Complete with the silver locket, one of the most ominous wizards in history is now featured on JK Rowling's official website:

Salazar Slytherin

Medieval (precise dates unknown)
One of the four celebrated Founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Salazar Slytherin was one of the first recorded Parselmouths, an accomplished Legilimens, and a notorious champion of pureblood supremacy.

Order of the Phoenix video game developer Electronic Arts has released a new website to promote the OOTP game! Guided by Moaning Myrtle, you can find a story overview, downloads, pictures, and much more! The video game will be released on June 25th.

On a small side note, the website was designed by Lightmaker (the same company that created JK Rowling's official website).

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Official Concept Art:
Hogwarts | Hogsmeade | Owl's View of Park | Logo

Latest Developments (10 AM EST):
- Official park website now open; visitors can sign up for e-mail updates.
- JK Rowling: "The plans I’ve seen look incredibly exciting, and I don’t think fans of the books or films will be disappointed."

Universal Studios and Warner Brothers made a joint announcement this evening from Leavesden Studios on the set of Dumbledore's Office to reveal that a Harry Potter theme park is currently in development. The image to the left is the first piece of concept art for the park: Hogsmeade Village.

Here's what we learned from Potter set designer Stuart Craig and a representative from Universal Studios (both of them hosted the big reveal):

- "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort"
- Announcement was made live via internet at 12:01 AM EST today to select media, including MuggleNet.
- Areas of park to include Hogsmeade, Hogwarts Castle, and the Forbidden Forest.
- 20 engineers working on project.
- Universal came to WB looking for authenticity.
- Potter park to be built in "Islands of Adventure" area of Universal.
- Stuart wants to "take his grandchildren" to the park.
- Opening early 2010.
- Universal's Potter website to be available at this link.
- JK Rowling has been involved "since the very beginning" of the project. Also "supportive and encouraging."
- Stuart thinks that the park will be better off in the United States.
- Have been in design "for at least a year and a half."
- "Important that the theme park represents the entire saga from Book 1 to Book 7"

In a rather cute way to end the announcement, the Universal representative asks Stuart Craig, "Now where's Dumbledore?" Stuart paused for a moment, looked around the office, and replied, "He was just here."

We'll be discussing these developments on this week's episode of MuggleCast (due out over the weekend). This post will be updated frequently as we learn more!

A judge in Gwinnett County, Georgia ruled on Tuesday that the Potter books can stay in school libraries (after local concerned parent Laura Mallory tried once again to have them banned from schools and libraries). After all of these attempts in court, Mallory has finally admitted she may "need a whole new case from the ground up."

Thanks to everyone who e-mailed with the tip!

The BBC children's program Blue Peter has announced a new contest that will give one lucky kid the opportunity to meet Jo in their studio. To enter, you must be 14 years or younger, submit a question you'd like to ask Jo, and enter a picture of yourself dressed as a witch or wizard.

Good luck to anyone who enters! Thanks to everyone who sent in the details.

Thanks to visitor Andrew and Harry Latino for pointing out this new video from a Spanish news channel. The video highlights Axel Amigo, a voice dub for the Potter films. We also see a brief new clip of Dudley and his gang, with Harry swinging in the background.

UPDATE: This is actually a report on the rumor that recently surfaced in The Mirror and does not show any copies of Deathly Hallows being printed. Click here to see this video.

Please note that the video shows text from a book, but never fear: this is just from Order of the Phoenix.

More Order of the Phoenix sticker book scans have surfaced online.

Thanks again to Portkey!

Warner Brothers has confirmed to MuggleNet that the release date for Order of the Phoenix has been moved to July 11th. No information has been revealed as to why, but no fans should be complaining!

We have heard from several readers that the release date for the Order of the Phoenix movie has been changed from July 13th to July 11th. You might remember that WB recently announced that the UK release would be July 12th instead of July 13th.

Please, however, take this news with a pinch of salt while we check with Warner Bros. A possible reason for these changes may be to allow extra space between the movie and Deathly Hallows releases.

Gordon Brown, who will replace Tony Blair as the UK prime minister on June 27th, has called the Harry Potter books Britain's "greatest export." He also recently mentioned that Deathly Hallows will be on his summer reading list:

"I will probably want to dip into JK Rowling, hoping that is something my sons will want to read later. I think reading, in the literal sense, broadens the mind. It opens up to you ideas and themes and vistas that you otherwise would never really grasp. Summer is the best time to read books."

