News Archive, 2nd Quarter 2002

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Happy Anniversary, Harry!

Story filed: June 26th, 2002. Source: CBBC Newsround

Today is the 5th anniversary of the first publication of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" in the UK. Since its initial release, the Harry Potter book series has sold over 164 million copies and has been translated into 54 languages. The movie of the first book has grossed nearly one billion dollars worldwide.

Owl Prowl Winner Announced

Story filed: June 25th, 2002. Source: CBBC Newsround

11-year-old Joel Willoughby of Navarre, FL, has won a walk-on role in the upcoming movie "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets". Joel beat out over 1.5 million other Potter fans in Warner Bros.' "Owl Prowl" Harry Potter trivia contest, which ran during the month of May. The ten grand prize winners from the contest won an all-expenses-paid trip to London to see the premiere of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" when it opens in November. As the top grand prize winner, Joel will also get to spend a week on the set of "Chamber of Secrets" meeting the cast and crew and filming a small walk-on role.

"Chamber of Secrets" Trailer Released

Story filed: June 14th, 2002.

Warner Bros. released the first teaser trailer for "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" today as part of the theatrical release of the "Scooby Doo" movie. The trailer shows Harry's first encounter with Dobby the House Elf, Harry and Ron flying the enchanted Ford Anglia to Hogwarts and being chased by the Hogwarts Express, Harry duelling with Draco Malfoy and the climactic battle scene in the Chamber of Secrets.

Check out our videos page for links to downloadable copies of the trailer!

Harry to offer peek inside 'Chamber'

Story filed: June 11th, 2002.

By Claudia Puig, USA TODAY

It's no magic trick, but there's relief in sight for all who are wild about Harry and can't wait for J.K. Rowling's delayed fifth book. (Due originally in July, it has been pushed back to 2003.)

The first trailer of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets will be shown on Friday before another Warner Bros. movie, Scooby-Doo. Exclusive photos from the trailer shown here also will be available for viewing on America Online on Tuesday (keyword: Harry Potter).

The sequel, out Nov. 15, will be funnier, scarier and darker than Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which grossed $317.6 million in North America, says producer David Heyman.

"It's a year later and Harry is 12," Heyman says. "There's a little bit more danger. The first film was about Harry finding a home and family in Hogwarts."

Now that moviegoers know all about the magical world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the adventures are intensified. "We can jump-start the story, which is fun," Heyman says. "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened, and Harry is in threat of losing his new family and home." (The mysterious Chamber can wreak enormous havoc.)

All the characters from the first movie are back, along with new villains Lucius Malfoy (Jason Isaacs), Draco's father, and former Hogwarts student Tom Riddle (Christian Coulson). The filmmakers also predict more laughs this time around.

Heyman says those comedic elements include Gilderoy Lockhart, the new teacher of the required Hogwarts course Defense Against the Dark Arts. The shameless self-promoter — whose first test covers questions about him — is played by Kenneth Branagh.

"He's narcissistic and vain and takes himself quite seriously," Heyman says. "He's also very big with the ladies."

For more comic relief, there's an elf named Dobby. "He's short and thin and wears a pillowcase for clothing," says Heyman. "He has a long nose, longish ears and big green eyes."

There will be another fast-paced Quidditch match, which Heyman says has been improved. "One of the great things about making a second film," he says, "is you have the opportunity to learn from the first

Where is Tom Going Next Summer?

What's his idea of a good career?

"Professional fisherman," he says. He goes fishing near his home in Surrey, England, and is planning a fishing trip in Manitoba, Canada, next summer.

He's an unusual kid in another respect: Except for the parts featuring Draco, Felton has not read any of the four Harry Potter books. "I'll probably read the first soon and won't read the second till after the movie comes out," he explains.

Felton agrees that the name Draco Malfoy rolled trippingly and malevolently off his tongue. "It's almost like James Bond," he says.

Boy From Florida Wins Harry Potter Walk-On Role

Story filed: June 11, 2002.  Source: Zap2it.com

BURBANK, Calif.  - An 11-year-old boy who already wears round glasses is the grand prize winner of a walk-on role in the next "Harry Potter" film, according to Warner Home Video.

