Happy Birthday, Neville Longbottom!

As per J.K. Rowling's calendar, today marks the 31st birthday of Neville Longbottom. Join us in raising a mug of butterbeer to this brave Gryffindor and saying Happy Birthday, Neville!

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

Tom Felton Attends Premiere of His New Film, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," Rupert Grint Shows His Support

Actor Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) attended the Hollywood premiere of his new film, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" on Thursday evening at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Fellow Potter co-star Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) also happened to be in town and stopped by the premiere to show his support for his friend wearing a homemade "I [heart] Tom Felton" t-shirt. Nice to see the Weasley/Malfoy rivalry was left on the big screen!

Images of the two actors at the premiere can be seen in the Leaky galleries.

Earlier this week, Felton also stopped by the late night talk show Conan to talk some more about "Deathly Hallows: Part 2." Host Conan O'Brien took the opportunity to bring up some Draco/Harry fan art, taking Felton by surprise. Video of his appearance can be seen at this link.

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" arrives in theaters on August 5, 2011.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2' Hits $1 Billion in Global Box Office

It's the first in the franchise to pass the milestone, doing so only two weeks after its release.

In a fitting farewell to one of the most magical film series in Hollywood history, Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the first film in the franchise to reach the $1 billion mark worldwide.

Deathly Hallows 2 will cross the milestone on Saturday, having grossed $296 million domestically and $630 million overseas through Thursday for a global total of $926 million. Another blockbuster weekend at the multiplex is forecast, allowing the film to easily pass the vaunted $1 billion mark.

The movie, benefiting from being released in 3D, is racing past the milestone in about two weeks, a remarkable achievement. Until now, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone overseas) was the top grossing pic in the franchise, having grossed $974.8 million globally in 2001-02.

The Harry Potter franchise has always been immensely successful internationally, with every title in the series earning substantially more offshore. So far, 68 percent of Deathly Hallows Part 2’s gross has been earned at the international box office, fueled by standout performances in the U.K., Japan, Australia and Germany.

By the end of this weekend, Deathly Hallows Part 2 should surpass Sorcerer’s Stone's domestic gross of $317 million, the best in the series. It also will have surpassed the $659 million earned last year internationally by Deathly Hallows Part 1.

Deathly Hallows Part 2 becomes the 9th movie in history to gross north of $1 billion worldwide, a club that includes Warners’ The Dark Knight ($1 billion), Disney’s Alice in Wonderland ($1.02 billion) and Disney’s 2011 summer tentpole Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides ($1.03 billion).

Thanks to our Hogwarts mate Sylvia for the heads up on this story!

(SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER)

Daniel Radcliffe Records Video Message for Military Families As Part of Joining Forces Campaign

First Lady Michelle Obama recently enlisted the help of actor Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) to thank military families who were invited to a special screening of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2."

The screening was part of Joining Forces, "a national initiative that gives our service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned."

A video of Mrs. Obama at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana's Summer Youth Camp and Mr. Radcliffe's accompanying video message was released by the White House and can be seen below.






A transcript of Mr. Radcliffe's speech:

Hi there everybody at the Naval Air Station Oceana. I'm Daniel Radcliffe and I'm thrilled to be here to introduce part of the screening for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" in conjunction with Mrs. Obama's Joining Forces campaign. I just want to say that I hope you enjoy the film. I've a few friends in various branches of the British military so I know how hard you guys work and the tremendous courage it takes to do what you do, and the commitment you've shown to your country and the discipline in your lives. It's amazing. Though I play a hero on screen, there is very little heroic about me in real life, and you guys, I will leave that all to you. Thank you very very much, and I hope you enjoy the film.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

Dan Radcliffe Interviewed by GQ

We now have scans of a new interview with Dan Radcliffe (Harry Potter) featured in GQ magazine here in our galleries. This interesting interview spans Radcliffe's last few months on the set of "Deathly Hallows," to filming "The Woman in Black," to performing in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." Page one of the interview is here, page two is here, page three is here, and page four is here. There is some strong language in the article, so please be forewarned.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

