Hogwarts Herald

This Saturday, February 21, 2009, the latest MTV Spoilers episode is premiering. The 30 minutes show is a quarterly show that gives sneak peeks at some upcoming movies. This latest edition will include some info on the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie, which is still about 5 months away from release with its release date of July 17, 2009. The MTV Spoilers episode is supposed to give more info on the scene added to the movie that they first announced last year. This scene is not from the book and the rumors going around have been that it seems to be a scene involving Death Eaters attacking the Burrow, which is thought by many to be a bad add on since something similar happens in Book 7 and is totally belongs on screen in the first of the Book 7 movies, but many now not happen or may not seem as important as it should. Anyways the MTV Spoilers episode is to include an exclusive visit to the UK filming set for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The episode will also include the director David Yates, Daniel Radcliffe (plays Harry Potter), Emma Watson (plays Hermione), and Rupert Grint (plays Ron) talking about the darker theme of this movie compared to the prior movie releases.

This MTV Spoilers episode also has some stuff related to some other movies, so the Harry Potter part might not be that long, however, it seems it might be one of the longer is not longest segments. The other movies with sneak peek stuff in this episode include Watchmen, Star Trek, Land of the Lost, and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

By the way filming for the movies based on the 7th book begin today, February 19, 2009.

Remember to comment this month and get an entry in the Hogwarts Herald February 2009 Contest to win a copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

At select Regal Theaters there is a special preview of the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie. The special includes new footage, clips, and interviews with some of the cast. The interviews are to include Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), and the producer David Heyman. The interview part certainly sounds new, but from the description of the clips including some of it seems old (i.e. I have seen it in trailers before), although also some new stuff at least.

This site describes the following scenes as being in the preview: “Bellatrix on top of a table in the Great Hall throwing a spell (extended), Hermione throwing birds at Ron, Hermione’s jealousy of Ron and Lavender (”Excuse me, I have to go vomit”), Dumbledore levitating items in the Dursley house, a couple of new lines from Dumbledore, new shots of the Inferi, and the “She Thinks You’re the Chosen One” scene (extended).”

Remember to comment this month and get an entry in the Hogwarts Herald February 2009 Contest to win a copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

The three main actors in the Harry Potter Films all made it into the top 20 list of highest paid celebrities under 30 put together by Forbes. Of the three Daniel Radcliffe brought in the most money making $32.5 million for the year ending June 2008. That put him ahead of popular teen musicians and actors Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers. Emma Watson also made the list with her earnings being $7.1 million. Rupert Grint was behind her bringing in $6.4 million, which was still enough to make the top 20 list. No one was anywhere close to the Beyonce Knowles, who is at the top of the list with $104 million. The second place person, Justin Timberlake, actually barely earned more than half of what Knowles earned, as his earnings were $57.3 million.

Daniel Radcliffe recently gave an exclusive interview to the Daily Beast. As part of the interview he talks about Obama being part Martin Luther King, Jr. and part JFK and representing what the rest of the world likes about the United States. He also extended an invitation to the Obamas by saying “if their daughters would like a private tour of the Harry Potter set, I would be honored to be their personal tour guide.”

In the interview Daniel also talks some about British politics. It is interesting to read his views on it and learn how the younger generation in Britian is so not involved in politics there with him being “the only person [he] knew [his] age who voted. Not one of [his] friends even registered.” Of course, I am not much into politics even at home, but at least I am registered and do vote and it seems the younger generation in America overall does the same. Daniel also says he thinks an Asian guy will be Prime Minister before a black guy, but that overall British politics is still very white elitist.

Here you can find the Herald Sun’s recent interview with Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter in the films based on the books). The article talks a little about how the books get darker and so do the films as they progress. According to the article, it is this “evolution of darkness” that keeps Daniel Radcliffe interested and excited about continuing to play the role of Harry Potter. The article also talks about the movie trying to meet people halfway in regards to the criticism that the films have gotten darker and too scary for the original audience. Thus the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is said to have a balance between the darkness and comedy.

What do you think about the darkness in the movies? Do you think it is appropriate because it is based on the books or do you think they should try to keep the on screen stuff less scary while still trying to get the gist of the book seen?

Personally, I think either way the movie will be worth seeing. It does worry me, though, that they might have made the important stuff not seem so important by cutting down the darkness. I also think it is unnecessary for them to make it less scary because that original audience has matured by now. Thus it kind of seems like they are abandoning the original Harry Potter fans and going for a new generation of Harry Potter fans. Until I see the movie for myself, though, I will believe that it has great potential to be at least as good as the other movies are in relation to how well they follow the books.

from iTunes

Daniel Radcliffe’s Playlist

Hope There’s Someone - Antony and The Johnsons
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) - Arcade Fire Funeral
Man Ray - The Futureheads
Carrion British - Sea Power
Buddy Holly - Weezer
Music When the Lights Go Out - The Libertines
Gouge Away - Pixies
Me Ves y Sufres Hope of the States
What I’m Looking For Brendan Benson
Boredom Buzzcocks

Rupert Grint’s Playlist

Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
U Got It Bad - Usher
I Am Not Your Broom - They Might Be Giants
Minority - Green Day
Stand Up Tall - Dizzee Rascal
Sucker Train Blues - Velvet Revolver
Forgot About Dre - Dr. Dre, Eminem & Snoop Dogg
Common People - Pulp
White Wedding - Billy Idol
Fit But You Know It - The Streets

Or does she???

