Harry Potter News

[Geekyfanboy]

"Half-Blood Prince" Casting News: Helen McCrory will Play Narcissa Malfoy

Good news this morning as CBBC Newsround can confirm some casting news for the upcoming "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" film. Actress Helen McCrory will play the part of Narcissa Malfoy, the wife of Death Eater Lucius Malfoy. Newsround reminds us that Ms McCrory "was originally cast as Bellatrix Lestrange in the fifth Potter movie, but couldn't play the part because she was expecting a baby."

Helen McCrory has appeared in "Anna Karenina" for PBS, as well as The Count of Monte Cristo, and was most recently seen in the hit films "The Queen," and "Becoming Jane," which also co-starred Julie Walters (Molly Weasley) and Dame Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall).

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is currently in production and will be released in theaters November 21, 2008.

[Geekyfanboy]

Director Guillermo Del Toro Would be Interested in "Deathly Hallows" Film

Direction Guillermo Del Toro has given a new interview to MTV where he speaks again of his interest in possibly helming a Harry Potter film, in particular the film adaptation of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." Mr. Del Toro, who was approached for Prisoner of Azkaban (and ultimately directed by his good friend Alfonso Cuaron) says he might still make a Harry Potter movie, providing Warner Brothers lets him make the movie as he sees fit and on his own terms.

    "They came to me once, for the third one," he remembered of "The Prisoner of Azkaban". "I've read them all, and when I read the books before the movies were done, I always pictured Charles Dickens – they were very Dickens-ian. The situation of Harry Potter reminded me a lot of Pip from 'Great Expectations'. I saw them as deeper, more creaky, more corroded; then [the stories] were textured very differently when the first two movies came out. They were so bright and happy and full of light, that I wasn't interested."

    After seeing the last few films, however, the director famed for a shadowy imagination and morally ambiguous characters has begun to reconsider. "They seem to be getting eerie and darker ... If they come back to me, I'll think about it."

As announced previously, the film version of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is set to go into production sometime in 2009, with a release slated for sometime in 2010.

[Geekyfanboy]

Casting Now Complete for "Half-Blood Prince"

The names of two actors who will portray a younger Lord Voldemort in the upcoming "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" film have now been revealed. Newsround is reporting that Hero Fiennes Tiffin (age 9 and nephew of actor Ralph Fiennes) will play the 11-year-old Tom Riddle. An actor named Frank Dillane, who is 16 years old, is said to be cast in the part of a teenage Voldemort.

UPDATE: Warner Brothers has just issued a press release indicating the casting is now complete for the sixth Harry Potter film. In addition to the Trio of Dan Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), confirmed in this press release are the return of :

# Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange)
# David Bradley (Argus Filch)
# Robbie Coltrane(Hagrid)
# Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick)
# Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy)
# Michael Gambon (Professor Dumbledore)
# Alan Rickman (Professor Snape)
# Maggie Smith (Prof essor McGonagall)
# Natalia Tena (Tonks)
# Julie Walters (Molly Weasley)
# David Thewlis (Remus Lupin)
# Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood)
# Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom)
# Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley)

As announced earlier this month, included in the press release are the confirmation of actress Helen McCrory as Narcissa Malfoy, and Jessie Cave as Lavender Brown. Finally confirmed is actor Jim Broadbent in the role of Professor Horace Slughorn.

Noting that director David Yates is returning to the helm of the Half-Blood Prince movie, as is screen writer Steven Kloves, HBP producer David Heyman is quoted as saying, "I am really excited that David Yates and all our cast are back for the sixth film and welcome some wonderful new additions to our ensemble. We all share a commitment to Jo Rowling and to Harry Potter fans around the world to keep making these films the best they can be and, as we head into the final installments, I can promise that this level of commitment will not waver."

In addition, confirming earlier reports here on TLC, noted cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel ("A Very Long Engagement," "Amelie") will serve as the director of photography, along with the return of production designer Stuart Craig, editor Mark Day, costume designer Jany Temime, creature & make-up effects designer Nick Dudman, special effects supervisor John Richardson, visual effects supervisor Tim Burke, and composer Nicholas Hooper.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is in production in London, England and will be released in theaters November of 2008.