We now have some new scans from the OOTP sticker book, revealing some new scenes from the movie. Included are young Snape from the Pensieve scene, Trelawney's class, and numerous Umbridge and Bellatrix photos.

Thanks to Portkey.it!

On this week's episode of our Harry Potter podcast, Eric comes up with a new description for Voldemort. It's one of those comparisons that you know is true but never realized. Join Eric, Laura, Kevin, Micah and me for that huge revelation. Plus:

- Movie Discussion: New TV spots, Umbridge, and running time.
- Andrew has a big announcement about his music career.
- Does that weird symbol represent the pieces of Voldemort's soul?
- Main Discussion: Harry Potter and the Relics of Death.
- Does this confirm the Deathly Hallows are the Horcruxes?
- We examine the definition of relic and etymology of Horcrux.
- Laura wonders why Slughorn said it's a spell, not a curse, that creates a Horcrux.
- Double dose of Chicken Soup.

All that and much more can be found on this week's show! To download, we recommend subscribing through iTunes so you automatically receive the show as soon as it is released. You can find direct download links (that work on any computer or MP3 player) over on the MuggleCast website. Enjoy!

The Scotsman is reporting that Warner Brothers is looking into several locations in Scotland for Half-Blood Prince:

Warner Bros, which is preparing to shoot Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, has sent an executive to the cliffs and caves around Cape Wrath, and also to a sea cave close to the Whaligoe Steps near Wick, and has been in talks over filming in the north.

The producers are interested in using the caves and cliffs as part of the dramatic climax of the new film - the sixth in the series - in which the heroes wind their way along a sea-lashed coastline in search of the soul of the evil Lord Voldemort.

Sue Quinn, a London-based locations manager with Warner Bros, travelled to Scotland last month, taking a boat trip from Lochinver around Cape Wrath towards Durness, and then heading to Wick to check out the shore and caves at Whaligoe, near Lybster.

You can find a list of areas Quinn checked out on the Scotsman's website. Thanks to everyone who e-mailed with the tip!

Are you a UK resident in between the ages of 6 to 16? Can you make your way down to London on July 2nd? If yes, Cartoon Network is offering you a chance to go to the Order of the Phoenix premiere! You and two guests will win a walk on the red carpet, an opportunity to see the film, and a few other cool prizes!

For full details, visit Cartoon Network's website. Good luck to anyone who enters!

The Mirror is reporting today that initial printing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has begun at a GGP print factory in the small town of Poessneck, Germany. Reportedly, staff at the factory are searched when entering and leaving the factory each day. Furthermore, they are forced to work in "total darkness" to prevent them from reading the book. While we already know that security is stricter for this book, this seems to be a rather outlandish measure (and, well, The Mirror is a tabloid).

The British Board of Film Classification has revealed that the fifth Harry Potter movie will be 138 minutes long. Also, the movie will be rated 12A in the UK and PG-13 in the US (as we reported previously).

The latest issue of Entertainment Weekly has an interview with Helena Bonham Carter, the actress who will be playing Bellatrix Lestrange in Order of the Phoenix. In it, she talks about her costume, her role, and getting the part.

You can view a scan of the article right here. Thanks to RupertGrint.net!

Carlsen, the German Potter book publisher, has announced today that their native translation will be released on October 27th, 2007. According to the official announcement, it will be translated by Klaus Fritz and illustrated by Sabine Wilharm. Both Fritz and Wilharm have worked on the previous six novels.

Thanks to Markus, Lara, and Karima for the tip!

SWEDEN VISITORS: You'll be happy to hear that the Swedish translation's releae date has been set as well. Look for it in stores on November 21st, 2007!

Bloomsbury.com has been updated with a range of new HP screensavers, featuring both the UK children and adult Deathly Hallows artwork, as well as a desktop countdown widget. Furthermore, a new site by the publisher has been released called "Swot Up On Potter."

Warner Bros. Shop has opened a new Order of the Phoenix sweepstakes, and is giving MuggleNet visitors the first chance to enter. Up for grabs is a shopping spree at the WB Shop to the value of $500. The contest ends July 2nd. Good luck!