Universal Orlando Announces 'A Celebration of the Harry Potter Films'

This November Universal is hosting a big three-day event in celebration of all eight Harry Potter films!  From the press release:

This special event will be hosted by Warner Bros. and will celebrate a decade of movie history by allowing fans to share their love for the Harry Potter films. The event will take place from Friday, November 11, to Sunday, November 13, at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

During this special event, guests can celebrate their favorite memories and stories of Harry Potter with filmmakers, cast members and fellow fans. While all theme park guests will be able to enjoy The Wizarding World of Harry Potter during their visit, only a limited number of guests and those who buy special event packages will have access to exclusive benefits such as:

• A spectacular evening gala in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Autograph signings with stars from the Harry Potter films
• Q&A sessions with Harry Potter filmmakers and cast members, along with the creators of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Screenings of all eight Harry Potter films – including "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2" at the AMC Universal Cineplex 20 in Universal CityWalk. Access to the screenings can be added to the vacation packages for an additional fee.

Additional details can be read on Universal's website.

(SOURCE: MUGGLENET)

Happy 22nd Birthday to Dan Radcliffe

Twelve years ago, a young 10-year old actor was cast for the coveted role of the young boy wizard Harry Potter. Today that young man has turned 22, and has grown up in front of our eyes to become one of the finest actors of this generation.

On behalf of MuggleNet, and the fans of the 'Potter' series, we wish you a very Happy Birthday Dan! Thank you for everything, we look forward to watching you in the years ahead.

(SOURCE: MUGGLENET)

'Harry Potter Page to Screen' Official Cover Released, Available for Pre-Order

Harper Collins has released the official cover for Harry Potter Page to Screen.

This book is a follow-up to Harry Potter: Film Wizardry and provides an in-depth look at the entire filmmaking process from Sorcerer's Stone through Deathly Hallows - Part 2.

It includes behind-the-scenes anecdotes, brand-new interviews with cast and crew, as well as hundreds of never-before-seen photos and concept art.

The book is now available for pre-order on Amazon and will be released October 25.

(SOURCE: MUGGLENET)

Deathly Hallows Box Office Records So Far

Hello My Fellow Witches and Wizards!

I thought I would post the box office records that Deathly Hallows has broken since its release on Friday, July 15th.

Box office all-time records

As a result of the film's success, it currently holds the following U.S./Canadian box office records:

Box Office Record	Record Details	Previous Record
Opening Weekend[10]	$169,189,427	The Dark Knight (2008, $158 million)
Opening Weekend - IMAX	$15,500,000	Avatar (2009, $9.5 million)
Single Day	$91,071,119	New Moon (2009, $72.7 million)
Widest 3D launch[60]	3,100+ locations	Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, 2,789 locations)
Highest Gross in Advance Ticket Sales	$32,000,000	Eclipse (2010, $30 million)
Biggest Midnight Release[8]	$43,500,000	Eclipse (2010, $30 million)
Biggest IMAX Midnight Release[54]	$2,000,000	Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010, $1.4 million)
Highest 3-Day Gross	$169,189,427	The Dark Knight (2008, $158 million)
Highest 4-Day Gross	$187,232,508	The Dark Knight (2008, $182.9 million)
Fastest to $100 million	2 days	The Dark Knight (2008)
Fastest to $150 million	3 days	The Dark Knight (2008)

It also holds the following international box-office records:

Record	Details
Opening Weekend Worldwide	$481,489,427
Opening Weekend Foreign[51]	$312,300,000
Opening Weekend United Kingdom	$36,000,000
Opening Weekend Australia[54]	$26,700,000
Fastest to 500 Million Worldwide[61]	6 days
Highest Grossing Worldwide IMAX Release[62]	$23,500,000

(SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA)

Emma Watson may revisit 'Beauty and the Beast' with Guillermo Del Toro

Here's an excellent bit of news to cure your post-Deathly Hallows blues. In a press conference for the upcoming Crazy, Stupid, Love producer Denise Di Novi mentioned that she was preparing for a Beauty and the Beast project with Guillermo Del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth), and had Emma Watson lined up to star.

