"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 05-10-08 @ 8:23 PM - 10 comments - Link
In a brief interview with a London magazine, actress Jessie Cave spoke about her experience as Lavender Brown in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
On her kissing scenes with Rupert Grint, she said, "It was a bit embarrassing. Our first screen kiss was on my third day of shooting. It's been an amazing experience though. I've been completely immersed in the Harry Potter world since filming started last year."
Posted By Matthew on 05-09-08 @ 11:46 PM - 16 comments - Link
Robert Pattinson, who played Cedric Diggory in the Goblet of Fire movie, is now starring as the vampire Edward in the film version of Stephenie Meyer's popular Twilight novel.
The teaser trailer for Twilight, which will hit theatres in December, was released this week -- check it out! Also, a video interview with Robert about the movie is up at G4.
Jo wins privacy case appeal
Posted By Matthew on 05-07-08 @ 8:19 PM - 12 comments - Link
JK Rowling was victorious today in a court appeal to prevent the further publication of a paparazzi photo of her son, a decision that will likely send the case to trial. Rowling had appealed the decision after the case was thrown out by a London court last year.
Jo and her husband Neil Murray issued a statement on the appeal decision, saying: "We are immensely grateful to the court for giving our children protection from covert, unauthorised photography; this ruling will make an immediate and material difference to their lives."
A judge reviewing the appeal, Anthony Clarke, explained his rationale for supporting Jo: "If a child of parents who are not in the public eye could reasonably expect not to have photographs of him published in the media, so too should the child of a famous parent."
The case will likely now head to trial. If Jo is successful at that stage, the decision could reverberate throughout the media by changing the rules for paparazzi.
Possible first look at Gaunt cottage
Posted By Matthew on 05-06-08 @ 7:23 PM - 24 comments - Link
CBBC Newsround has posted a photo and accompanying video footage of what they believe to be an aerial look -- the first of its kind -- at the Gaunt cottage in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. According to Newsround, "The photo taken from the air shows a rundown building which could well be the place where Voldemort's mother, Merope Gaunt, grew up."
Posted By Matthew on 05-05-08 @ 11:47 PM - 8 comments - Link
For the fourth time since 2004, both Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe have been honored with an Otto Award from Bravo magazine for Best Film Actress and Best Film Actor, respectively. Keira Knightley and Nora Tschirner came in behind Emma in the awards race.
Congratulations to them both!
Report: Young Lucius cast in HBP
Posted By Matthew on 05-03-08 @ 8:59 PM - 22 comments - Link
In the interview, Coburn said that he was offered the part without auditioning simply because he he bears a resemblance to Jason Isaacs. He has already shot his scenes in HBP, which take place at a dinner with Professor Slughorn (likely the flashback to Tom Riddle's questioning of Slughorn about Horcruxes) and following the scene on the lightning-struck tower.
Coburn said, "It's amazing to be in the film and I would never have imagined that I would feature in one, even though the part is small, it's still fantastic fun."
Posted By Matthew on 05-02-08 @ 7:09 PM - 11 comments - Link
William Moseley, the 20 year-old actor who plays Peter Pevensie in The Chronicles of Narnia, recalled in an interview today that he was considered for the role of Harry Potter back in 2000.
He said, "I was up for Harry Potter way, way back. But I don't quite fit the bill, I think. It would have been fun. But I was thinking the other day, if I could have chosen one part for myself, I would have chosen Peter every single time. It's a dream come true to play a part that's so heroic, and something that's successful that people like. It's such a privilege."
HP falls off NYT's best-seller list
Posted By Matthew on 05-01-08 @ 10:02 PM - 8 comments - Link
For the first time in 10 years, a Harry Potter title will not be among those gracing the New York Times's next bestseller list, to be published on May 11.
Sorcerer's Stone first appeared on the list on December 27, 1998, and within two years, the newspaper created a separate list for "children's books" because Rowling's books were eating up all of the top spaces on the regular list. Then, in 2004, they made another list for "children's book series" to break JKR's near-monopoly on the list. (Both are decisions with which we still disagree.)
This inevitable moment is sad, indeed, but a 10-year presence on the weekly best-seller lists is a stunning accomplishment.