In an announcement Tuesday (June 11), the Warner company announced the winner of the worldwide online "Owl Prowl" game, created to bring Harry Potter fans across the globe together in celebration of the May DVD and VHS release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Joel Willoughby of Navarre, Fla., is the 11-year-old randomly selected from more than 1.5 million entries worldwide to win a trip to England for a walk-on role in this fall's theatrical release "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

"We are thrilled for Joel and his family as they prepare to fly to England for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Mark Horak, executive vice president of Warner Home Video's worldwide marketing. "The 'Owl Prowl' game was extremely popular and succeeded in bringing Harry Potter fans around the world together through the power of the Internet."

The game www.owlsightings.com got more than 100 milliion online impressions (including at Zap2it) in the three weeks, from May 8 to May 25, that it was up.

More than 17,000 instant win prizes were awarded to players around the world.

Participants around the world took part in "owl prowls" through various websites such as Cartoon Network, Yahooligans, Neopets and Nickelodeon and globally on AOL Germany, Cartoon Network in Japan and Yahoo in England, and used their "owl intellect" to answer up to 85 Harry Potter movie-themed questions.

Players in 12 different countries competed in seven different languages (French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, German, Portuguese and English) on www.owlsightings.com, powered by Warner Bros. Online. Each day, participants had the opportunity to answer five questions in order to be entered for a chance to win the grand prize and one of the thousands of instant-win prizes, including a variety of Harry Potter merchandise.

With operations in 78 international territories - more than the video division of any other studio - Warner Home Video commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace.

WHV's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top-quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment Company, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

Why They’re Harried in Pottersville

From Newsweek, June 10th, 2002

Wanted: Director with the Magic Touch

Help wanted: Major studio seeks energetic filmmaker (avg. workday: 15 hrs.) to take over multibillion-dollar franchise. Must love flying broomsticks, magic wands. Big $ for right person. Warning: Could also end promising career.

THINGS ARE LOOKING A little hectic over in Pottersville. Not only has publication of J. K. Rowling’s fifth wizard book been delayed, but now Warner Bros. must replace director Chris Columbus, who’s finishing “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” due this November. Columbus, who also made the first “Potter” blockbuster, says he’s weary of never seeing his family, and Warners is shopping for someone to take over the third film, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.” The shortlist includes “Thelma and Louise” screenwriter Callie Khouri, whose directing debut, “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood,” opens Friday; Kenneth Branagh, who plays Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in Columbus’s “Chamber of Secrets,” and—honest—Alfonso Cuaron, Mexican director of the sexually explicit “Y Tu Mama Tambien,” who made a charming children’s film, 1995’s “A Little Princess.” Warners production chief Lorenzo di Bonaventura won’t tip his hand: “We like all three choices.”
Meanwhile, the three young stars are aging faster than their characters, and may need to be replaced for the fourth film, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.” What’s more, “The Prisoner of Azkaban” doesn’t hit theaters until summer 2004, interrupting the once-a-year flow. But if we were Warners, we wouldn’t lose any sleep. “Harry Potter” DVDs are flying off shelves, and Rowling’s new book—whenever it arrives—should reignite the magic.

New Director for Potter III?

Story filed May 29th, 2002

HOLLYWOOD, California (Reuters) -- With "Harry Potter" the hottest franchise in franchise-hungry Hollywood, why is everything to do with the property so up in the air?

The fifth book in J.K. Rowling's megaselling series is way behind schedule, much to the agitation of publishers and booksellers. And Warner Bros. is eyeing some wild cards to take over directing chores on the "Potter" pictures' third installment. (Warner Bros. is a division of AOL Time Warner, as is CNN.com.)

One name that can safely be crossed off the list: Chris Columbus, who directed both "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and this year's upcoming sequel, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets." He told the studio he wants to bring his family home after living in Blighty for more than a year.

Alfonso Cuaron, who directed the Spanish-language hit "Y Tu Mama Tambien," is high among the list of candidates. The Mexican director, known for the lush visuals and adult sophistication in pictures including "Great Expectations," also directed the kid-friendly "A Little Princess," based on Frances Hodgson Burnett novel.

Also on the list: Callie Khouri ("The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood") and hyphenate Kenneth Branagh, who plays Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, the new Defense of the Dark Arts instructor at Hogwarts, in the second picture.

Cuaron recently received a copy of scribe Steve Kloves' new (and carefully controlled) script for round three in the series, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," and is in conversations with Warner Bros. about his ideas for the picture.

