Luna Announcement 'Within Weeks'

A final decision on who will play Luna Lovegood in the fifth Harry Potter movie could be made within weeks.

The search for a teenager to play the eccentric Ravenclaw fourth year began more than two months ago.

Casting directors have visited dozens of schools across the UK with filming on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix due to begin in February.

In November CBBC Newsround revealed that producers have narrowed the search down to five girls.

This followed a process that saw casting staff visiting schools and looking at photographs sent in to Warner Brothers.

Imelda Staunton is tipped to be Professor UmbridgeOver the past few weeks, several sites and message boards on the internet have featured teenagers saying that they are one of the final five with many of them posting photographs of themselves.

Girls who are really in the last few have been asked to keep the news secret and Warner Brothers say that as far as they are aware, none of the names or photographs of the girls genuinely in the last five have appeared on any website.

Other casting news is expected early next year.

Imelda Staunton is already known to be the front runner for the part of Professor Umbridge. Other parts to be cast include Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt.

(SOURCE: CBBC NEWSROUND)