Voting Now Open for ITV's "50 Greatest Harry Potter Moments"

The U.K. network ITV is preparing a show about the "50 Greatest Harry Potter Moments" which they plan to air in July to coincide with the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Fans are encouraged to vote for some of their favorite moments via the Harry Potter UK Facebook page. Included in the list are scenes like the destruction of the Millennium Bridge in "Half-Blood Prince," the Seven Harrys in "Deathly Hallows - Part 1," and Hagrid telling Harry he's a wizard in the"Sorcerer's Stone."

Voting ends at midnight GMT on June 15th, and fans are able to vote for up to 25 moments. Stay tuned to Leaky - we'll report again when ITV announces a broadcast date for the program!

"Deathly Hallows: Part 2" arrives in theaters on July 15, 2011.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

Review: 'Dear Mr. Potter' Is A Must-Read As We Near The Final Potter Film Release

The following is a review of Dear Mr. Potter, a book of letters written by Harry Potter fans who reflect on what the series has done for them.

Dear Mr. Potter is a Chicken Soup for the Harry Potter fan's soul. It's a recollection of the fandom over the years and makes you realize how many fans were impacted by the series. The stories are all quite personal, which makes for an emotional read. There's no doubt in my mind that fans will be pleasantly surprised by the truthful stories and powerful messages found on every page!

I happily contributed to the book and a couple other friends did as well. Evanna Lynch wrote an adorable letter to Luna, and it makes you realize how alike the two people really are. She is a true fan of the series just like everyone who reads this book, and it was fantastic seeing her being a part of this compilation.

Melissa Anelli, who I've worked with over the years, shares a very touching story that I'm glad she shared. By reading stories like Melissa's you'll see how everyone has a personal reason why Harry Potter has meant so much to them, and it's truly heartwarming to hear each one.

It's a must-read at this interesting time in the Potter fandom where we're about to experience our final movie release.

You can learn more about Dear Mr. Potter at this link. The book is available for pre-order, and proceeds benefit the Harry Potter Alliance.

(SOURCE: MUGGLENET)

WB Release New Harry Potter Featurette: Screen Test, Brand New Interviews and Clips from All Eight Films (Updated)

Warner Bros. have this evening released a brand new Harry Potter featurette with clips from all eight films, including slightly extended footage from the trailer for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2". You can watch the featurette and download it in the Leaky Video Galleries or here on iTunes' Movie Trailers website. Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), Director David Yates and Producer David Heyman are amongst those to appear in this new video, speaking briefly about the end of the series. The featurette opens with a segment from the first screen test with Dan, Rupert and Emma and includes many behind-the-scenes glances at directors, cast and crew alike.

Watch at this link. Please note that this featurette contains clips from the final installment in the Harry Potter series.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

MTV Movie Awards Premiers New "Deathly Hallows: Part 2" Clip; Tom Felton Wins for Best Villain (Updated with Video Clip)

Moments ago, Harry Potter actress Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) debuted an exclusive new clip from the forthcoming "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" film at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards. The 75 second clip features a slightly longer look at the moment where Harry enters the forest to meet face to face with Lord Voldemort. The clip then rolls into previously seen footage from the previously released first trailer from the film. We expect the full video to appear online shortly, and will update here when we have it.

Update: You can now find the rather spoilery video clip at this link in our galleries, where you can also download it in .wmv and iPod compatible format.

On a related note, actor Tom Felton went home with the golden popcorn statue for best villain as Draco Malfoy in "Deathly Hallows: Part 1." Many congratulations, Tom!

Stick close for further updates and video!

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

Evanna Lynch to Appear at LeakyCon 2011!

Leaky and LeakyCon are what can only be described as totally-freakin'-thrilled to announce that Evanna Lynch, who plays Luna Lovegood, will be joning the festivities at LeakyCon 2011, our conference in Orlando, Fl, next month.

In 2006 Evanna Lynch answered an open casting call for the role of Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films, and her life was changed forever. She went from being one of the series' most ardent fans to the cinematic personification of one of the fans' favorite characters. She was 14, and had only acted in school plays before; she took to the role with a level of passion and spirit only a true fan can apply. She has played Luna in the final half of the Potter films to acclaim by fans and critics alike, and remains one of Harry Potter's most enthusiastic supporters.