Today our very own Andrew Sims turns the big 1-8! Andrew does a whole lot for the site including keeping Harry Potter fans everywhere satisfied with our weekly podcast, MuggleCast. A dedicated worker, wonderful person and friend, the staff here at MuggleNet would like to wish Andrew the best on this special day!

Have a great one, Andrew!

Jo Rowling has updated her website with her plans for the release of Book 7. According to Bloomsbury:

To celebrate the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on 21st July 2007, J.K. Rowling will be signing the night away at the Natural History Museum in London.

Ten years after publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the launch of this, the final book in the series, returns to where it all began: with a book, the author and her readers.

1,700 fans will have the opportunity to meet J.K. Rowling and have their book signed at the Natural History Museum. The first 500 randomly selected winners will attend the midnight reading with J.K. Rowling. The subsequent signing is expected to last until dawn. Every ticket holder will receive a free book from Bloomsbury Publishing.

Tickets to the event are free and will be available by online draw from 23rd May. The deadline for applicants is 11th June. To apply for tickets visit Bloomsbury's website.

US residents can apply at scholastic.com. Other English-speaking publishers may also be allotted tickets; keep an eye on their websites. (for the US).

Jo says, "It has been a long time since I've done a signing and had the chance to speak to readers individually, so I'm delighted that we are launching the book in this way. It will be wonderful for me to get the chance to speak to people who have already read a few chapters while in the queue!

"Good luck if you're applying for tickets, and if you're successful, I'll see you shortly after midnight on July 21st!"

UPDATE: Good news! Raincoast is now offering one Canadian fan a chance to also participate in this event! Thanks to Shoshana for the tip.

In the second preview of our full OOTP set report, Melissa, John, and I visit the Atrium, Room of Requirement, Great Hall, and courtroom sets at Leavesden Studios! Listen in as we give you guys the inside scoop: everything from the architecture of the Room of Requirement to what is etched onto the tables in the Great Hall.

To download, subscribe to the Leaky Mug feed within iTunes and grab the latest episode. This podcast is a joint production between MuggleCast and PotterCast. Enjoy!

Warner Brothers has announced that actors Dan Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint will all be participating in a "hand, foot, and wand" ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, California, on July 9th. From the press release:

WHAT: DANIEL RADCLIFFE, RUPERT GRINT AND EMMA WATSON will be immortalized at one of Hollywood's most famous landmarks when they place their hands, feet and wands in cement in the forecourt of the world-famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Many world famous actors have had the privilege of printing their hands and feet into concrete out front of the theater. MuggleNet will be covering this special event, and we hope to bring you pictures and a report!

Warner Brothers has sent us six Order of the Phoenix TV spots now available for online viewing. Click the link below to watch 'em all!

A new OOTP clip, containing several new shots from the movie, aired yesterday during the season finale of "Heroes." Click here to see this clip.

The BBC is reporting that the World Premiere of Order of the Phoenix will be held in Japan on June 28th:

The Japanese capital was chosen after another highly-anticipated sequel, Spider-Man 3, opened there and broke box office records.

But a Warner Brothers spokeswoman said there was "no special reason" for opting to launch the film in Japan.

As previously reported, the London premiere will take place on July 3rd, and the US premiere will take place in LA on July 8th. Thanks to everyone who e-mailed with the tip!

A few days ago we brought to you scans from the latest issue of Teen Vogue where the trio was featured in a great photoshoot. The magazine's website now has a new behind-the-scenes look at the making of that spread which you can see in our gallery.


There is also an article to accompany the photos, viewable at Teen Vogue's website. Thanks to everyone who e-mailed with the tip!

As we told you previously, a new clip from the Order of the Phoenix film was aired today on Ellen. Click here to see the clip, thanks to HPANA.

The Guardian is reporting tonight that Great Britain will be releasing a series of Harry Potter stamps, with each depicting a book cover, to coincide with the release of Deathly Hallows. The stamps will be available beginning on July 17th.

It was a very hard task, but the winners of the Magical Tours T-Shirt contest have been selected. The Grand Prize winner is Allison Staub. Allison wins a free trip to Britain to join the Magical Tours MuggleNet fan tour "Illuminating Harry's Wondrous World" July 4 - 14, 2007. The second place goes to Katie Aiani. She wins a great prize package from Alivan's including her choice of Classic Collection Wand matching Regal School Robe, scarf and tie. The third place winner is Stacie Taylor. Her Alivan's prize includes her choice of Classic Collection Wand and choice of matching scarf and tie.