While exact details on the project are almost non-existant, Del Toro is currently preparing to go into production on Pacific Rim, although it is unclear whether Del Toro would act as director, writer, producer, or all three. Emma Watson, meanwhile, recently finished filming for Perks of Being a Wallflower, so her participation would seem more doable.

This is clearly huge news, so we can expect follow up questions and information to come very soon, and we'll be sure to have it all for you right here.

(SOURCE: HPANA)

Box Office Report: ‘Harry Potter’ Nabs a Record-Breaking $481.4 Mil in Worldwide Debut

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was the previous crown holder at $394 million; Deathly Hallows Part 2 earns a staggering $312 million at the international box office, and $169.2 million domestically.

Talk about some major magic.

Warner Bros.’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 grossed a massive $481.4 million in its worldwide debut, by far the best showing of all time.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was the previous crown holder at $394 million.

Deathly Hallows 2’s opening overseas clocked in at $312 million, while it earned $169.2 million in North America.

Earlier this summer, Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides scored the biggest debut of all time at the international box office when opening to $262 million. Deathly Hallows safely beat that number as it rolled out in 59 countries.

Domestically, Deathly Hallows raced past the $158.4 million opening of The Dark  Knight to score the top three-day weekend debut of all time.

“The phenomenal result is a true testament to the universal and timeless appeal of J.K. Rowling's beloved books. Whether in German, Russian, Spanish, Japanese or any other language, fans everywhere have embraded the finale," Warner Bros. president of international distribution Veronika Kwan-Rubinek said.

"We thank the filmmakers, cast and crew for this amazing film, as well as our teams and partners in exhibition for bringing this epic story to its conclusion on big screens all over the world," she continued.

(SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER)

Fanatic Farmer Creates Harry Potter Corn Maze

With the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" this Friday, more than a decade of Potter-mania is coming to an end.

But that doesn't mean fans are ready to say goodbye to The Boy Who Lived just yet. In fact, one farmer in York, England has created two Harry Potters on his own using an unexpected artistic medium: corn crops.

Shaping his fields with wizardlike precision, farmer Top Pearcy designed a corn maze that forms two nearly identical Potter portraits from a bird's eye view.

The circular-framed images -- which look like a picture of Harry you might find in Ginny Weasley's locket -- are carved into a field of more than one million corn stalks, which makes this one of the biggest maize mazes in the world.

As an added point of interest, the wily farmer designed a few small differences between the husky Harrys, as well as the "frames" that surround each portrait. For instance, it looks like the one on the left has that infamous forehead scar, while the right one doesn't, and the left Potter boasts an ear that the right Harry seems to be missing. See if you can spot the other more subtle variations in the designs.

And whatever House this crop artist is in (Ravenclaw?) make sure one of the professors awards it fifty points.

(SOURCE: YAHOO! MOVIE NEWS)

More New Harry Potter Character Posters

Warner Brothers has released 15 new character posters for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. You can see all 15 in the graphic below. You can also see really large versions of all the posters released for Deathly Hallows at the Imp Awards website.

'Deathly Hallows - Part 2' Soundtrack Track List Revealed

THIS IS A SPOILER HEAVY STORY! IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOKS AND DON'T WANT ANY HINTS AS TO THE END OF THE STORY, PASS THIS POSTING BY!

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*****THE STORY BEGINS HERE*****

We're now getting a look at the track list for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2. It has appeared on a few soundtrack sites that we believe are credible.

