News Archive, 1st Quarter 2002

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Magic Moment for Man U's Goalie

Story filed 14/03/02.

More than 1,000 school children were given a magical surprise when they received a message from Harry Potter's pet owl, Hedwig.
And Manchester United goalkeeper Raymond van der Gouw needed to show a safe pair of hands when the schoolboy wizard's pet cast a spell over his club's home of Old Trafford.  Children from across Manchester gathered at the Theatre of Dreams to launch a charity book of poems based on the Beautiful Game. 

Teacher to market Harry Potter Game

Story filed 13/03/02.

A drama teacher who developed Harry Potter's Quidditch for a games field has won the right to recreate the game around the world.
Mid Wales teacher Elaine Curry dreamed up a down-to-earth version of the game played on broomsticks.
Quidditch took Newtown High School, in Powys, by storm as hundreds of pupils signed up to play in an in-school league. 

Potter Props

Story filed 13/03/02.

Props from some of the biggest ever movies are expected to raise more than £1 million at an auction starting today.  More than 1500 lots used in blockbusters like Titanic, Gladiator and the Harry Potter film will be sold.  The three day sale takes place at Sotheby's in London.

Old Age Potter

Story filed 10/03/02.

THE new Harry Potter movie has hit problems - because the star, Daniel Radcliffe, is growing up too fast.  His character is supposed to be 11 years old at the start of new movie, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets.  But Daniel, who will turn 13 in July, is fast becoming an adolescent.  

Executive producer Michael Barnathan admitted there had been a few hitches.  He said: "In the last shot of the first movie, he is just like a little boy but now it's quite amazing, the change is very dramatic.  "We look at him and he's rapidly approaching a man. He sounds so much huskier now his voice has broken."

Daniel was just 10 when he was cast in the first Harry Potter movie.  Barnathan said: "We had an incredible book and we could not let the fans down. Finding Dan was the biggest thing."  He admitted the new film - which will feature Shakespearian guru Kenneth Branagh as well as most of the cast from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - has a lot to live up to.  The first movie has become the second most successful film of all time.  

Daniel has already made some celebrity pals on set - including comedian and actor Robin Williams.  Barnathan said: "Robin is a good friend of director Chris Columbus and so Chris brought him on the set, which he loved.  "He was just like a little kid. Dan and Robin were, like, in awe of each other.  "When they get together the pair of them like playing Nintendo together, it was really fun."

Fast Show star joins Harry Potter cast

Story filed 4 March 2002.

The Fast Show's Mark Williams will play Ron Weasley's dad in the new Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets film.
Miriam Margolyes will play Madam Sprout in the movie.

Harry Potter fans - Last chance to see filming for second movie

Story filed February 24, 2002

Travellers arriving at Kings Cross have their last chance of seeing the new Harry Potter film being made. Platform four's signs have been changed to platform nine-and-three-quarters. The Hogwart's Express is in the station. Trunks and other props are at the end of the platform. Today is the final day of filming.

Harry Potter is "Fattist" says Charity

Story filed Friday, February 22, 2002

Harry Potter has been accused of being 'fattist'. A Weight Concern charity says JK Rowling's characters dismiss overweight pupils as stupid and greedy. The charity says JK's description of Harry's cousin Dudley has led to an increase of overweight children being bullied.... 

Harry Potter Makes Movie Chart History

Story filed: 08:32 Tuesday 19th February 2002

Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone is now the second biggest film of all time. It took over the number two slot from Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace at the weekend. Titanic remains the highest-grossing film ever. The Harry Potter film, which was made by Warner Brothers, has now made £649million since it was first released in November, reports www.screendaily.co.uk. Warner Brothers president Alan Horn said: "This is a remarkable achievement. "We're extremely proud that audiences around the globe have embraced Harry Potter so enthusiastically, and we thank all of the fans for their passion and support." 

Lice scare on Potter set???

Story filed: 12 February 2002

An infamous British tabloid -- the same one that said another boy dubbed Daniel Radcliffe in The Sorcerer's Stone -- claims that the children's biggest enemy is not Lord Voldemort, but head lice. The Sun tabloid reported: "A nurse is examining hundreds of 'pupils' at the imaginary Hogwarts School for Witchcraft And Wizardry every day amid fears of a big outbreak. Even Daniel Radcliffe, who stars as Harry, does not escape the rigorous and time-consuming going over for head lice. Busloads of child actors arriving on set each morning are checked while they are in makeup." This species of lice can be a problem among large populations of schoolchildren. The Sun never indicated how the lice were introduced to the set or if any number of extras or cast members have them. "Children infected with lice scratch their scalps constantly — which could cost time and money in terms of lost production," the paper said. The tabloid added Warner Bros. hopes to start filming The Prisoner of Azkaban in early 2003.

Potter Leads to Witchcraft University Course

Story filed: 05:34:12 Friday 15th February 2002

Harry Potter's popularity has led Adelaide University to launch a course in sorcery, witchcraft and shamanism.
Students will study seances, exorcisms, healings, ritual magic and African witchdoctors from March 20.
Only two people have enrolled for the 12-week course so far, but the university says there have been dozens of inquiries. 

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone sold at Auction

Story filed: 03:43:01 Tuesday 12th February 2002

A first edition of Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone has been bought at auction in London for just under £10,000.

It was bought by a private collector for nearly four times the expected price. 

Potter star's premiere health concern

Story filed: 15:24 Wednesday 16th January 2002

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe may have seemed as cool as the proverbial cucumber during the world premiere of Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone but he readily admits he was terrified. The film received its gala debut at London's Odeon West End on November 4th and the young star was the centre of attention. "When all those flashbulbs went off in my face during the London premiere I nearly hyperventilated. I was hoping I just wouldn't pass out," he revealed recently.

Film producers 'chasing Harry Potter star for lead role' 

Producers of a new supernatural film want Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe to play a leading role, according to reports. Sam features a teenager possessed with amazing telekinetic powers, giving him the ability to move and destroy objects. Judy Davis is tipped to play his mother, with Steve Buscemi as a cult leader who tries to kidnap him. The film is being produced by Mike Downey and Sam Taylor, from a script by Steve Attridge. An insider told Ananova: "Casting directors and producers are falling over themselves to get Daniel's name on the dotted line. "He is the hottest child star since Macaulay Culkin arrived on the scene." Radcliffe is currently filming the sequel to the first Harry Potter movie. 

News Tidbits

Filming for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets will be moved to Huskeiran, a Scottish island, in April.

Get the latest copy of People magazine -- there is a picture with Daniel on the cover of the Yearbook 2002 version.

Daniel has been nominated for Best Young Actor or Actress by the Online Film and Television Association!!! :)

Daniel has been signed up to do the third movie -- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, according to IMdb.

Actor Daniel Radcliffe and Director Chris Columbus have been talking about the future of the Harry Potter film franchise, which is being launched by Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Radcliffe states, " At the moment I'm just doing the first two, so I'm just going to take it one step at a time." Director Chris Columbus talks about Daniel getting older, " Well, if you know the books, every book is one year at Hogwarts and Harry Potter gets older, so it's perfect. It couldn't be better."