Congratulations to the winners as well as to all the other contestants who submitted such fantastic designs!

There are only a few spots left on this summer's tour so visit Magical Tours to sign up!

Yes, it's true. We realize at the end of this week's Harry Potter podcast that we have far too many community outlets to possibly have lives. That's okay though, because everyone is sure to enjoy this episode. We cover everything, including:

- Jo's post on spoilers.
- Too much security for Book 7?
- Rebuttals on the symbol.
- Main Discussion: Lily's Secret.
- Did she know the prophecy?
- What did she possess or know that made Voldemort give her the choice to live?
- Dueling Club returns.
- The location of Godric's Hollow?
- The Road to Deathly Hallows begins: Will Hogwarts be open?

All that and much, much more can be found on this week's episode! To download, we recommend subscribing for free in iTunes so that you automatically receive the show each week. You can also visit the MuggleCast website for complete shownotes and additional download links.

New tour dates added: I will be making appearances at Borders stores in LaGrange, IL, and Naperville, IL, on June 23rd, and Merrillville, IN, on July 1st. Check out the book tour page for details, and make sure you come out and say hello if you live in the Chicago area!

If you needed another reason to come out, our long-time sponsor Alivan's has agreed to donate a bunch of prizes (wands, scarfs, etc) to give away at each event!

Five winners per day: We're almost two weeks in to the Great MuggleNet T-shirt Giveaway and over 50 fans have won free MuggleNet shirts. If you missed the last post, we're now giving away five T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts per day, with winners being selected at 3 PM, 6 PM, 9 PM, and midnight. Click here to find out how to get involved in the contest.

You wanted it, you got it: A Sirius Black theme layout.

A new clip for the fifth Harry Potter film aired yesterday during Supernatural. While it's pretty similar to previous clips we've seen, it does contain some great new footage.

The new Order of the Phoenix clip we informed you of yesterday will now air on the Ellen DeGeneres show on Monday instead of tomorrow. Again, if you can send us video of this, please let us know.

Coinciding with their 25th anniversary, UK bookstore Waterstone's has named Philosopher's Stone the best book in the past 25 years.

Thanks to HarryLatino.com for the tip.

The June/July issue of Teen Vogue magazine has a fantastic new spread featuring Potter actors Dan Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. Thanks to HPANA, we now have scans from the entire article that can be viewed here in our galleries.

Each of the three actors contributed interviews, which can be read on the images. In one part, Dan talks about how Order of the Phoenix has shaped up:

With this one, it's like everything has come together. It's been my favorite one to do. The character is so exciting in this film. He's so complex. When you're eleven, you're not that complicated. You know what you like and what you don't like, and you know what you want to do and what you don't. But as you get older, there's so much more. You're constantly subjected to this whole cacophony of conflicting thoughts. And I've been able to use that, I hope, to capture some of the detail and complexity of Harry.

Yesterday we brought you a sneak peek at the new Order of the Phoenix-themed HarryPotter.com, and now the website is officially live!

Check it out right here. New things to view are the desktop wallpapers and other various downloads.

Part II of the EA Fansite Day coverage is now online. Please check back this coming Friday, May 18th, for a full review of the videogame itself!

This Friday, some new footage from the Order of the Phoenix will be played on the Ellen DeGeneres show. Click here to find out when it's on in your area.

Anyone who can capture this clip, please let us know.

The official UK Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix site has been updated with a great, new design. It features four new photos from the movie:

- Luna and Cho
- Harry and Sirius
- Umbridge, Fudge, Shacklebolt and Dawlish
- Harry and Luna

Warner Brothers has officially announced their plans for the Order of the Phoenix premiere on July 8th in Los Angeles, California. From the press release:

WHO: From the film: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and more to come. Celebrity guests to follow.

WHEN: Sunday, July 8, 2007
Crew Arrivals: 2:00PM
Celebrity Arrivals: 3:30PM
Screening: 5:00PM

WHERE: Grauman's Chinese Theatre
6925 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood

MuggleNet will be in attendance at both the US and UK premieres. Live podcasts are also in the works for each event, so stay tuned for more details!

The Official Harry Potter website is set to receive a makeover tomorrow that includes a brand new Order of the Phoenix theme with links to the final trailer, videos, and special downloads.

