New Photos of Dan Radcliffe in "Equus"

There are some fantastic new promotional photos of actor Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) from the upcoming stage production of "Equus" now online. You can see these stunning new photos of a decidedly grown-up (and nearly nude) Dan here (thanks to Jenna of DanRadcliffe.com for letting us host them while her server's maxing out). (Breathe, guys, breathe.)

Dan with horse
Horse picture #2
Dan as Alan with his girlfriend, Jill
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Update: Second Article Scan

Reports online say that his decision to appear nude both onstage and for these photos came easily to the Harry Potter actor, with the play's producer David Pugh noting:

"There was no hesitancy about taking off his clothes. He has a confidence in his own appearance. With the performances that I've witnessed, when that boy takes his shirt off, Harry Potter has flown out of Hogwarts for good."

The play's female director, Thea Sharrock, was impressed by his physique. Pugh told the Evening Standard:

"We had never seen him with clothes off before. We all went, 'wow'. Thea went, 'Oh my God.'

"For her, there was a certain relief. When we did the audition we never thought to say, 'Would you go naked for us?' We were so overwhelmed with his talent that we set that aside."

As we've told you previously, Dan will be appearing in the play Equus starting next month in London on February 27, which also co-stars fellow Potter actor Richard Griffiths.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

Emma on 'Sweet 16' List

Emma Watson, Hermione, from the Harry Potter movies has been added to "Sweet 16" magazines "16 Sweetest Stars 16 and Under" list. Emma joins such stars as Dakota Fanning, Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts and Jamie Lynn Spears.

Mary Lou Carney, Sweet 16's Editor-in-Chief said of all those on the list:

We considered a large number of Hollywood's hottest actors, actresses, and recording artists for this special feature.

Those who made the list are the young teens who not only have big talent, but big hearts. These are truly the 'nice kids' of Hollywood!

The full list will be featured in the February/March issue of the magazine and if you happen to scan a copy of the article please send our way. Thanks to SnitchSeeker for the link.

(SOURCE: HPANA)

TV and Film Costumes Up for Grabs

If you're a film fan who loves Harry Potter, Star Wars or even James Bond, you could get a chance to dress up in your favourite character's clothes.

Costumes from the films are among hundreds of film and TV outfits being sold at auction by their makers Angel.

They include Sirius Black's grey linen overcoat, as worn by Gary Oldman in Harry Potter and the Prison of Azkaban, and lots of James Bond's famous suits.

Outfits worn by Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom are also up for grabs.

Bonhams auctioneers, the company that is organising the sale, said it would be turning into a star's dressing room so people could try on the clothes before they were sold.

Highest bidders

About 350 costumes will go to the highest bidders at the auction on 6 March, with many expected to raise thousands of pounds.

Sirius Black's coat is expected to sell for more than £3,000, while the cloak worn by Obi Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars film is thought to raise more than £50,000.

(SOURCE: CBBC NEWSROUND)

New Luna Interview in Disney Adventures

Disney Adventures has a new issue out featuring a labeled picture of Dumbeldore's Army as well as a new interview with Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood). See the scan here, thanks to reader TK.

The interview reads: Did you feel nervous about auditioning?

I really wanted to go, because if I didn't I never would have known, and I'd have been annoyed with myself. They had to pick someone, so why couldn't I have a go? It's like in the script, when Harry's trying to encourage some students to be in Dumbledore's Army, he says, "Think of all the great wizards in history, and if they can do it, why can't we?" It was kind of like that.

More at the link - enjoy!

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

John Williams Misses Scoring Potter Films

Earlier this month The Chronicle of Higher Education featured a new interview with composer John Williams where he discussed his involvement with scoring the music for the Harry Potter films. Asked why he was unable to score the music for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, John Williams said it due to prior commitments to other films and he also says he misses scoring the music for the Potter films.

"Now that he is in his 70s, one might expect Williams -- who has written more than 300 scores -- to slow down. But he is so prolific it's hard to keep up with his work. When I asked him why the latest Harry Potter movie didn't have John Williams music (much to the disappointment of me and my children), he explained: "It was a schedule problem; ... of course I would have done it if I could, but it overlapped pretty exactly with Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and War of the Worlds. The Lucas-Spielberg relationship took precedence on my schedule, and I had commitments to both those films earlier on. I must say I miss doing it."

John Williams composed the memorable music for the first three Harry Potter films, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban for which he received many honors and nominations for his work on these excellent scores. The music for the upcoming Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be written by composer Nicholas Hooper.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

Borders Bookstore Asks "Severus Snape: Friend or Foe?"