Cuaron is attached to direct an adaptation of P.D. James' 1992 "The Children of Men."

Meanwhile, Potter fans are puzzling over the unfinished fifth book, tentatively titled "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."

Scholastic, which has sold nearly 70 million copies of the first four books, was hoping to publish the book in July. But Rowling has told her publishers she needs more time to finish, prompting Scholastic to assure antsy shareholders they can expect the book by June 2003. 

'Potter producer promises "honed" Quidditch

Story filed 14, May 2002

For many, the highlight of Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone was the breakneck speed Quidditch match which saw the young wizard tearing around on his broomstick. Well, fans will be pleased to know that Harry will once again be straddling his Nimbus 2000 in the next film, The Chamber Of Secrets. Indeed, one of the movie's producers has promised that the second 'Potter flick's Quidditch action will be bigger and better than ever.

On the DVD release of the first film, producer David Heyman reveals what Potter-maniacs can look forward to.

"What we've got in the second film is, we've honed it a little bit, it'll be, I think the movement will be a little faster," he states, adding, "We're also incorporating a trench around the outside of the field which will be where a great portion of the action will take place, where Harry gets chased by a bludger throughout the field."

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets is due to hit our screens this November. 

Felton to call it quits after Harry Potter

Story filed 14, May 2002

The Daily Express Reports :

Tom, 14, who plays Draco Malfoy, the meanest schoolboy at Hogwarts, said yesterday: "Harry Potter is fantastic but when this is over I don't think I'll carry on.

"I want to go to college to do fisheries studies. I haven't accepted any other films outside of this because acting isn't the be-all-and-end-all for me. I think you have to keep your feet on the ground with this sort of stuff."

He added: "In spite of what Draco is like I really like school and I miss it a lot when I'm filming. I've a fair idea what I want to do for my GCSEs - I will definitely be doing music."

Harris done filming in CoS

Story filed 14, May 2002

The Daily Express Reports :

Richard Harris, who plays Professor Dumbledore in the films, has spoken about the pain he endures daily on set from wearing the Hogwarts headmaster's 2ft-long beard. "It takes two hours for the girls in make-up to put on and it's actually pretty heavy, " he explained.

"After a few hours my face hurts because of the weight. And it's pretty sore to take off because of all that glue."

Harris, 72, has just finished filming the next Potter movie Chamber Of Secrets and is now taking some well-earned time off.

"It's a marvellous arrangement for me doing Harry Potter because I just do 20 days' filming every six months, and the rest of the time I just get to do whatever I want."

In spite of the massive worldwide fame he now has, the Limerick-born actor says he has no other plans for taking on any other film or television projects.

"I'm in my seventies and there's just no need to do anything else. I've worked all my life and I think I deserve the rest." 

Harry Potter makes UK video history

Story filed: 17:34 Sunday 12th May 2002

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone has become the most successful UK video and DVD release of all time.

Warner Home Video say more than 1.25 million copies were sold yesterday on the first day of its release.

The previous record was held by the film Titanic, which achieved 1.1 million sales in 1997.

Neil McEwan, managing director of Warner Home Video said: "We are delighted that Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone has officially become the fastest selling video ever in UK history, ahead of the current record holder Titanic.

"The demand for this video has been unprecedented and the results have exceeded all our expectations."

The company shipped five million copies of the hit film to stores across Britain after anticipating a massive demand when it went on sale at midnight on Friday.

Tens of thousands of fans have already ordered their copy of the hit film over the Internet, with online retailer Amazon.co.uk taking a record 36,000 pre-orders.

Columbus : 'Potter 2 Trailer Still Weeks Away'

Harry Potter director Chris Columbus has admitted that the trailer for the next film isn't quite ready.
He was speaking at an enormous party at Kings Cross station to celebrate the launch of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on DVD and video.

Most of the cast were on hand to talk about the DVD and the Chamber of Secrets.

Columbus said he wasn't quite happy with the trailer for Secrets just yet and wants to make sure he gets it perfect before releasing it.

Chris also talked about the extra scenes on the DVD: "I'm really happy with the extra bits, we wanted to give the fans as much as we could."

"We didn't have time to put Peeves back in the movie," Chris admitted, when asked about the still missing scenes, "Peeves is completely CG and adding him just takes too long."

Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter himself, wasn't able to be there because of the strict working rules on young actors.

Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Robbie Coltrane did their best to fill Dan's shoes, chatting to the press and signing autographs. Even Richard Harris turned up to do his bit.

Next Potter Has Thrills A-Plenty

From USA Today Story filed May 9th, 2002

LONDON — More action. More special effects. That's what to expect in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the second feature film installment of the tale about a famed boy wizard, say Rupert Grint (Ronald Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger). The pair were part of a coven of Potter cast and crew on hand at Kings Cross train station — where the fabled Hogwarts Express leaves London — to celebrate the upcoming worldwide DVD release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. (The DVD hits stores in the USA May 28.)

With about 45 days of shooting left on Chamber, cast members such as Robbie Coltrane, who plays the lovable giant Rubeus Hagrid, and Richard Harris (Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore) were taking pleasure in a break.

In fact, among Harris' first words upon arriving at the party: "Where's the food? Where's the champagne?"

Coltrane said that the shooting on the second film, scheduled for release Nov. 15, was running smoothly and that he was happy to see that director Chris Columbus was having more fun this time.

"He's wildly energetic, as he was before," said Coltrane. "But he's enjoying it more. The special effects were so new and the technology so innovative last time. Now he is a bit more relaxed."

On this night, Columbus did have a moment of tension. When asked where Sorcerer's Stone stands compared with the first Lord of the Rings film, he said in a mildly Severus Snape way: "I can't think about films I'm (supposed to be) competing with now."

He was more lighthearted about the news that this past weekend Spider-Man broke Potter's box office record for a three-day opening.

"Spider-Man (the comic book) was the reason I got into filmmaking," said an animated Columbus. "To see it break the record is fantastic."

Potter stars catch the Hogwarts Express to launch video

Story filed: May 8th, 2002.  Source: Ananova

Stars of the blockbuster film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone turned out to launch the movie on video and DVD.

Emma Watson and Rupert Grint were among the actors who posed in front of the Hogwart's Express at London's Kings Cross station.

Also there were Warwick Davies - Professor of Charms Filius Flitwick and the Goblin Teller at Gringotts Bank.

The video and DVD of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is expected to be the biggest seller so far.

Experts predict the magical movie will smash the previous record held by Titanic when it is released on Saturday morning.

Online retailer Amazon.co.uk has taken a record 36,000 pre-orders, twice as many as they did for Gladiator and Moulin Rouge combined.

HMV has also been deluged with orders from Potter fans and will sell the very first video and DVD copies at a special midnight store opening.

The flagship store in London's Oxford Street is hosting the official UK launch and will be transformed for the night with sorcerous special effects, with the first customer in the queue will receive a certificate to prove their place in Harry Potter history.

Rupert says he's wild about Harry's new voice

Story filed: May 7, 2002

HARRY POTTER star Rupert Grint has revealed how both he and co-star Daniel Radcliffe are growing up - their voices have broken.

He admitted: "My voice is a lot lower than it was in the last film."

Rupert, 13, who plays Ron Weasley in the film series, says that his own voice started changing at the start of shooting the latest movie, Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets.

He said: "It's strange. Dan's has broken completely. But they had decided that they were going to break it in the film anyway, so it hasn't been a problem with the producers."

Rupert will be joining all the other main cast members, including Daniel and Robbie Coltrane, tomorrow for the launch of The Philosopher's Stone on video and DVD.

The cast will appear on the Hogwarts train at Kings Cross Station, platform one, for the launch of the video and DVD on Saturday.

Rupert is back on screens this month in new kids' movie Thunderpants, in which he plays a young boffin Alan A. Allen. The movie features cameos from Leslie Phillips and Stephen Fry.

The young actor is becoming a big star, and is even receiving his own fan mail. He said: "I get lots of letters from girls and it feels really weird, but it's funny as well."

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets to film Death Day Party Scene in May

Story filed 30/04/02

The Wizard World received an email from Simon Fisher-Becker, who plays the Fat Friar in the Harry Potter movies and Simon says this:

My Agent tells me I will be called in May along with the other Ghosts for the Deathday Party scene...otherwise I have had no contact with filming whatsoever and am therefore just as keen to find out what is going on as you are.

As for [Prisoner of] Azkaban, all I can tell you is that I am contracted to do it.