Warner Brothers has provided MuggleNet with an exclusive early look at the new design. Check it out right here!

For anyone in the South Jersey area, I'll be at the Apple Store Sagemore today (May 15th) from 7 - 8 PM giving a demonstration on how MuggleCast is produced. Stop by to learn, say hi, and pick up a MuggleCast shirt!

The calendar on JK Rowling's official website has been updated to wish our favorite Herbology teacher a Happy Birthday!

Last night we reported that a new trailer for Order of the Phoenix ran during the finale of Survivor: Fiji. Now thanks to EmmaWatson.net, there is a video available right here on YouTube.

Jo has updated her website with a new diary entry which reinforces a recent editorial made on Leaky about spoiling Deathly Hallows for the fans. From Jo:

There will always be sad individuals who get their kicks from ruining other people's fun, but while sites like Leaky take such an active stance against them, we may yet win. Even if the biggest secret gets out - even if somebody discovers the Giant Squid is actually the world's largest Animagus, which rises from the lake at the eleventh hour, transforms into Godric Gryffindor and... well, I wouldn't like to spoil it.

Now is also a good time to update everyone on MuggleNet's spoiler policy: no information sent in to MuggleNet regarding Deathly Hallows will be posted unless it is revealed by an official source (i.e. Scholastic or Bloomsbury).

Any information officially released will not be immediately readable on the site unless you highlight the text or click an extra link. Additionally, we warn everyone to avoid the comments of each news post if you're afraid of being spoiled. While they will continue to be moderated, a visitor or two may get a bright idea to post a big secret before we can catch it.

Bottom line: Don't worry about being spoiled around MuggleNet, but beware of some tricky people in the comments.

Ben ponders a spell on this week's episode of our Harry Potter podcast. It's a doozy of a question that he'd love to know the answer to and utilize for his own good. Join Kevin, Eric, Micah, Mikey, and Ben for that, plus:

- Main Discussion: THE SYMBOL (on the spine of DH UK).
- We take listeners' theories on the symbol.
- Is it related to the Key of Solomon?
- Is it an ancient rune that symbolizes the Order of the Phoenix?
- Since it's on white marble, is it possibly found on Dumbledore's tomb?
- Does it mean "broken trinity" or "loss of faith"?
- Voicemails return.
- Part 1 of a series of interviews with the creators of the OOTP video game.

All that and much more can be found on this week's show! To download, we recommend subscribing for free through iTunes. That way you'll automatically receive each show as soon as it is released. You can also visit the MuggleCast website for completely shownotes and additional download links. Enjoy!

During tonight's finale of Survivor: Fiji, a new trailer for Order of the Phoenix aired around 9:20 PM EST. It was roughly 30-40 seconds long, containing several new scenes with Dumbledore's Army, Mad-Eye Moody, Lupin, and Sirius. The trailer also displayed the movie's PG-13 rating and release date.

If anyone was able to capture the video, please send it in to tips at staff dot mugglenet dot com. Thanks to Jenny P. for the info!

The BBC is reporting today that Jo has donated money to help find a girl by the name of Madeleine McCann who disappeared while on vacation with her family in Portugal. From the article:

Rewards totaling 2.5m pounds have been offered to anyone who can help with information leading to the safe return of Madeleine, from Rothley in Leicestershire.

Businessman Sir Richard Branson, footballer Wayne Rooney, and children's author JK Rowling are among those who have contributed.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the McCann family for their daughter's safe return. Thanks to everyone who e-mailed in with the tip.

We're entering the fifth day of the Great MuggleNet.com T-Shirt Giveaway (see here), and we've already awarded 20 winners. Before the competition continues, however, we need to make a few changes:

1) When sending in your answer you must include your name, address, T-shirt size, and the correct answer for your response to be valid. Also, please include the time you sent the e-mail.

2) We've received several complaints from users with slower internet connections who want to participate. In response, we're going to be awarding an additional winner each day. Winners will be selected at random. So even if it's already a few minutes after the trivia question has been posted, it's still to your advantage to find the question and e-mail in.

Good luck!

A special Order of the Phoenix preview that aired yesterday on Entertainment Tonight is now available online thanks to iKlipz. Check it out here! New clips include Lupin talking with Harry at the kitchen table in Grimmauld Place, Dumbledore's Army, and Voldemort with Harry.

Thanks to everyone who e-mailed with the tip!