Borders bookstore are giving Harry Potter fans an opportunity to voice their opinions on book 7 and are especially curious about one character and ask the question : Severus Snape: Friend or Foe? The comments posted are an interesting read.

(SOURCE: HPANA)

JK One of Entertainment's Richest Women

JK Rowling, who is currently working on the last book in the Harry Potter series, has been named on Forbes '20 Richest Women in Entertainment.' Ms. Rowling, at the number two spot, follows Oprah Winfrey with Martha Stewart, Madonna and Celine Dion rounding out the top five.

According to Forbes:

The one-time single mom on welfare is the brains behind Harry Potter, one of the most successful book franchises in history. The sixth installment, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, was the fastest-selling book in history, according to Guinness World Records. The film series--from which Rowling enjoys a cut of royalties and merchandising--has also proven astoundingly successful, with the total gross for the four films already released topping $3.5 billion. Rowling is the only career author on Forbes' Billionaires list.

The list includes:
1. Oprah Winfrey
2. J.K. Rowling
3. Martha Stewart
4. Madonna
5. Celine Dion
6. Mariah Carey
7. Janet Jackson
8. Julia Roberts
9. Jennifer Lopez
10. Jennifer Aniston
11. The Olsen Twins
12. Britney Spears
13. Judge Judy
14. Sandra Bullock
15. Cameron Diaz
16. Gisele Bundchen
17. Ellen DeGeneres
18. Nicole Kidman
19. Christina Aguilera
20. Renee Zellweger

(SOURCE: HPANA)

OotP Now Featured on HarryPotter.com

The official Warner Brothers HarryPotter website has now been updated to feature the trailer for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, as well as a link to the OotP teaser website.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

Jason Isaacs Talks OotP and "Deathly Hallows"

"Magnificent" is the word actor Jason Isaacs uses to describe working with actor Gary Oldman for scenes with their characters in the upcoming Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.Returning in his role as nefarious Death Eater Lucius Malfoy, Mr. Isaacs talks to Sci Fi Wire about the battle in the ministry at the end of the story, where his character has to battle Sirius Black (Oldman).

"I get to have a wand battle with Gary Oldman, possibly my favorite actor in the universe," Isaacs said. "We get to play around like two 10 year olds. And with kind of unlimited sci-fi imagination. It's fun. We just go, 'Well, how about if I ... .' And anything you finish that sentence with, they go, 'Yeah, OK. You can do that.' So it was magnificent."

The actor also met with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, where he asked about the future of Lucius in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and he humorously described the meeting as follows:

"I fell to my knees and begged," he joked. "It didn't do any good. I'm sure she doesn't need plot ideas from me. But I made my point. We'll see. Like everybody else, I'm holding my breath to July to see what's in there. I just want to bust out of prison, that's all. I don't want to stay in Azkaban most of my life."

In addition to appearing on the London stage next month, Jason will also be seen on cable channel BBC America in February in a mini-series called The State Within.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAUDLRON)

21 Great Reads Edition of "Philosopher's Stone"

Last year, TLC first told you that Bloomsbury would be releasing a special edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as part of their 21 Great Reads for the 21st Century collection. That book is now available, and it contains a new introduction from author Alexander McCall Smith, as well as two pages from J.K.Rowling discussing her favorite Classic, Contemporary and Children's books, along with a general Top Ten list of favorites. Thanks to reader Roonwit, we can now bring you a excerpt of what is contained in this new edition of the first book, which is as follows:

From the foreword by Alexander McCall Smith:

"... this is gripping storytelling: humorous, slightly anarchic and imbued with an immense sense of fun. And it deals with important things, particularly the battle between good and evil....That this book changed something, and changed it for the better, is beyond all doubt. It gave to those who otherwise might not be great readers aninsight into what joy reading can be. It gave to those whose imagination had not been given room to flourish the opportunity to enter a world of imaginative fantasy. It brought great happiness and excitement, just that,into countless young lives. No other book in history has done this to the same extent and probably no other book ever will. That is why this book will not be forgotten."

From J.K. Rowling:

Children's Book
It's a three way tie between "The Story of the Treasure Seekers" by Edith Nesbit, for the character of Oswald, "Manxmouse" by Paul Gallico, for its wistful, magical tone, and "The Little White Horse" by Elizabeth Goudge, for its plain, vain heroine.

Classic
"Emma" by Jane Austen, for the incomparable characterisation, the humour of so much self-delusion and the Churchill/ Fairfax twist.

