewardship Council certificate, which verifies that "a product derived from wood has been manufactured with the sustainable development of forests in mind."
The Finnish translation of Deathly Hallows will be released on March 7.
'Ace of Cakes' to air HP episode
Posted By Matthew on 01-21-08 @ 10:39 AM - 9 comments | Link
At the Order of the Phoenix premiere after-party in Los Angeles last July, an intricately designed Hogwarts Castle cake was on display. This Thursday, the Food Network's "Ace of Cakes" will air an episode called "The Harry Potter Cake," which will show how the cake was created. According to the show's website:
Charm City Cakes has their biggest cake to date with the Los Angeles premiere of Harry Potter. It's all hands on deck as Duff's idea is to build Hogwarts Castle and the lake surrounding it.
The show will air for the first time this Thursday night at 10:30pm ET on the Food Network. It will then air an additional five times through Feb. 13. Thanks to Sarah for letting us know!
Timothy Spall talks 'Half-Blood Prince'
Posted By Matthew on 01-19-08 @ 9:25 AM - 7 comments | Link
Timothy Spall (Peter Pettigrew) spoke to Moviehole about his role in the sixth and seventh Harry Potter movies, saying, "Well I'm actually.... yes... I'm in the next one.
"And I'm also in the one at the end – I have a very big scene in that. I think they might be shooting two 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. I should be doing that soon."
NOTE: No decision has yet been made on the Deathly Hallows movie.
Rowling to speak at Harvard commencement
Posted By Matthew on 01-18-08 @ 8:06 PM - 7 comments | Link
Harvard University has announced that Harry Potter author JK Rowling will be the main speaker at the school's commencement ceremony in June.
Harvard President Drew Faust 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 of Harry, Ron, and Hermione and their Hogwarts adventures 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 this June will be a moment of magic for J.K. Rowling's many admirers across the University."
Past commencement speakers at Harvard have included Bill Gates, Kofi Annan, Al Gore, and John F. Kennedy, so she is, indeed, in good company.
Harry Potter re-orders buoy Bloomsbury
Posted By Matthew on 01-15-08 @ 11:48 PM - 20 comments | Link
After the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows last July, analysts questioned if and how British publisher Bloomsbury could continue to experience success without any new Harry Potter books to boost them. But Bloomsbury announced today that their second-half business for 2007 was stronger than market expectations, thanks in part to Harry Potter re-orders.
While the publisher's future is certainly not guaranteed, this bodes well for their ability to maintain interest in the series after its conclusion.
False: Rumors abound about 'Deathly Hallows'
Posted By Matthew on 01-13-08 @ 7:58 PM - 46 comments | Link
The Daily Mail published a buzz-worthy article today stating that the seventh and final Harry Potter film, Deathly Hallows, will be split into two movies. According to the newspaper, this information comes from "crew working on the sixth" movie.
An informant is quoted as saying, "There's so much to fit that the view is the last movie should be in two halves. There is a huge battle when Harry, played by Daniel Radcliffe, takes on Voldemort that needs to be done really well."
Furthermore, the article mentions that Steven Spielberg is being considered to direct the film. But it would be wise to remember that this is very much a rumor at this time, and both of these possibilities were rumored and shot down before (two movies for Goblet of Fire, and Steven Spielberg as Sorcerer's Stone director). We will let you know as soon as we hear from Warner Bros. on this matter.
Update: Warner Bros. has confirmed to Empire Magazine that the 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 seventh movie has been taken so far.
Emma films first scenes with Jim Broadbent
Posted By Matthew on 01-12-08 @ 8:50 PM - 11 comments | Link
Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) has updated her website with the latest from the set of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, writing that she recently filmed her first scene with Jim Broadbent, who plays Professor Horace Slughorn in the film.
She says: "It's amazing to be working with him. It's also great because I have been eating profiteroles ALL DAY at Slughorn's dinner party!"
Check out the rest of her update, which also touches on Ballet Shoes, at her website.