Helena Bonham Carter, Bellatrix Lestrange in the fifth Harry Potter movie, recently spoke briefly about her role in OOTP.

"I had five lines in that. I think they cut three of them - and I was there for six weeks. I don't know quite how, still, to this day, I was there for that long. It really is 90 percent waiting. I mean, nice waiting - waiting's okay if you've got a trailer. I just sleep. I'm a very good sleeper. And it is quite amazing to meet all these old actors. It's like a rest home for British Equity, and we're all lying around and chatting. You can't look to huge job satisfaction, but it's nice to be part of it. And it's fun to be a witch."

Thanks to those who wrote in.

MTV has asked a number of renowned directors how they would helm a Potter film. Here's what some of them had to say:

Rob Zombie ("Halloween"): "I'd probably be very violent with a lot of nudity. That's what it needs. Harry should say 'f---' a lot. That would spice it up."

David Fincher ("Zodiac"): "Could I make it darker than Alfonso's? I don't know. [Should Harry die?] As all good teenagers must."

Thanks to everyone who emailed.

Good news for all you chaps in the United Kingdom: Warner Brothers has confirmed that Order of the Phoenix will be released on July 12th, 2007. That is one day earlier than originally scheduled, and US fans still have to wait until the 13th to see it in theaters.

We're still waiting for information concerning why this change was made in the first place, but we'll keep you updated!

Warner Brothers has announced that the popular 20Q game will be released with Harry Potter answers later this year. The game works by asking the player 20 questions. Once all of them are answered, the system tries to guess what person, place, or thing the person is thinking.

Radica, the company behind the game, is asking Potter fans to help train the system by visiting their official website and clicking on "Harry Potter" at the top. Go here to get started!

Jo has awarded our friends at HarryPotterFanZone.com with her latest fan site award. Congrats to them!

EDIT: Turns out this is just a fan-made poster... Sorry for the confusion.

Awesome Layout #1
Awesome Layout #2
Awesome Layout #3

Good work, Dylan!

AbeBooks.com has commenced a new contest that asks for your best Potter poetry. The winner will receive a very cool bookshelf that is sculpted entirely from UK Potter books! From the website:

To enter the contest, we want you to compose a poem dedicated to Harry Potter. It can be anything from a limerick to a haiku to a love poem to an elegy to a sonnet. Be creative - the finest poem about the Boy Wizard will win and we'll also publish the best ones on AbeBooks. There is no limitation on length. You can enter up to three times separately but each entry must contain just one poem.

The deadline to enter is July 6th, and the winner will be announced on July 10th. Good luck to everyone who enters!

Yahoo! UK has released another Order of the Phoenix trailer that runs 1 minute and 2 seconds long. Unfortunately, there are no new clips. This is just a remake of the trailers that have already been released.

In other news, Apple has put the already-released US OOTP trailer on their website for download in several formats including high-def. Thanks to everyone who e-mailed!

According to Warner Bros.' new Dumbledore's Army website, the fifth Harry Potter movie will be rated PG-13 in the United States. OOTP is the second film in the series to receive this rating; Goblet of Fire was the first.

Check them out: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Thanks to Richard for pointing out this new listing on Barnes & Noble's website promoting an upcoming box set of all seven Harry Potter novels.

Due to be released on September 18th (according to B&N's website), the books will be enclosed in this cool case that includes a privacy lock and a sticker set. You can see what it looks like while opened right here (and we doubt that's a real copy of Deathly Hallows, but it's cool to see it with the rest of 'em).

The listing price is $195 but Barnes & Noble has a discounted preorder of $136.50. We hope to have more details soon!

Film Music Weekly recently conducted an interview with Nicholas Hooper, the man who composed the score for the fifth Harry Potter film. In this interview, Nicholas discusses in detail various themes on the soundtrack. Click here to read (page 4).

It's not too late to sign up for the second annual Harry Potter tour of Britain for MuggleNet fans by Magical Tours, July 4th-14th, 2007. You can still join the "Illuminating Harry's Wondrous World - An Adventure for MuggleNet Fans" tour to visit the filming locations in England, and enjoy your last chance for lively discussions on what will happen in Book 7 before its release.

There are only a few spots left, so sign up soon!

We now have a new interview with actor Chris Rankin, who played Percy Weasley in every Potter movie but the fourth. In this interview, Percy discusses the fifth movie, the seventh book, and more.

