The Leaky Cauldron - News

Filming of Interior Ministry of Magic Scenes for Deathly Hallows Due Next Month

2009-11-22T11:29:49Z

As readers will recall in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, there is a sequence where the Trio make a trip to the Ministry of Magic and transform into workers. Earlier this year, we saw location filming (photos and report here) for exteriors of this scene in London, which also involved the adult actors playing the Ministry of Magic workers. Today Wales online has a new interview with one of those actors named Steffan Rhodri, who portrays the part of Reg Cattermole. In the article, we learn additional filming for these interior Deathly Hallows scenes will take place at Leavesden Studio next month for five weeks, going between December and February. There is also much more information on the characters and working with the trio. Quotage of interest:

"Reg is from the Magical Maintenance Department and in the new film his identity is borrowed by Ron Weasley, who is played by young actor Rupert Grint.“I basically have to be Ron pretending to be Reg,” said the father-of-two.“It means I have to kind of impersonate Ron which is quite a challenge.”

Steffan will film most of his scenes with Sophie Thompson, who plays Mafalda Hopkirk, and David O’Hara, who is Albert Runcorn.Mafalda’s identity is taken over by Hermione, played by Emma Watson, while Albert is taken over by Harry, played by Daniel Radcliffe.

Steffan and his new co-stars have already met the young actors so that they could watch their mannerisms which they had to adopt for their own roles.“They would do a scene and then we would do it after them.” Steffan was impressed with the young Harry Potter stars who were catapulted to fame when they were all still at school after filming the first Harry Potter movie.“I was pleasantly surprised by how lovely and normal they are,” he said."

More Reports of March, 2010 Release Date for LEGO Harry Potter Video Game

2009-11-22T14:39:07Z

Back in June TLC reported that pre-orders for the new LEGO Harry Potter video game are now available, bearing a March 26, 2010 release date. Tonight, there are several more sites showing pre-orders with various March release dates, notably this Target pre-order card for the Wii platform of the game and a March 23, 2010. Play.co.uk has a March 26, 2010 date yet Barnes and Noble says March 1, 2010.

As a reminder, the trailer for the game covering Harry Potter years 1 -4 can be viewed here, with the write up on the B&N site reading:

"Build the adventure from Privet Drive to the Triwizard Tournament and experience the magic of the first four Harry Potter stories – Lego style! Explore Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, learn spells, brew potions and relive the adventures like never before with tongue-in-cheek humor and creative customization that is unique to LEGO videogames!

Special Features:

Play as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger as well as other favorite characters; over 100 playable characters. Attend lessons, cast spells, mix potions, fly on broomsticks and complete tasks to earn house points. Conjure up fun with a friend and play through Harry’s first four years at Hogwarts as a team with Drop-in, Drop-out co-op play; online co-op available on PS3 and 360."

Thanks for the link to Flickr, Peter!

New Half-Blood Prince DVD Trailer, Knowing Voldemort Clip, Years One to Six Giftset Trailer, More

2009-11-22T11:09:44Z

Amazon.com now has a new clip from the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince DVD online. In the video producer David Heyman speaks to the ultimate plan of Voldemort and the Horcruxes we learn about in HBP. Meanwhile over on the UK Amazon site we can see a new trailer for the special Harry Potter Years One through Six DVD giftset.

Also while it has been floating online for a while, Warnerblu.com and Amazon have been updated with good quality video of actor Dan Radcliffe speaking about the upcoming live HBP community screening he will be participating in with director David Yates on December 12th.

One final related note: The official UK Harry Potter website has now been given a makeover to HBP DVD style with a brand new trailer for the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince DVD.

Phew!

