[NOTD] News Of The Day 27/04/07

J.K. Rowling , Alfonso Cuaron Wired Rave Award Update

Last week, TLC first told you that Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling had been named one of the 2007 Wired magazine Rave awards winners (scan of article here with new photo of Jo), which are given to 22 different people who " told a unique story, but they tended to have one thing in common: Before changing the game in technology, business, or culture, they first changed themselves." These awards are due to be presented in San Francisco tonight, however Wired let us know that unfortunately Jo is unable to attend the ceremony .

The magazine has also now posted online a list of all the winners, and in addition to Jo, Prisoner of Azkaban director Alfonso Cuaron has also been named a winner. The magazine notes his contributions for the work on his acclaimed film, Children of Men as it states:

He stood by and watched as his Mexican compatriots Guillermo Del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth) and Alejandro Gonzlez Irritu (Babel) hogged the spotlight — and the awards — this year. But with the DVD release of Children of Men, Alfonso Cuarn, the man who brought Harry Potter to the brink of puberty and slipped a tequila-fueled three-way into your mama's multiplex, earns our nod for writing and directing the best sci-fi film in recent years. Starring Clive Owen and based on a P. D. James novel, Children of Men is a stylistically stunning yet grim political thriller. "I wanted to make a 'chase' movie but with much more to it," Cuarn says. "I wanted this film to have moments of truthfulness and a bit of hope through the bleakness." Cuarn's depiction of a hyperviolent, apocalyptic London in 2027 was too much of a downer for holiday moviegoers when it debuted last Christmas, but Children demands a viewing at home. Magneto, an X-Men spinoff, is rumored to be the director's next sci-fi project.

Congratulations Alfonso and Jo!

Bloomsbury Harry Potter Site and the Potter Press

Bloomsbury, the UK publishers of the Harry Potter novels, is doing a bit of redecorating this morning, with new layouts to their Harry Potter website. When you click this link, you are now met by the image of that mysterious rune symbol from the side of the new UK Children's cover to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Scattered on the side now are images such as that ornate locket seen on the Adult cover to Deathly Hallows. Each of the sections seems to have a new layout, including the news, which now sports a Daily Prophet newspaper type design that reads "The Potter Press" Wizarding News, 2 Galleons.

Umbridge the Villain in OotP : So Bad It's Good

New WB "Dumbledore's Army" Website Opens

New WB "Dumbledore's Army" Website Opens

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" UK Premiere July 3

There have been rumors swirling on the net regarding the premiere of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. TLC can now confirm the UK premiere of the fifth Harry Potter film will take place in London, England on July 3. This event will happen at the Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square at approximately 6pm.

At this point we do not know the names of who will be attending, and will update with more on that and any other details about this premiere when we can.