The US Harry Potter audio book narrator is set to play host to Barnes & Noble's Deathly Hallows release party. The event will commence at 10:30 PM, July 20th, at the Union Square B&N in Manhattan. Dale will discuss how he got the role of narrator, how he creates his characters' voices, and read excerpts from previous Harry Potter books.

Remember you can pre-order your copy of DH here at Borders.

Jo updated her site today with some new FAQs, including: the properties of Draco's wand; the exact date of Voldemort's birth; if we know Draco's Patronus; and the Hogwarts houses of Tonks and Myrtle.

Starting Tuesday, May 8th, we will be running a contest to give away four MuggleNet shirts each day until Book 7 is released on July 21st. And not just t-shirts, but also hoodies and sweatshirts.

Here's how it will work: Every day at 3 PM, 6 PM, 9 PM, and 12 AM EST, a trivia question will appear on a random page on MuggleNet. So you'll have four chances to win each day! To enter, find the question and send your answer, along with your name, address, and phone number, to covercontest at staff dot mugglenet dot com. The first person to e-mail at each designated time will be able to pick from our remaining stock of MuggleNet sweatshirts, hoodies, and t-shirts.

IN OTHER SITE-RELATED NEWS... MuggleNet.com's What Will Happen in Harry Potter 7 reached #2 on the New York Times Children's Bestseller List this week - its 12th week on the list. Over 300,000 copies are now in print. The only book outselling What Will Happen is Eldest, the sequel to Eragon, by Christopher Paolini.

Some fans define dedication to our weekly Harry Potter podcast. One of them stayed up into the earlier hours of the morning to call-in to the show. Billy Joel even makes a guest appearance - that's how special this one is. Plus:

- It's an all-dude show this week, including Mikey B!
- Impromptu Listener Challenge.
- Order of the Phoenix trailer talk.
- Andrew and Mikey giggle with excitement.
- We welcome several MuggleCast listeners to the show as they call in with their OOTP thoughts!
- Joe Fulton of MillionairePlayboy.com joins us again for a review of the OOTP Hogwarts Castle and a chance for you to win one!

To download, we recommend subscribing (for free) in iTunes so that you'll automatically receive each episode as soon as it is released! You can also find more download links and full shownotes at the MuggleCast website. Enjoy!

Back in April we reported that Jo had been in the running for TIME Magazine's Top 100 Influential People. Several thousand MuggleNet visitors placed their vote for Jo, and now the final results are in!

Jo placed 6th behind Rain (Korean R&B pop singer), Stephen Colbert (television talk show comedian), Sanjaya Malakar (former American Idol contestant), Dane Cook (comedian), and Sidney Crosby (hockey player). You can view the full list right here! Thanks to Emilie for the tip.

The LA Times has a new article on the Order of the Phoenix movie, quoting director David Yates, Dan Radcliffe, and Emma Watson.

During one particularly emotional scene in this installment, Radcliffe recalls [Gary] Oldman [Sirius Black] saying to him: "'Dan, do you mind if I do something sort of physical with you before we start?' I was like, 'No, no,' assuming he meant giving me a hug. He came up to me and grabbed me and shook me really, really hard. As he went away, he kept eye contact. And tears started to form up. I had no idea how it happened, but it worked."

Emma also mentioned that Yates is perfect for this film: "I don't know if he could have directed any of the other ones. This was his story to tell."

Also, in an article previewing some of this summer's movies, USA Weekend writes about how Luna Lovegood actress Evanna Lynch made her own radish earrings (which we told you previously) for use in the film.

The costume department on the film hired several jewelry designers to make the earrings, but Evanna Lynch, the young actress who plays Luna, was so into the character that she made her own. "And they were better!" says costume director Jany Temime. "More artsy-craftsy, more like what a creative young girl would do. The stuff we had was too professional. So we used hers."

Thanks to those who emailed!

Recently, Warner Bros. released this promotional poster for Order of the Phoenix film. However, IMAX.com posted a similar poster with minor changes which included making Emma Watson appear more curvaceous.

This alteration prompted outrage among fans, and now, according to The Daily Mail, the enhanced IMAX poster was not approved by WB who said: "This is not an official poster. Unfortunately this image was accidentally posted on the Imax website. The mistake was promptly rectified and the image taken down."