First Looks at Xeno in Lovegood House, More from Deathly Hallows Found on Ultimate Editions DVDs

2009-11-21T16:36:22Z

As readers will recall Warner Bros will be releasing the first video preview at Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows next month when the Half-Blood Prince DVD is released in the US and UK. However, there are quick glimpses contained within the extras on both the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Ultimate Editions released this week in several countries world wide. Of interest is our first look at the Lovegood House with Xeno (actor Ryhs Ifans or possibly his double) standing in the house with Ron and Harry (another found here). You can clearly see the elaborate painted walls, the giant horn, and a print copy of the Quibbler on the stand. As noted in the screencap post below, there is also this rather curious shot of an injured Ron (Rupert Grint) with his arm in a sling, standing with Hermione (Emma Watson) in the forest, possibly for the splinched scene while camping? Please note we are working to verify these and will update with more when we can.

Again, the first official Deathly Hallows video is scheduled to be released on ABC Family the weekend of December 4th, followed with the sneak peek that is contained on the two disc edition of the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince DVD due out here in the US on December 8th, December 7th in the UK. This second DH feature will be obtained via access on the HBP DVD to an internet feature from WB that is not yet live. We also expect WB to formally release official Deathy Hallows stills within the next few weeks as the first of the previews begin, stay tuned!

Thanks to UHP for emailing.

Vote Harry Potter at Mashable Open Web Awards

2009-11-22T07:11:25Z

The world of Harry Potter is represented this year at the annual Mashable Open Web Awards. Celebrating the best on the net, voting is now open for a variety of categories, including two that relate to Harry Potter. First Tom Felton (Draco) @TomFelton is among those nominated as "Best Actor/Actress" to follow on Twitter. A Very Potter Musical from the great group at StarKidPotter is among those contending for "Youtube Video of the Year." You can sign in and vote via Twitter or Facebook Connect now until December 15th.

PotterCast 209: When Harry Met Momo

2009-11-22T04:46:24Z

The 209th episode of PotterCast, our Harry Potter podcast, is online and ready to be downloaded. This week, our Sue is away, but we still have for you a run down of the latest in the Potter world, including news on the release of a featurette from the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince DVD, rumors about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Theme Park release date, further construction updates about the Theme Park, iPhone Spells App from WB, and the release of first deleted scene from the HBP film. Next, we bring you information on what is going on in the many areas of the Leaky Cauldron with a site-wide run down. Half-Blood Pieces follows with a discussion of Harry's trip to Diagon Alley where we get our first look at the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes shop from the sixth Potter film. Finally, the show wraps up with talk of Castle, Avatar, the audio of Rupert Grint on the character of Ron, and much more.

Stay tuned to the very end of the show for a very special, one week only, Avatar podcast with Melissa, John, and Frak! :)

As a reminder, the LeakyCon DVD, which will be available to pre-order soon, will also include all wizard rock performances from our conference. If you like live wizard rock, be sure to reserve your copy of the upcoming LeakyCon Live Album of the wizard rock live shows at our LeakyCon 2009 conference. To listen, just hit the "Play" button on the right side of the page (->), or use iTunes, or direct download.

"When Harry Met Momo"

Scoop hugs!
Theme Park Updates.
More on the Half-Blood Prince DVD special features.
"Oh that guy has a scar on his head."
Rupert Grint on Ron Weasley.
Snakes!
Breakdown of the HBP film.
Lots of Avatar talk (stay tuned to the very end)!
Follow our LeakyCon 2011 Twitter and become a fan on Facebook!
Reserve your copy of the LeakyCon Live Album now!

RT: 56:57
Producer: John Noe

Also, special thanks to our ever-vigilant UStream Mods for monitoring the live PotterCast recordings.

LeakyCon 2011: A Harry Potter Conference in Orlando!
“Harry, A History” Website
Jingle Spells 2
PotterCast Vlogs
Podcast Alley
Digg

Direct download.

Low-band Direct download.

Remember you don't need an iPod to listen. Listen easily on iTunes, which you can download and install here, by clicking here to listen, or you can just use the streaming Flash player at PotterCast.com or just on the right side of this page. Discussion of the PotterCast is right here. Enjoy!