Evanna has also turned her creativity to fashion, bringing to life Luna's famous radish earrings as well as designing the lion hat worn by Luna in the sixth film. She has actively supported charity efforts such as the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland and the HP Alliance, speaking out on issues of self-esteem and body image. She is currently finishing her studies and is excited to continue her acting career after Harry Potter.

LeakyCon 2011 is honored to call Evanna Lynch a friend, and yet even prouder to add her to the roster of special guests this July.

Evanna will be doing signings (for which there will be no charge) and photo sessions, which are available (but not guaranteed) for all registered attendees. (We are arranging a system that assures our best efforts.) Access to the photos and signings will be prioritized by level of registration.

You can now register for a new keynote featuring Evanna and all the attending actors. This will be SATURDAY, JULY 16, at 1pm. (This does not interfere with any other keynote - in fact it is on the same stage as StarKid and more than an hour after that is over. :)

This keynote is available to add to your registration from inside your LeakyCon.com account. Please login at LeakyCon.com, go to the My Registration page and look for this keynote to add to your events. Attendees of this event will be given priority access to photos and signings with Evanna as well.

This is the fourth and last of our keynote annoncements. We will be announcing and highlighting more special events over the next week, and releasing a full schedule soon.

Main registration for LeakyCon 2011 is now sold out, but you can add your name to a waiting list here. Our park event, "Open at the Close," is also sold out, and you may add your name to the waiting list here. Two of our previously announced keynotes - Arthur Levine and StarKid Potter - are also sold out, but this one as well as our EA Games are available. However we anticipate they will both sell out as well, so please be speedy.

Help us celebrate Evanna's presence by sending an excited tweet to @evy_lynch. :)

Less than 40 days to go! See you SOON!

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

JK Rowling Dicusses Life-Changing Books, eBooks and More in New Interview

The June 2011 issue of the literary magazine Words with Jam recently published an exclusive interview with Harry Potter author JK Rowling.

Ms. Rowling talks about some of her favorite books to read as a child, the challenge of balancing a family and writing, her (messy!) work space, and her opinion on the eBook debate.

The interview is available to read for free online beginning on page 6.

Some excerpts from the interview:

What was your favourite childhood book, or books?

The Little White Horse, by Elizabeth Goudge. The tone is perfect; a seamless mix of the fairy-tale and the real. It also has a plain heroine, which delighted me beyond words as a child, because I was a very plain little girl and I hadn’t met many literary heroines who weren’t breathtakingly pretty. The opening paragraphs of The Little White Horse have stayed with me all my life. Goudge says that there are three kinds of people in this world: those who find consolation in food, those who find consolation in literature, and those who find consolation in personal adornment.

I know I read Little Women when I was eight, because we moved house shortly afterwards, when I was nine. Naturally, I whole-heartedly identified with Jo March, she of the burning literary ambition and short temper. My mother had everything Georgette Heyer ever wrote, so I whipped through those, too, when I was a pre-teen, and I FINALLY found a plain heroine there, too (Phoebe, in ‘Sylvester’, who also – hooray! - happened to be a writer).

Basically, I lived for books, and was sustained by literary characters with whom I could identify – I was your basic, common-or-garden bookworm, complete with freckles and National Health spectacles.

Ebooks - Nemesis or Genesis?

Genesis. There’s no point trying to hold back progress, but print will never die; there’s no substitute for the feel of an actual book. I adore physically turning pages, and being able to underline passages and not worrying about dropping them in the bath or running out of power. I also find print books objects of beauty, and I don’t speak as a precious, first-edition-mustn’t-crack-the-spine-type collector, but as somebody who loves a shiny new paperback, and the smell of second-hand books.

However, there are times when e-books are a Godsend. We forgot to pack my youngest a bedtime book when we were away last year, and I truly appreciated the magic of being able to download one in seconds! This summer will be the first time that I take away fifty e-books to read while we’re on holiday, rather than filling up my suitcase with print books.

Which word or phrase do you overuse – in writing or in life?

I’m not proud to say that it’s probably swearwords in every day life. Writing the Harry Potter books, I got sick to death of the words ‘passage’, ‘corridor’ and all others relating to my heroes’ endless movement around Hogwarts castle.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)