We have updated our gallery with a new, broader layout, allowing you to browse photos with more ease. Also, we recently surpassed the 50,000 image mark, and continue to strive to keep it the most comprehensive collection of Potter images online!

Thanks to Douglas and Dylan for their work on this layout!

The Bellatrix actress from Order of the Phoenix made an appearance on the Jonathan Ross show in the UK this evening. Several visitors have written in to inform us that Helena revealed she only had five lines to say during the entire filming process. Moreover, two of those lines were cut.

UPDATE: This interview will be repeated on BBC 1 at 1:25 AM tomorrow or you can watch it here now.

On April 26th, EA Games invited several Harry Potter fansites to their headquarters in Guildford UK to analyse and play the fifth Harry Potter video game, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I went along to represent MuggleNet and had a fantastic time. I am going to be releasing all the information I received on the day, including a detailed review of the game itself, over the next few weeks. To start with, here is my report of the visit itself, along with two screenshots taken directly from the game (1, 2).

For further details, check out the main fansite day page.

On top of the three Order of the Phoenix posters that we saw the other day, Warner Brothers has sent us a new set of Luna, Sirius, and Umbridge. Check them all out in our gallery!

These promotional posters will be put up at places like movie theaters as advertisements to help get the word out about the film.

Dale Neuschwander who worked as a student teacher in Wydean School, which JK Rowling attended, has spoken about how she was "extremely intelligent." Jo was 13 at the time, and Dale says:

"She got straight As and A-pluses in creative writing. I do recall an extensive vocabulary for one so young. I was also amused by her witty use of informal language in essays (slang, regionalisms, etc.). She has a good sense of humor."

Thanks to those who emailed!

Framestore CFC, a firm which works on some of the special effects seen in the Harry Potter movies, has updated its site with some information on the Order of the Phoenix film, including that there will be over 100 centaurs.

"We have been hard at work on some of the film's most demanding beings, including over 100 centaurs, a house-elf named Kreacher, the return of Fawkes the Phoenix and assorted magical effects. In addition, we are creating the films title sequence for the first time."

A new interview conducted by SciFi Magazine quotes Order of the Phoenix Director David Yates confirming that he will direct the Half-Blood Prince film:

"I am doing Half-Blood Prince, and I'm doing it because I love the world, I love the characters," the BAFTA-winning director said in an interview. "I think I have more business with this world and these characters."

We're still waiting for official word from Warner Brothers. David has been rumored for quite some time to be directing the sixth film.

UPDATE: Warner Brothers is giving a "no comment" on the story. However, this story has not been deemed as being inaccurate. More soon!

Four brand new Order of the Phoenix promotional posters have surfaced online:

- Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna
- Harry
- Ron
- Hermione

Thanks to MuggleThai and MovieZine!

Several new photos from the Order of the Phoenix have emerged online. The pictures are from the upcoming poster book for the movie, and provide a range of great new shots of both the actors and the sets.

By the way, we too have noticed that this picture, captioned "Padma Patil," shows Padma wearing Gryffindor robes even though she is a member of Ravenclaw. This minor book-movie deviation is presumably to make the story easier to tell.

Thanks to this LJ.

There is an open invitation for visitors of CBBC Newsround to submit questions for Order of the Phoenix actors Evanna Lynch, Bonnie Wright, Matthew Lewis, and Katie Leung. All questions must be submitted by this Friday (May 4th), and the answers will be posted in June.

That's the second question being asked by Scholastic as part of its "There Will Soon Be 7" Deathly Hallows marketing campaign.

UPDATE: The US Harry Potter editor, Arthur Levine, appeared on the The Early Show this morning to unveil the question above. "We're part of that excitement. We're wondering all these questions, too. We wanted to help focus the conversation and be part of all the excitement, with all the readers who are wondering."

Scholastic has updated their bookseller information page with a page count of 816 pages for the US Special Edition of Deathly Hallows. A description, which has been available for sometime, explains what the extra 32 pages will hold.

Includes exclusive insert featuring near scale reproductions of Mary GrandPre's interior art, as well as never-before-seen full-color frontispiece art on special paper. The custom-designed slipcase is foil-stamped and contains a full-cloth case book that has been blind-stamped on front and back cover with foil stamping on the spine. The book includes full-color endpapers featuring jacket art from the Trade edition and a wraparound jacket featuring art created especially for this edition by Mary GrandPre.