Leaky's Harry Potter Twitter list is the most exhaustive collection of news and official Harry Potter information in the world. Be sure to follow it today!

Joe DeGeorge of Harry and the Potters Featured by PBS Nova

2009-11-22T02:40:29Z

Harry Potter meets Science meets Wizard Rock...of sort as PBS Nova has a new special online called "Secret Lives of Scientists" and features Joe DeGeorge of Harry and the Potters. Many of you might know that Joe is one half of the popular Wizarding rock group, but he is also a serious Physics student at Clark University, and on the site we can learn more about his passion for both science and music in a great series of videos with this funny, talented and very smart young man. Quotage from PBS:

"We were pretty excited when Joe DeGeorge came to our set. We’d met some other scientists who thought they were rock stars. But Joe really is one. In his SLoS videos, Joe talks about some similarities between rocking with his band, Harry and the Potters, and doing his science. In one of the pieces that got left on the cutting room floor, he also spoke about one of the differences:
“The sort of satisfaction I get out of music is that there’s almost this instant gratification of making something—when you play a show, people are there, and clapping for you, and excited for you. Whereas in science, if I’m just at my lab, mixing some stuff up, maybe I make a new compound—but nobody’s there, cheering for me. There aren’t a hundred people standing outside my lab, going ‘Yeah! Do it again! One more!’ I mean that would be great if that happened in science. But it’s hard to imagine a giant laboratory on stage with some guy mixing stuff together and not knowing what’s going to happen. Most of the time, people would just be like, ‘Oh—that didn’t work….’”
For better and for worse, what Joe says is true. In one of his videos, you can hear us clapping after he sings his impromptu composition, “Dick Feynman.” But we didn’t clap at all when Joe was telling us about growing crystals in the lab. Not even a little.

So if science is short on rock-star adulation, what’s in it for Joe?

“I get a great satisfaction in knowing that we as a species are looking for new things and exploring the universe we live in, to see what’s really out there, and trying to understand how it works, and where it’s going—and where it came from. It’s almost like it fulfills, that sort of religious nature people have, the need to explain the universe—that’s what science does for me. So, being able to explore the unexplored is—I imagine I get the same feeling that an ancient shaman would, working with magical materials. When I do science, I’m trying to do something no one’s ever done before.”

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

Dumbledore would be proud.

Hear hear! Thanks for the link Daniel!

ScreenCaps of Entire SS, CoS Ultimate Collector's Editions DVD Extras, Deleted Scenes, More

2009-11-21T15:52:45Z

As we've been reporting all week, the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince DVD as well as the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Ultimate Collector's editions of the DVDs have been released in several countries around the world (not due out until next month in US/UK) As a result, our amazing and very hard working galleries crew have been able to screencap the entirety of all three, with screencaps galore now available for you to enjoy.