OOTP to debut on HBO next month
Posted By Matthew on 04-30-08 @ 7:54 PM - 5 comments - Link
Posted By Matthew on 04-28-08 @ 8:27 PM - 12 comments - Link
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first book in JK Rowling's seven-part series, has been added to the A-level English syllabus in the United Kingdom for the upcoming school year, making it required reading for A-level English students.
The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), the main exam board in the UK, made the addition, placing Rowling alongside Shakespeare and Jane Eyre. Students will be required to write both a 1,200-1,500 word essay comparing the literary approaches of Rowling and another author as well as a 500-800 word story inspired by the book for the class.
Although the change has prompted some criticism that the syllabus is being "dumbed down," the AQA defended its decision, saying, "Harry Potter is a genuine example of literature of our time and therefore entirely deserves its place in this unit. We believe that it will prove a popular and engaging inclusion."
Dan dishes some psychoanalysis on Harry
Posted By Matthew on 04-27-08 @ 7:21 PM - 5 comments - Link
In a new interview with Film Review magazine, Daniel Radcliffe discussed Harry's character in both Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows, saying that in HBP, "Harry is unhappy for a lot of this film, mainly because people keep trying to kill him. And his love life is awful, too. That's what Jo does so well, combining everyday, mundane problems with this incredible other world."
He also did some forward-thinking reflection on the end of the series: "It will be very, very odd to suddenly not be coming back to Harry Potter. And I'll be sad to leave the character behind and not see on a daily basis the friends that I've made."
The full interview will be published in the June issue of Film Review.
Harry Potter exhibition to open next spring
Posted By Matthew on 04-26-08 @ 10:14 PM - 8 comments - Link
Becker Group and Warner Bros. have announced that, starting next spring, a large-scale exhibition centered on the Harry Potter movies will debut in a yet-to-be-announced major market somewhere in the world. After its opening, the exhibition will appear in 10 or more cities around the world over a five-year span.
According to the press release, "Harry Potter: The Exhibition will include elaborate displays of authentic costumes, props and artifacts from popular environments featured in the films, including those from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, such as the Gryffindor common room and Hagrid’s hut. During its run, the exhibit will also be updated to include artifacts from the final installments of the Harry Potter film series. The exhibition will be displayed in major cultural and entertainment venues, museums and institutions, and will be supported by a multimedia promotional effort and advance ticket sales worldwide."
Information about tour locations and tickets will be posted at HarryPotterExhibition.com as it becomes available.
'Deathly Hallows' release date set
Posted By Matthew on 04-25-08 @ 9:16 AM - 27 comments - Link
Coming Soon reports this morning that the first portion of the two-part Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie will be released in theatres on November 19, 2010. The second part of the movie is then expected to come out in the summer of 2011.
This report has yet to be confirmed by Warner Bros., but we will let you know when we hear more.
Update: Warner Bros. has confirmed the release date of November 19, 2010 for Deathly Hallows.
EA announces HBP video game release
Posted By Matthew on 04-23-08 @ 10:29 PM - 11 comments - Link
Electronic Arts has announced that the sixth film in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, will be adapted into a video game that will hit shelves later this year.
Harvey Elliott, Head of the British EA Bright Light studio, said, "We believe that the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince video game represents a milestone in the movie tie-in genre. Building on the technological advancements of previous games in the series and with a particular focus on the unique control system of Nintendo’s Wii, the team here is working closely with the filmmakers to create an immersive interactive experience that captures the story, the action, the excitement and, above all, the fun of the film."
The game will be released in time for the movie's launch this November and will be available in Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PSP, Nintendo DS, Windows PC, and Macintosh versions.
ABC working on JK Rowling documentary
Posted By Matthew on 04-21-08 @ 11:40 AM - 5 comments - Link
ABC has announced that they are working on a documentary on JK 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."
Dan 'simply soars' in 'My Boy Jack'
Posted By Matthew on 04-20-08 @ 4:34 PM - 11 comments - Link
Daniel Radcliffe's World War I film My Boy Jack premieres in the US tonight on PBS. Reviews published so far are glowing. Here's a snippet from the San Francisco Chronicle's review:
Radcliffe, of course, has a bit of box office appeal....Here he is given a bit more to work with, and he simply soars. He is the heart of the film, even when he's not onscreen.
The film debuts tonight on PBS.
Emma lands role in French period drama
Posted By Matthew on 04-19-08 @ 11:27 AM - 14 comments - Link
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.