Contemporary book
It changes monthly, but the last novel I fell in love with was "Arthur and George" by Julian Barnes, and the last piece of non-fiction I couldn't put down was "Assassination Vacation" by Sarah Vowell.
Top 10
"Emma" by Jane Austen
"Chéri" by Colette
"The Garden Party" by Katherine Mansfield
"Middlemarch" by George Elliot
"Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov
"David Copperfield" by Charles Dickens
"I Capture the Castle" by Dodie Smith
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
"The Van" by Roddy Doyle
"Tender is the Night" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

Bloomsbury: Permission Not Yet Given for Pre-Orders of "Deathly Hallows"

A few weeks ago we told you that online retailer Amazon co.uk had set a price and started taking pre-orders for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and the book quickly shot to the number one spot on their best seller list. Today, the Scotsman reports that while UK Potter publishers Bloomsbury finds all of this interestng, and they expect the book to outsell Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, permission has not yet been given for these pre-orders for Book seven, as the novel is not yet finished. Quotage from Bloomsbury spokesperson Lucy Holden:

"Each book in the series has sold more than the last, so we are excited about the last one. Amazon obviously isn't our only customer, but it's very exciting that the book has made it to number one in the bestseller list.

"We haven't given people permission to pre-order the book yet, because we haven't received the final manuscript. JK Rowling is still writing it.

"We don't have any details about the amount of books that have been pre-ordered, and we wouldn't base our print run on that. We don't release details of our print run, and we won't release any information about the book until we have the manuscript."

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

WB to Release Harry Potter High Def DVDs This Year

As long rumored, Warners Brothers has formally announced today that they will be releasing all of the Harry Potter films in a High Definition format DVD this year. While no specific release schedule has yet been stated, fans can expect to see Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire out on High Def for purchase in the coming months. Back in November, TLC reported that Goblet of Fire was released on a High Def DVD in the UK, however we do not know if the High Def GoF DVD will be the first available here in the States. These new DVDs "offer resolution six times higher than standard definition DVDs, as well as extraordinarily vibrant contrast and color and beautifully crisp sound. HD DVDs also provide a higher level of interactivity, with instant access to extra features via a seamless menu-bar where viewers can enjoy features without leaving or interrupting the film." Earlier this month, we told you the regular Harry Potter DVDs would soon be pulled from store shelves, however a few of these discs still remain available via our Cauldron Shop.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

2007: The Year of Harry Potter

As the new year begins, news organizations and publications are releasing their most anticipated movies and events of 2007, and these include Harry Potter in one form or another. Entertainment Weekly picks both the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie, and (a possibe) Book Seven as one of the "20 Big Events of 2007." MTV takes it even further when they rank the Order of the Phoenix movie as their number one pick for 2007.

"It is time for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago," Dumbledore tells Harry Potter in "Order of the Phoenix" "I am going to tell you everything." And so he does. The real question is whether or not he'll tell us — the explanatory resolutions at the end of Rowling's books have been among the most glaring and obvious omissions from the series' films. And with big characters and plot points that fans reference with capital letters — the Prophesy, the Giant, the Senior Undersecretary, the Death, the Loon, the Order — there's enough here for two movies. After the series' climax in "Goblet of Fire," Harry tries to warn the world of the return of Lord Voldemort to no avail. Fans with a keen eye will be attempting to divine possible plot points for the seventh and final book: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." No time-turners allowed — the film opens July 13."

Finally, CNN has a humorous prediction on Harry Potter in 2007.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

New Order of the Phoenix T-Shirts from Hot Topic

The first wave of brand new t-shirts for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix are now available from Hot Topic. The new shirts available are:

"No Mudbloods Allowed" featuring a photo of Draco, Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy on the front.
Plus size Mudblood tee
"Harry Potter Imperio Tee" which features the words the Death Eaters seem to favor: Imperio!, Crucio! and Avada Kedavra! (and yes, we know they have it spelled wrong on the shirt).
"Harry Potter Swear Tee" featuring the Marauders phrase "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Voldemort Tee" featuring a photo of Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort as seen on the first OotP poster.
Plus size OotP Voldemort Tee"
"Gryffindor Lion" which features the lion of Gryffindor House.
"Harry Potter Hogwarts Crest Hoodie" a black zip hoodie with the colorful Hogwarts crest on the front.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

"Phoenix" and the "Fandango Fifty"

As the new year starts, many articles are now online highlighting the key movies and actors in 2007. Entertainment site and online movie ticket retailer Fandango conducted a survey asking readers to rank the stars they are most looking forward to seeing on the big screen this year. Actor Dan Radcliffe for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix came in at 20 in the Top 25 Actors category, while Emma Watson in OotP was listed at 24 in the Actress category. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be released in movie theaters on July 13.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)