There’s conflicting reports out about Emma Watson’s future in the Harry Potter franchise.

On the one hand you have outlets like TV Guide reporting she’s gone.

Then on the other hand you have stories like this one on Associated Content saying that she’s staying put. And there’s another in the Chicago Tribune.

What’s a fan to believe?

Personally, I don’t put much stock in the “she’s staying” reports. Why? It seems rather speculative…and they’re reporting it as fact. It’s not Emma or her people saying she’ll be back…it’s Warner Bros. saying “they’re confident” she’ll be back. That doesn’t sound like a sure thing to me.

She may very well be back, and I sure hope she does come back (it would be really, really weird if she didn’t). Maybe it’s just a healthy mis-trust of big business and big media, but I don’t put much faith into what they’re saying.

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Daniel Radcliffe has officially signed on to make the final two Harry Potter films, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Speculation was rife that Radcliffe would not complete the series that made him a star after appearing in the play “Equus” in London’s West End.

I don’t know about this speculation…I think Daniel has been perfectly clear all along that he was going to see this series through to the end. There was never really any doubt. He was certainly in good position for negotiation (giving him a lot more money is certainly better for the financial gains of the series as a whole than paying less for a replacement Harry), but I’m sure both sides worked out a deal that was fair and respectful to all involved.

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Not only are critics up in arms over Daniel Radcliffe appearing nude on stage in Equus, they’re now up in arms over his onstage smoking.

Keep in mind Daniel doesn’t smoke in real life…it’s just what his role in Equus calls for.

I’m a personal critic of smoking…I think it’s disgusting, unhealthy and anyone who smokes is basically a…well, it rhymes with witch…to Big Tobacco. It may seem cool and rebelious, but basically you’re just letting Big Business control your life, health and well-being. That doesn’t make you cool…it makes you a big, smelly, unhealthy loser. It’s rather sad, really.

If a prescription drug is shown to cause heart attacks in a handful of the people, it’s immediately taken off the market. Cigarette smoking is the direct cause of 1600 American deaths per day…yet the Tobacco Industry isn’t going anywhere soon.

So I can understand why anti-smoking organizations are up in arms. But I also feel in this case…the play calls for it. It’s in the script and any change to appease critics is akin to censorshiop. Censorship is not the answer.

Plus…this is an adult play: nudity; sexual themes; smoking. There shouldn’t be any impressionable children seeing this play, anyway.

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Today’s Chicago Tribune looks at “All things Harry Potter” in their “Potter Watch” column.

What can you find in the column?

** News of Daniel Radcliffe’s new London play, Equus.
** A countdown to the 5th movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
** A countdown to the 7th and final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

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Squashing some rumors that Warner Bros. was displeased with Daniel Radcliffe’s role in the upcoming play Equus (in which Daniel appears nude), they released the following statement:

“Daniel Radcliffe is an extremely talented actor, as well as a great collaborator and friend to Warner Bros. Pictures. We’ve had great experiences working with him on our films and fully support him in the artistic choices he makes as an actor.”

This July 23rd, when Daniel Radcliffe turns 18, he gains access to his fortune…a reported £20,000,000 (or $39,000,000 US).

A trust fund had been set up for the young star when he landed the role in the movie adaptation of JK Rowling best-seller series. Over the years, Radcliffe’s movie earnings, as well as the money from the merchandising have all gone into the fund.

However, things are set to change when the British actor reaches his eighteenth birthday in July, for that’s when the reins of his fortune are handed over to him.

Daniel Radcliffe defends his decision to bare all in a new production of Equus, according to an article in The Post Chronicle.

In Daniel’s words:

“I’m fine about it. Equus is an iconic play. The nude scene is part of it. I can’t do it with my pants on. That would be rubbish. We’ve done the scene a couple of times in rehearsal. I had no particular qualms. There’s nothing that would stop me getting my kit off if that’s what the work demands.

“The key to serious acting is to lose your inhibitions, to become free and fearless. I feel Ok about my body. Not totally, of course, but no one my age does…but I’ve gone to the gym to make sure. And many of the actors I admire, like Gary Oldman, have gone naked.”

In the course of a day or so Daniel Radcliffe has gone from the boy your parents would love to see you bring home, to the bad boy who has your dad polishing his rifle. Some parents are mad.

One of the publicity photos shows a topless and buffed Radcliffe being hugged by a naked woman. Another shows him leaning against bales of hay as he stares up at the topless woman. A third has him posing in front of a white horse…

“We as parents feel Daniel should not appear nude. Our nine-year-old son looks up to him as a role model…” one parent wrote.

Another said: “I am curious as to how and why his parents said this was okay.”

Daniel’s role in Equus is a difficult role for anyone to play, let alone a 17 year-old. Especially a 17 year-old who is such a prominent figure in the world of children and teenagers. (Begin my editorializing) But he is an actor.

(more…)

“Where’s his Invisibility Cloak now?” an article in the Telegraph today shows a Daniel Radcliffe in a publicity shot for his new play, Equus. As you can see, there’s no doubt about why this image is creating such a stir…as is the anticipation for Equus to open. Daniel will be acting in the outfit God made him.

This certainly isn’t Daniel as Harry Potter—Daniel’s desire to begin transitioning away from his Harry Potter persona is right on track. No one is mistaking him as Harry Potter here.

Apart from the obvious reason for all of the buzz surrounding Equus, it’s supposed to be a very fine play.

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