Helena Bonham Carter Marks the Spot on BBC Breakfast Show

Actress Helena Bonham Carter appeared this morning on the BBC Breakfast program where she discussed her role as Bellatrix Lestrange in the upcoming Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. She said that production on the movie is still ongoing as she would be "in Azkaban" later today to film more scenes. Ms. Bonham Carter was seen sporting the Dark Mark as well, which she showed to the camera, and she also has a tattooed number "93" on her neck, which she said is related to the role. Anyone with video, screen caps or a transcript, please send it in!

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

New NECA Voldemort, Death Eater Figures Due in March

Previously we told you NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association) had landed the contract to make new Harry Potter products and toys. NECA has now announced the first of these products will be hitting the shelves in March of 2007, and they will include new Voldemort and Death Eater figures. Action-Figure.com reports that while there are no photos yet available, the new products debuted recently at Toy Fair in New York, and included figures from both Goblet of Fire and Prisoner of Azkaban films.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

Rumor: Michael Hoffman to direct HBP?

Last month we mentioned a rumor that director David Yates had been asked to return to the Harry Potter franchise.

A new rumor has now surfaced online stating that American director Michael Hoffman will be directing Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Mr. Hoffman has directed Soapdish, One Fine Day and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

An announcement will be made by Christmas, so for now, all we can do is treat this new information as a rumor and wait to hear the official news.

(SOURCE: HPANA)

Special Offer: EQUUS Tickets

As often reported here, in February Dan Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Richard Griffiths (Vernon Dursley) will star in Equus in London's West End. The Tony Award-winning play, written by Peter Shaffer, is a dark, spiraling psychodrama in which a young boy (played by Dan) undergoes therapy after blinding six stable horses.

Leaky readers have been offered a pre-sale on tickets on what is sure to be an in-demand production: visit this link to get the first shot at seats before the public sale opens (Nov. 12). The run begins February 16 at the Gielgud Theater on Shaftesbury Avenue.

Parents please be warned that some scenes in this play are not suitable for children.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

JKR Updates Website: Third Book Seven Title Being Considered; Spell Definitions Clarified

JKRowling.com has been updated! In her new diary entry, Jo says that she is now considering a THIRD title for book seven, but that this doesn't concern her, as some of the previous books have had several titles in the offing before one was settled on. Quotage:

"Title three currently ahead by a short nose, or perhaps that should be a vowel and two consonants."

Jo also says that she has had "a great writing week" and talks about the satisfaction that brings:

I've just had a great writing week. There are few feelings more joyous than reading back over the week's work and thinking 'that's not bad at all'', as opposed to the all-too-frequent, 'it's rubbish, I've wasted a week and I'll have to re-write the lot.' And if you think that's an exaggeration or false modesty, you are very, very wrong. It's perfectly possible to put in eight hour days and have nothing to show for them but a single idea that, if reworked completely, might be passable.

Finally, Jo congratulates the latest group of W.O.M.B.A.T. test-takers, saying, "You're getting pretty good."

Happy Halloween Everyone!

UPDATE: Eagle-eyed readers have reminded us that there is another update on Jo's site -- the "Extras" section now contains an entry differentiating spells, charms, hexes and curses. Thanks, everyone!

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

Yates Comments on 'Phoenix' Running Time

Some news about Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has appeared in the latest edition of Empire magazine. In the article, director David Yates states that he has filmed "a movie that's probably over three hours, so I'll have to lose 45 minutes in the edit."

David Heyman mentions a call from JKRowling on the casting of Luna Lovegood and Imelda Stauton states that she is amazed that it took so long for her to be cast in the franchise.

You can see scans of the article here.

(SOURCE: HPANA)