New and notable are from Harry Potter and Sorcerer's Stone:
48 page Booklet
Collector's Cards including Dan Radcliffe as Harry, Dame Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall
DVD Box and Covers
Specials including Introduction by Dan Radcliffe
Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 1: The Magic Begins, including new footage of Emma Watson shot on the beach of Wales while filming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, along with Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint on day they got their parts, director Chris Columbus, producer David Heyman, the Weasley family-just marvelous!
"A Glimpse into the World of Harry Potter" containing some of the theme park previews seen also on the HBP DVD
Deleted Scenes: Christmas (nice caps of beautiful Christmas Trees in Great Hall), Dudders in his Smelting uniform, Hogwarts Halls, Neville, extended scene with Alan Rickman's Snape and the 'I can bewitch your mind' sequence eep to the expression on Snape's face!, Reception Letter featuring Aunt Petunia (Fiona Shaw) and her unusual eggs ;) and finally riding on the London Tube with Hagrid (including this hilarious shot of Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid and Dan Radcliffe's Harry on the Muggle transport system)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Ultimate Edition
48 page booklet
Collector's Cards including Alan Rickman as Snape and Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid
DVD Box and covers
Screentests
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets...Revealed
Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 2: Characters including many behind -the-scenes shots of HBP notably of Snape and Draco as the burning of Hagrid's Hut, and here, and truly heartbeaking moment of filming as Alan Rickman's Snape delivers the killing curse as Tom Felton's Draco looks on. Others of note include this new still of Jason Isaacs (Lucius) look at the portrait behind him! and this still depecting the malice of Lucius, older shot of Professors Snape, McGonagall and Madam Hooch, casting of Evanna Lynch for Luna, concept art for Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort, Warwick Davis interview for his role as Flitwick, Interviews with Fiona Shaw, Harry Melling and the Dursleys, Kenneth Branagh on his memorable and hilarious turn as Gilderoy Lockhart, Mark Williams and Julie Walters as Arthur and Molly Weasley at the Burrow, David Bradley as Filch, the late great Richard Harris as Professor Dumbledore, PoA director Alfonso Cuaron, Michael Gambon and Alan Rickman having a laugh in the Great Hall for PoA, Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), David Thewlis in prep work for role as Lupin, Emma Thompson as Trelawney, Rupert Grint during GoF years, Brendan Gleeson waiting to film as MadEye without his magical eye, Cedic Diggory (Robert Pattinson) button, Ralph Fiennes discussing his role as Voldemort, Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix) with David Yates in OotP, Natalia Tena as Tonks, Imelda Staunton as Umbridge with Maggie Smith as McGonagall and later waiting on set, Trios butterbeer drinks for The Three Broomsticks scene in HBP, interesting photo of an injured Ron (Rupert Grint) waiting to film with Emma Watson as Hermione, Matt Lewis on playing Neville, Bonnie Wright on playing Ginny Weasley, Jim Broadbent as Slughorn having a laugh with Dan Radcliffe in between takes, Tom Felton reading aloud from Sorcerer's Stone book! somber shot of Quidditch robed Harry walking in a field, and the improv screentest between Rupert Grint and Jessie Cave for her part as Lavender Brown.

Phew!

Finally, be sure to see this earlier post for the screencaps from the Half-Blood Prince DVD

HUGE THANKS to Erna and entire Galleries crew lead by Chris and Kimmy!

New Harry Potter Spells Application Training, Sorting Hat Video

2009-11-22T06:55:21Z

Thanks to WB for sending over this new "training" video for those who have purchased the new Harry Potter Spells application for iPhone and iPod Touch. At the official site you can also see a short new "sorting hat" video that is part of the application and videos for three of the 14 different spells including "Confringo," "Oppugno," and "Expecto Patronum." The Harry Potter Spells application is available for $4.99 (USD) at the ITunes store.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Reading Group Sorting Now Open

2009-11-21T14:43:47Z

Sorting for the reading of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in our Lily and Stag Inn Reading Group forums has been opened over on the Leaky Lounge. Our Reading Groups offer Lounge members an intimate environment in which in-depth discussions about the Harry Potters novels take place with your fellow group members. For the Half-Blood Prince reading group, members will travel along with Harry as he delves deeper into the darker magic his world offers and unearths more details about his connection to the Dark Lord. Examine the clues and see the blossoming of relationships along with your fellow Inn guests as you enter in the magical world created by author J. K. Rowling. To sort, please click here.

Enjoy!

Trio Film 2009 Children in Need Appeal

2009-11-20T17:26:56Z

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Rupert Grint (Ron) and Emma Watson (Hermione) are among the celebrities this year who have filmed a special appeal as part of the annual BBC Children in Need charity drive to help disadvantaged children in the UK. Broadcast earlier tonight on BBC1, thanks to our Order Partner RupertGrint.net, you can now see the video of their appeal at this link.

Thanks Rg.net!

J.K. Rowling Loves Butterbeer and More from Wizarding World of Harry Potter Sneak Peek

2009-11-21T10:36:47Z

It's not often that we get to see the creator of the wonderful world of Harry Potter enjoying a bit of magical fun, so we are delighted to report a fun tidbit today. The video of the sneak peek of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter from the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince DVD is now online, and in this piece which you can see here, there is this glimpse of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling with her glass of Butterbeer. Cheers Jo!

