NEWS FOR THE DAY 22.06.06

Video and Screencaps of HP Scene from BBC One Queen's Party Ad

We now have the video of the portion of the new BBC commercial for the Queen's birthday party which features the Trio and Neville. You can see it here(Windows media). We also have an Ipod friendly version,here. Please, don't forget to Right Click and Save As. The screencaps of this video clip are available here in our gallery.

OotP Promo Image Shown in NYC

Aint It Cool News.com has a new promotional image for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix that was displayed at the recent New York Licensing Show. The poster shows Harry brandishing his lit wand, with Hogwarts castle in the background. Caution to parents, beware of language at this link.

Order of the Phoenix to be Simultaneously Released in IMAX

Warner Brothers has announced that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be released in IMAX the same day the film is released in general theaters next year on July 13. According to this press release, OotP is WB's thirteenth film to be released in the IMAX format.

"The Harry Potter series has been a huge success in IMAX theatres, and we are delighted to combine this next exciting installment with The IMAX Experience to offer Harry Potter fans another magical adventure for 2007," said Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. "The IMAX theatre network is a proven source of incremental revenue that we believe will grow exponentially as more IMAX theatres continue to open around the world."

"We're delighted to be working with Warner Bros. Pictures on our 2007 film slate this early in the year," said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "The last two Harry Potter films we released to IMAX theatres grossed a combined $34 million, demonstrating the strong worldwide appeal of Harry Potter and The IMAX Experience. This new title gives us a powerful kick-start to next year's film slate."

Filming for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is currently on hiatus and will resume next month.

Happy Order of the Phoenix Day!

Three years ago, we had just fastened our hands around the behemoth Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the book where Harry gets mean, gets kissed and gets a destiny. And yesterday we got this first look at the kids during the Order of the Phoenix filming period, while we wait for the last look at Hogwarts in book seven. Happy anniversary, Potter peeps.

First Look at Trio, Neville in Scene for Queen's Birthday Party

We have our first look at Dan Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Matt Lewis as they appear in character for a specially filmed scene for the upcoming birthday party for the Queen this weekend. You can see a still photo here in our galleries, taken from a new BBC commercial for the party, which will be broadcast live on the BBC this Sunday, June 25. Also, the Radio Times website now has a complete cast list of performers taking part in this special play. The video clip with the Trio and Neville will air during this play. This clip was taped recently, filmed on the set of the Gryffindor common room for Order of the Phoenix. Stay tuned, as we hope to have the video of the BBC commercial that shows a bit more of the Harry Potter actors here soon! Thanks very much to Roonwit!

Bloomsbury Looks for Vilest Villain

Bloomsbury, publishers of the U.K. Harry Potter books, has launched a search for the literary villains readers most love to hate. As part of a campaign to promote Mark Walden's novel, H.I.V.E. ("Higher Institute of Villanous Education"), Bloomsbury has created a website where readers can vote for their favorite literary villain. You-Know-Who is, of course, on the list --as is Draco Malfoy. The - erm - "winner" will be announced on September 4, to coincide with the publication of H.I.V.E.

Fiona Shaw Onstage in London

Actress Fiona Shaw (Aunt Petunia) will be appearing on the London stage for a limited run in "Woman and Scarecrow," by Irish playwright Marina Carr. Whatsonstage.com gives this description of the play:

A Woman - gaunt and ill, haggard after giving birth eight times - faces death. What was life? What was love? What else could have been? Full of mordant, bitter humour, this is a passionate threnody from one of Ireland's leading playwrights.

Preview performances of "Woman and Scarecrow" at the Royal Court Theatre begin on June 16; the show opens on June 21 and runs through July 5.

PotterCast #44: The Internet is for PotterCast

PotterCast 44, "The Internet is for PotterCast" (points if you get the reference first...) is now up! Remember to hit "Update" on your iTunes!

In this show:

-This week's special guest: Tom Morris, author of "If Harry Potter Ran General Electric." Sue interviews Dr. Morris as our third "Lumos Limelight" spot.
-In Canon Conundrums: Is Neville under a memory charm?
-Modcast: The Marauders' Friendship - how did their relationship change and what caused Peter Pettigrew to betray them?
-"What show did our podcast just turn into for a second?"
-Dorky mimbulus mimbletonias.
-Uncle Vernon pwns Voldemort
-More Webby stories - John tried to pat Prince's butt
-A Chipotle Miracle
-Dawlish - the new Smurf. The Museum of Natural Dawlishes
-John on every Potter show this week
-Hott Cheryl!
-Morris: "These stories are about the classic virtues."
-Albus Dumbledore, CEO
-The Internet is for Po- uh - Pottercast!
Running time: 1:25:00
The final edit of this show was completed by editor Jeff Gregory

Remember you don't need an iPod to listen; just a computer and an internet connection, which you already have! You can listen most easily on iTunes, which you can by clicking here to listen, or you can just use the streaming Flash player at PotterCast.com. You can also direct download it here, and discussion of the PotterCast is right here. We will also have a chat tomorrow on the Leaky Lounge at 12 pm EST, so log in at that time for that! Enjoy!