1. Lily’s Theme
2. The Tunnel
3. Underworld
4. Gringotts
5. Dragon Flight
6. Neville
7. A New Headmaster
8. Panic Inside Hogwarts
9. Statues
10. The Grey Lady
11. In the Chamber of Secrets
12. Battlefield
13. The Diadem
14. Broomsticks and Fire
15. Courtyard Apocalypse
16. Snape’s Demise
17. Severus and Lily
18. Harry’s Sacrifice
19. The Resurrection Stone
20. Harry Surrenders
21. Procession
22. Neville the Hero
23. Showdown
24. Voldemort’s End
25. A New Beginning

The soundtrack will be released on July 12th!

(SOURCE: MUGGELNET)

Tickets For 'Deathly Hallows - Part 2' Now Available In All Theaters

Tickets for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 are now available in all theaters, and we highly recommend grabbing them ASAP before the screening you want runs out!

Simply click here to purchase via Fandango.

All theaters which offer online ticketing now have tickets available.

(SOURCE: MUGGLENET)

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)

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)

'Potter' Producer David Heyman to Receive 'Producer of the Decade' Honor

The producer of all eight Harry Potter films will be receiving a prestigious honor later this month at CineEurope!

He will receive the 'Producer of the Decade' award for his work on the franchise.

Says organizers:

“It is a great pleasure for CineEurope to be able to acknowledge and pay tribute to a very prolific international producer who produced the wildly successful Harry Potter franchise as well as many other blockbuster films and an array of independent films.”

Heyman will also be screening Deathly Hallows - Part 2 for attendees (not open to the public) the same day.

(SOURCE: MUGGELNET)

'Deathly Hallows - Part 1' DVD To Be Released April 11, Deleted Scenes Details Revealed

The BBFC has released the titles of deleted scenes, featurettes and focus points we can expect on the upcoming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 DVD.  They have also revealed the DVD's release date - April 11.
The additional material will total 56 minutes and 30 seconds.  See below for what the additional disc will contain:

Deleted Scenes
- The Burrow's Shed: Ron Discusses Radios with Mr. Weasley
- The Dursley House: Harry and Aunt Petunia As They Leave House
- The Dursley House: Harry and Dudley Shake Hands
- The Granger House: Death Eaters Search Deserted Home
- Ministry of Magic Lifts: Harry Tells Arthur He's Being Tracked
- Tent: Trio Discusses Destroying The Locket
- Rabbit Chase in the Forest
- Montage: Ron and Hermione Skimming Stones

The main featurette is entitled "On The Green with Rupert, Tom, Oliver and James." Focus points include The Last Days of Privet Drive, Hagrid's Motorbike, Magical Tents, Death Eaters Attack Cafe, Creating Dobby and Kreacher, Godric's Hollow, The Frozen Lake and The Return of Griphook.

If you recall, director David Yates discussed several of the deleted scenes with us at the premiere in New York City.

(SOURCE: MUGGLENET)

Warner Bros. Announces Leavesden Studios Plans and Potter Set Tours in 2012

Warner Bros. have revealed their plans to redevelop Leavesden Studios into a "state-of-the-art filmmaking hub" and provide fans with behind-the-scenes tours of the Harry Potter sets.

Leavesden Studios which is located in Hertfordshire, England, has been home to the Harry Potter films for the past decade.

As part of the renovations, two new soundstages will be built to hold sets used in the Harry Potter films as well as numerous other film memorabilia. The behind-the-scenes tours of these soundstages are tentatively scheduled to begin around Easter 2012.

Early concept art of the new Leavesden can be seen at Empire Online.

Barry Meyer, Warner Bros. chairman and CEO expressed his excitement over the new project, saying:

"Our multi-million pound investment in creating a state-of-the-art, permanent UK film production base further demonstrates our long-term commitment to the skills and creativity of the UK film industry."

The project is expected to cost £100m, and will provide 300 new jobs in the filmmaking industry. In the past, Leavesden has also been used to film scenes from "The Dark Knight" and "Inception," both also Warner Bros. films.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)