I am glad they are not going to cut this scene out! Kool! 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Soundtrack

Story filed 30/04/02

The London Symphony Orchestra is scheduled to record the score this coming September. 

Harry Potter and Lord Of The Rings nominated for sci-fi awards

Story filed 30/04/02

Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone and the Lord Of The Rings have been nominated for sci-fi awards. Harry Potter received nine nominations from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. Both films are nominated in the Best Fantasy Film category along with Monsters Inc, The Mummy Returns, Shrek and Spy Kids.

Robbie Coltrane and Ian McKellen are both nominated in the Best Supporting Actor categories. The winners will be announced in June. 

YAA HOAX, Daniel NOT Removed

Story filed 19/04/02

Neither Daniel, his parents, nor a representative of Dan contacted the YAA to have Daniel's name removed from the nominations. Apparently, the YAA found out it was all a Hoax right before the event was to take place. They had hoped it would go away, and that is why they did not reinstate Dan's name back on their internet site. Dan WAS still on the nominated ensemble's list *AT* the YAA event. 

Meet the other film star Harry

Story filed 13/04/02

A slimy star in the next Harry Potter movie is making its mark at a college in Warwickshire.

Harry the lizard takes part in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which is being filmed in Carlisle at the moment.

The six-week-old bearded lizard will be on show at the Morteton Morrell animal centre during Warwickshire College's open day on Saturday, May 11.

College animal technician Nikki Smith said: "We don't know if it's a boy or a girl so we named it Harry, which could also be short for Harriet.

"All the students are very intrigued and will be watching out for Harry when the film comes out."

The open day will include dog displays, hoof trimming and calf shows.

Harry was one of 25 lizards used in the making of the Chamber of Secrets. 

Daniel removed from YAA awards

Story filed 08/04/02

Emma Watson (Hermione) has won the Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress. Also nominated from Harry Potter were Tom Felton and Rupert Grint. Daniel Radcliffe (Harry) was evidently nominated in several categories but his representative requested that his name be removed. It is uncertain why. 

Wanamaker out of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Story filed 10/04/02

A week ago, we posted an unverified report that Zoe Wanamaker's character (Madam Hooch) had been written out of the second Harry Potter movie. Thanks to the Sunday Express, it now appears that this is indeed true. Still debatable, however, is the reason the character got the ax:

The 52-year-old daughter of the late director Sam Wanamaker described Warner Bros as "notoriously mean" and called the salary "terrible".

She added: "Some actors signed three-film deals but the money was so crap I was insulted so just signed for one. If they want me for a second film they'll have to up their rates."

She claimed "they don't like actors having power", treated them like "third world citizens" and said most of the GBP 110 million movie budget went on creating special effects such as the scenes with flying broomsticks.

Now Warner Bros have decided to drop Madam Hooch from the second movie, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, due out in November.

All the other original, mostly British cast, including Robbie Coltrane as gentle giant Hagrid, John Cleese as Nearly Headless Nick, Richard Harris as Hogwarts' head Professor Dumbledore, Dame Maggie Smith as Dumbledore's deputy Professor McGonagall and Alan Rickman as Professor Snape, are currently filming the new movie around Britain.

Wanamaker was also reported to have been angry that many of the actors did not receive any extra payments or royalties for the use of their images in spin-off merchandising and computer games.

A Warner Bros spokeswoman insisted that Wanamaker's character had not been axed but was not in the second script, although she appears in the book.

She said: "We haven't dropped Zoe - it's simply that we did not need her character this time.

"In the first film Madam Hooch taught the pupils how to ride their brooms and they've learned that now.

"We can't put every element in the film. We have to be selective or it would be six hours long. We had to struggle to cut the first one down to two-and-a-half hours."

It is not the first dispute about the stars' salaries. Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter, was originally offered only GBP 75,000 and GBP 125,000 for the first sequel. However, the actors' union Equity renegotiated new terms which have since made the 12-yearold a millionaire. 

Microsoft barrier to 'Harry Potter computers'

Story filed 04/04/02

Manufacturers could design 'Harry Potter' style computers for children or other specialised users, if restrictions are imposed on Microsoft.  AOL has revealed the plans while testifying at penalty hearings in the Microsoft anti-trust case.  PC makers want to create a 'Harry Potter' computer with customised graphics and programs, and a computer based on AOL services.