Lexicon judge urges settlement
Posted By Matthew on 04-17-08 @ 10:04 AM - 9 comments - Link
After JK Rowling made a reappearance on the witness stand in the Harry Potter Lexicon trial yesterday, Judge Robert Patterson urged both sides to reach a settlement because he believes that, as the "fair use" provisions of copyright law are still emerging, they are too murky to make a ruling.
Patterson said, "It's not a clear state of the law. I have listened to the parties and heard them. I am not sure that you still could not settle if you listened to what (Rowling) said on the stand."
When Jo reappeared on the stand, she said, "I never wanted to stop Mr Vander Ark doing his own guide. I repeatedly tried to say to Mr. Vander Ark, 'Do your book, but please change it so it does not take so much from my work.' If this book is published...anyone can lift an astonishingly large proportion of an author's work and present it as their own work.
"I am not only not opposed to Harry Potter guides, I am flattered by their very existence...All I care about is that they don't infringe my copyright."
Broadbent says he's 'not a massive fan'
Posted By Matthew on 04-16-08 @ 12:23 PM - 12 comments - Link
In an interview today, Horace Slughorn actor Jim Broadbent said that he has only read two of the Harry Potter books -- Sorcerer's Stone and Half-Blood Prince -- and that he's not a "massive fan" of the series.
He said, "I'm not a massive fan, no, it's not really part of my generation. I had read the first one and seen the films. I caught up with the sixth one, which I'm in, but I have to admit I haven't read them all."
Broadbent also provided a brief update on HBP filming: "It's going great. I play Horace Slughorn. He's a retired teacher brought out of retirement and drawn back into Hogwarts to tell his tale. He's got a secret that they want to get out of him."
Happy birthday, Emma(s)!
Posted By Matthew on 04-15-08 @ 9:18 PM - 18 comments - Link
Today, Emma Watson, who plays Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies, turned 18 years old, while Emma Thompson (Prof. Trelawney) celebrated her 49th. A very happy birthday to them both!
Update: Emma has posted a birthday message to her fans (filmed from her trailer at Leavesden Studios) on YouTube -- check it out!
Lexicon lawsuit: Day Two
Posted By Matthew on 04-15-08 @ 7:11 PM - 5 comments - Link
In the second day of the WB/JKR vs. RDR Books trial in New York, Harry Potter Lexicon founder Steve Vander Ark broke down while on the witness stand. The emotional moment came when he was asked if he considered himself a part of the Harry Potter fan community, to which he responded: "I did. It's been difficult because there's been a lot of criticism. Obviously, that was never the intention, but, and I understand where that comes from, but it's been very very difficult."
Mr Vander Ark said his Potter involvement had been an important part of his life for the past nine years. He had only wanted to celebrate Ms Rowling's achievement in creating a rich and magical world and had sought to create a reference guide for readers.
Earlier, Mr Vander Ark appeared pleased to learn Ms Rowling had found fault with his analysis of the origins of some of her language. Told that a term he thought was derived from a Hawaiian greeting was in fact from a West African language, he asked "Which dialect? …That's very exciting stuff for someone like me."
Jo testifies against Lexicon in NY court
Posted By Matthew on 04-14-08 @ 7:09 PM - 14 comments - Link
In the opening day of the Harry Potter Lexicon trial in New York, JK Rowling testified that the proposed book version of the website "constitutes wholesale theft of 17 years of my hard work."
She said, "I did feel a degree of betrayal. I believe that it is sloppy, lazy and that it takes my work wholesale, verbatim."
After explaining that the lawsuit has caused her to stop working on a new novel, she said, "I'm not at all convinced that I would have the will or the heart to continue with my encyclopedia. It's really decimated my creative work over the last month. Again, it's very hard to describe to someone who's not engaged in creative writing, but you lose the threads, you worry if you will be able to pick them up again in exactly the same way."
In another potential blow to her online fan base, Jo said that she is second guessing the encouragement and support she has extended to the online Harry Potter community: "If RDR's position is accepted, it will undoubtedly have a significant, negative impact on the freedoms enjoyed by genuine fans on the internet."
The trial will continue tomorrow and could extend throughout the week.
"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...
Now that Deathly Hallows has been released, we have very little to theorize about anymore. But that doesn't mean that things are getting any less exciting around Veritaserum. Watch this space for more in the coming weeks!
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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