In the video, we learn that Jo attended a special tasting of the butterbeer and "loved it," the same beverage which will be served at the theme park. Other new details include more on the fantastic Hogwarts Castle, where fans will be able to see the Defense Against the Dark Arts room, the Gryffindor Common Room and more. Rupert Grint also reveals the Whomping Willow and, alas, the giant spider are due to make an appearance, while Emma Watson confirms again they made a special film which is part of the ride which encompasses some of the best moments from each of the Harry Potter movies. We urge you to watch the full video for much more, and be sure to check out this of some plans and inside Hogwarts here, plus the earlier screencaps here in our galleries. Enjoy!
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando is set to open next Spring, with the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince DVD due out here in the US on December 8th.

Thanks much to UHP for emailing!

Gorgeous Artwork from First Two Harry Potter Ultimate Collector's Editions DVD Booklets

2009-11-21T08:04:55Z

We have another treat for you today, this in the form of the scans from the booklets found in the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Ultimate Collector's Edition DVDs

Thanks to our own Erna, we can now show you in gorgeous high res scans of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows concept art including Malfoy Manor and now Shell Cottage. It is rather striking especially to compare the art to the gorgeous cottage which we saw visualized earlier this spring on the beach in Wales for filming of Deathly Hallows.

Be sure as well to check out the entire 48 page booklet from Sorcerer's Stone that contains truly beautiful photos from all the movies and notably this layout of the grounds and Castle of Hogwarts. Finally, you can see the entire 48 page booklet from Chamber of Secrets DVD that contains (finally!) a large size photo of the Weasley family in Eygpt, a high quality large size scan of Jason Issac's Lucius Malfoy lounging at home at Malfoy Manor, concept art of Professor Sprout and the Mandrakes some interesting concept art of Lupin (played by David Thewlis), drawings of Sirius Black's tattoos, new photo of Timothy Spall as Wormtail, concept art for cover of Quibbler, and much more. Enjoy!

Many thanks to Erna for these wonderful scans!

WB Launches New Potions Game, Hogwarts Kit for More Entries in Road to Hogwarts Contest

2009-11-19T20:16:09Z

Check it out! WB has now launched a new Perfect Potion Maker game to earn additional entries for the Road to Hogwarts Sweepstakes. As seen on YahooKids (and open to play without entering the sweepstakes) you can make your own Potions or follow some of those recipes found on the site. Completion of the activity will earn you another entry for a chance to win a trip to the Grand Opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park currently under construction in Orlando, Florida.

As reported previously, this sweepstakes is open to US residents ages 13 and older and runs now until December 18th. If you have not yet done so, be sure to log in and follow the map to find the Road to Hogwarts kit where you can download cool wallpapers, desktops, find a profile maker, site skins and more; all earning you another entry in the sweepstakes. More will be added each week, stay tuned and good luck!

Aerial Shots of City of Hunsbury England Filmed for Deathly Hallows

2009-11-20T11:55:06Z

Thanks to TLC reader Emma, we know that the city of Hunsbury, England will feature in overhead shots for the upcoming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Emma pointed us to this article which says:

"The Warner Brothers team went up in a helicopter to film aerial footage of the residential area last Thursday.As reported by this newspaper they had posted letters to residents asking them to leave lights on and curtains open why the filming took place.It was on Tuesday night that the production company’s location department revealed what the filming was for. The news has delighted residents and the non-magical muggle folk who are now hoping to catch a glimpse of the Northampton skyline when the film is released.

The Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Michael Hill, who lives in East Hunsbury, received the letter to keep his lights on.He said: “To be honest, I completely forgot! I think it would be nice if Northampton is given credit for taking part, but it will mean very little if we are just part of an anonymous backdrop.“I think a few people will go along and try and see their houses.”