[NOTD] News for the day 09/04/07

We have a few more new products to tell you about tied in to the release of the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix film. Borders now has information available about the new OotP sticker, poster and coloring books we can expect to see on shelves starting in early June. New are the following:

Sticker Book
The description reads: "Two spreads of four-color stickers -- 50 in all -- depict the characters, animals, and all the magical objects that appear in the book and the movie. Descriptive text provides all the details any kid could want about this amazing fantasy world."

Deluxe Coloring Book
"288 pages of coloring magic! It's a deluxe coloring book with scenes from all five movies in the Harry Potter saga."

Flip Book
"Watch two of the most exciting scenes from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix spring to life in the palm of your hand!"

Poster Book
"Thirty full-size portraits of the actors we've come to love, featuring Daniel Radcliffe [Harry], Rupert Grint [Ron], and Emma Watson [Hermoine]. Also includes Sirius Black, Professor Dumbledore, the Weasley twins, Cho Chang, Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley, Draco Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange, and Lord Voldemort."

Hogwarts Through the Years Poster Book
"It's the must-have Harry Potter keepsake! The official Hogwarts Yearbook is stuffed with pictures, quotes, stats, and facts about all your favorite Hogwarts students -- from Year One through Year Five. You'll find info on Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Ginny, Neville, Draco, Cho, and many, many more."

Newsweek magazine has a brief new interview online with actress Imelda Staunton on her role as Professor Umbridge in the upcoming Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Taking on the role of the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in the fifth film, the acclaimed actress describes her thoughts and reactions to playing the nasty and pink-attired Professor.

"A year before Staunton got the part, a friend suggested she would be perfect for it. "I read the book, and Umbridge is described as a short, ugly, toadlike woman," Staunton says. "I thought, 'Oh, thanks very much'." Staunton plays her as an apple-cheeked schoolmarm—drenched in pink angora—who is restricting freedoms (and free thought) to "protect" the students. "There can't be any mess or any individuality," Staunton says. "But, of course, that leads to brainwashed people."

The article also contains a quote from fellow Potter actor Jason Isaacs about how "every great British actor is either in the movies or desperate to get into them" (the Harry Potter films), which Imelda Staunton says there is room for some good acting. She said "You may think that it's just a bunch of wand-waving, but there's a lot of proper acting going on."

Also of note was the small mention at the end of the article from Harry Potter film producer David Heyman on the decision by Emma Watson to sign on and continue her role as Hermione Granger for the last two Harry Potter films.

"Clearly, we wanted her back, but it was important that she make this decision for herself without any undue pressure."

Barty Crouch Junior is Harry Potter fan...well of sorts. Many readers emailed to say that over the weekend in a new episode of the hit UK television program "Doctor Who," there were quite a few mentions of the magical world of Harry Potter. In an episode called "The Shakespeare Code," apparently there were several references made to our favorite boy wizard such as "Isn't that a bit Harry Potterish?" and the time traveling hero of the show even said " Just wait till you read book 7! Oh I cried!" However, apparently the best part was saved for the ending, when the hero asked for a suggestion to help out in a tight spot and then used a spell to save the day, noting something like "Good Old JK." According to all who wrote, the delicious irony and what made it so fun was the fact that this spell was cast on the show by actor David Tennant, who Harry Potter fans know from the Goblet of Fire film as Barty Crouch Jr.

As we get closer to the release of the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie, additional photos of the many new Harry Potter products due this spring and summer are now appearing online. New from NECA are Hogwarts house banners, including Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Gryffindor, as well as a new Hogwart's banner which will be available in July. Also new are closer looks at house crest key chains due to be released this summer, as seen here in our galleries. Danilo, a company in the UK, has now revealed the first look at some of the new Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix greeting cards, which you can see here as well. Finally, thanks to readers Richard and Matt at HPFanzone, we now know NECA (who hold the North American license for the Harry Potter products) has formally announced the Harry Potter graveyard box set that we told you about previously and previewed at Toy Fair, indicating too this set will be available early May.

thatz all the news for the day.......

have a gr8 day.....

this is tejas signing off..

thanxx sooo much tejas yr the best u bring in everything!!!!!! 👏 👏 👏