JKR donates signed books to rugby club
Posted By Matthew on 01-11-08 @ 9:48 PM - 10 comments | Link
JK Rowling has donated a signed set of all seven Harry Potter books to an Edinburgh, Scotland rugby club that was destroyed by fire last May, the BBC reports. The club will auction the books, which are expected to sell for £3,000 ($6,000), at Edinburgh's Lyon and Turnbull sometime next week.
Club president Iain Goodall said: "The club house has reopened but during the fire we lost everything including all our club archives.
"We are extremely grateful to JK Rowling for her extremely generous donation and will use the funds to replace the club's history."
Del Toro wants to direct 'Deathly Hallows'
Posted By Matthew on 01-08-08 @ 10:05 PM - 63 comments | Link
Pan's Labyrinth and Hell Boy director Guillermo del Toro told MTV today that he is "definitely interested" in helming the seventh and final Harry Potter movie "now that the movies have grown darker." He explained that they "have a contrast between the gloomy existence of the kid and the world he's exposed to. They have evolved into a really nice universe."
Four years ago, in the run-up to the release of Prisoner of Azkaban, del Toro offered praise for that film, gushing that he was "blown away by it."
Despite these comments, however, bear in mind that WB is not in talks with del Toro, and it is likely that David Yates will stay on board through the end of the series.
MTV considers HBP's Oscar potential
Posted By Matthew on 01-07-08 @ 10:24 PM - 26 comments | Link
Considering the teaser trailer has yet to be released, this may be a tad premature, but we aren't complaining. In their list of most-anticipated upcoming films this year, MTV considers the possibility of Half-Blood Prince generating Oscar buzz for our leading guys and gal:
[A]ll eyes are on director David Yates as he attempts to bring them to life while matching the book's emotional impact. Last year's "Order of the Phoenix" gave us darker imagery and dramatically heftier acting from the leads. Now, with the magical series winding down, could "Prince" be the film that finally stirs up Oscar buzz for Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and/or Emma Watson? With enormous sets like the underground cave that houses one of Voldemort's Horcruxes, and new characters that include Jim Broadbent's enigmatic potion master, Horace Slughorn, Yates certainly has his work cut out for him. If only there were a spell that could transport us to November.
Posted By Matthew on 01-05-08 @ 8:43 PM - 23 comments | Link
UPI reports that last year, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was the highest-grossing film in Britain, raking in $97.5 million. It topped other blockbusters, including Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and Spider-Man 3.
Daniel Radcliffe donates eyeglasses to charity
Posted By Matthew on 01-03-08 @ 9:07 PM - 23 comments | Link
Daniel Radcliffe today donated the first pair of eyeglasses that he wore as a child to a Holocaust exhibition.
According to the AP, "The British actor joins Yoko Ono, talk show host Jerry Springer, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and other celebrities and members of the public whose spectacles will be linked together in the shape of a railway track — recalling the trains that carried many of the Nazis' victims to concentration camps throughout Europe. An estimated 6 million Jews died.
"The exhibition in Liverpool will open Jan. 21. The port city in northwest England will host Britain's Holocaust Day commemorative service on Jan. 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz."
Posted By Matthew on 01-01-08 @ 12:36 AM - 36 comments | Link
Welcome to 2008! As we usher in the new year, we look back on the Year of Potter, which capped many a rabid fan's journey with JK Rowling's marvelous book series, but also look ahead to what is yet to come: most notably, the release of the sixth Harry Potter movie on November 21.
"Fine, I'll try and teach him again!" Snape snarled at Professor Dumbledore.
"Severus, please, for me, don't take all those old wounds that you gained from James out on Harry. Harry is not James - do not blame him for what happened." Dumbledore spoke quietly, but his blue eyes held a warning. Snape sighed in frustration...
Disclaimer: Veritaserum is run by fans and is for the fans. We are in no way official and are not affiliated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., EA Games, Scholastic, or Bloomsbury. We do not own any of the characters in the books, movies, or games.
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