[Geekyfanboy]

Grammy Nomination for Jim Dale's "Deathly Hallows" Narration
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
December 06, 2007, 02:31 PM

Actor Jim Dale received a Grammy nomination today for his audio recording of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." Theatermania.com reports Mr. Dale "is up for Best Spoken Word Album for Children," with the awards due to be presented February 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. As readers will recall, Mr. Dale, who narrates the US editions of the Harry Potter audio books, was nominated previously for a Grammy for his recording of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" and won the award for his voice work on "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." Congratulations Jim Dale!

[Jen]

Wow. I didn't know Grammies were handed out for audio books. I hope he wins, he is the best narrator I've ever heard. :)

[Geekyfanboy]

Don't forget.. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoinex is coming out on DVD tomorrow (Tuesday Dec. 11) both single disc and double disc special edition with lots of extra goodies.. make sure you pick it up.

Also being released tomorrow are all 5 Harry Potter movies in HD and Blu-Ray.

[Geekyfanboy]

Just got my DVD at lunch.. can't wait to go home and watch it.. BTW.. Target has an exclusive dvd sleeve and it's pretty sweet. I'll see if I can find a picture of it online.

The Target exclusive also come with a digital download, exclusive collected 3-D cover and "Building the Magic" bonus disc.

[Ktrek]

I bought my copy today. I decided not to get the two disc special edition as I rarely if ever watch any extras on DVDs unless it's Star Trek  or Disney. So I bought the single widescreen version at Circuit City who had the lowest price around! Only $13.99 and if you don't already own the previous titles Circuit City has them for only $7.99.

Kevin

[Geekyfanboy]

Unpublished Rowling Manuscript Auctioned at Staggering Bid

Several weeks ago we reported that an unpublished hand-written and illustrated tale of wizardry by Harry Potter author JK Rowling would be auctioned off to benefit one of her favorite charity providers. This particular story was one of seven in the series titled "The Tales of Beedle Bard," which was a tale told to Harry and friends from Hogwarts Head Master Dumbledore. Rowling has indicated that none of the seven tales will ever be published.

The auction was recently held at the famous Sotheby's in London where the manuscript fetched the healthy sum of $3.98 million (1.95 million pounds), a staggering amount of money when you consider it garnered 40 times its expected price.

Sotheby's revealed the buyer to be from London dealer Hazlitt, Gooden and Fox.

The copy was one of seven handwritten editions and the only one to be made available for sale publicly. The other six have gone to six people instrumental to Harry since his inception. The leatherbound, handwritten tome was encrusted moonstones, as would be representative of "mothers, lovers and the power of dreams." All proceeds will benefit The Children's Voice charity, instituted by J.K. Rowling, which goes to help aid children who most need an advocate in the world.

[Geekyfanboy]

Here is another HBP preview (there are spoilers if you haven't read the books)

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Here is the question I have Kenny, how many ppl actually watch these without reading the books?  I think this is a bit of a misconception that people watch films like Harry Potter or LOTR without reading the books.  But maybe I'm wrong?.....

King Linksr

[billybob476]

My wife loves the movies but hasn't read a line of the books.

[Darth Gaos]

I just picked my copy yesterday on Blu-Ray so I will have to watch that.....after we all sit and watch the movie tonight

[Geekyfanboy]

I know alot of people who watch the movies but never read the books.  Some people just aren't book people. I know when LOTR movie came out I had only read half of the first book.. after seeing the movies I went back and read them all. Same with Harry Potter... Didn't read them until the first movie came out.. after that I went back and read the first four since that is all that were written by then.

[Rico]

I've read all the books and have seen all the films.  I also read the books before I saw the movies.  The books are so rich I prefer to get my first experience of each story that way.  Not to mention I couldn't wait until the movies finally are made for each one.