The cinematographer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Bruno Delbonnel, was interviewed by the crew behind The Oscars to promote the sixth Potter films' "Best Cinematography" nomination:

Q: What was the biggest challenge you faced on the movie for which you are nominated?

A: First of all I guess it was to be as good as the previous cinematographers who worked on HP. John Seale, Roger Pratt, Michael Seresin, Slawomir Idziak.

To be as good but different.

Some of the sets are there since the very first Potter. How could I light them in a different way? This question brought another one based on the series itself. It was Potter number six, the story was less about the big fights than the relationships between the characters. Nevertheless the drama is still there and I thought it would be interesting to have those very intimates stories amidst this very dark mood. As if the school was a dark character. That's when I suggested to go for this (again) dark moody variations of grays. Fortunately David Yates, and the producers liked the idea.

Read more of Bruno's interview at this link! Thanks to HPANA for the tip.

Universal Orlando's existing 'Dueling Dragons' ride has temporarily closed in order to begin its transformation into 'The Dragon Challenge' for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

It has been open all this time despite Wizarding World construction surrounding it.

The new Dragon Challenge ride will be based on the existing the Dueling Dragons setup. The difference will be its new Potter-theme.

According to Universal, Dragon Challenge is "a twin high-speed roller coaster with many iconic elements from the Triwizard Tournament."

No Dragon Challenge concept art has been release other than the ride's entrance. We can't wait to see what the coaster itself looks like!

According to Screamscape, the ride will reopen on March 16th. It's likely this is just one phase of the transformation. Thanks to Heidi and Attractions Magazine.

The stream of new Deathly Hallows-related comments from actors promoting other films continue to flow. Tonight, ComingSoon.net has released bits of recent interviews with Ciaran Hinds (Aberforth Dumbledore) and Rhys Ifans (Xenophilius Lovegood). They both discuss entering the franchise at this late stage in the franchise's life:

Ciaran: 'I had the joy of sharing the scene with three... well, they're not kids anymore... Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. They were very charming, very gracious, made you feel very welcome and you're aware. Here I am at a certain age with all my experience and these kids really know what they're doing, they know their characters and here I am saying, 'Who the hell am I... apart from Michael Gambon's brother?'

Rhys: 'You get on set and you see all these actors who you've either admired from afar or more often than not, actors you've worked with before, all sitting there, dressed up as wizards, having wand-offs, and then bitching about other actors who didn't get the call-up. It's just such a surreal situation to be in. I was really genuinely proud to have been invited to be part of that whole machine.'

Thanks to Tommie for the tip!

While promoting his new film, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Chris Columbus discussed his feelings about the Harry Potter franchise now that he is no longer involved, in an interview with Ed Gross from Earth's Mightiest Fansites.

"Originally, in a naive way, I planned on being there for all seven," he said.

He also explained why he stayed with the franchise through Prisoner of Azkaban:

"One thing we did know is that we wanted to start the series with an almost golden, romantic, old-fashioned storybook quality, and as the films progressed they would get darker and darker, and as Harry's age progressed the films would get edgier and more mature and deal with more adult things," he said. "So we knew this was going to happen and that's why I stayed on through Azkaban as a producer, because I wanted to make sure we were moving in that direction. By the time we'd finished Azkaban I thought, 'Okay, we are at a point now where I know subsequent films will continue to follow everything we had set into motion.'"

Listen to the whole interview here. He talks most about Harry Potter in the fourth segment. Thanks to Ed!

Timothy Spall, the actor who plays Peter Pettigrew, turns 53 years old today. He will be starring in the upcoming Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Join us in wishing him the best on his birthday! Thanks to everyone who emailed in a reminder!

Yesterday we reported on some new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comments from Jason Isaacs, who plays Lucius Malfoy in the films.

Today we have a few more nice words from Jason thanks to Collider.com. They caught up with him at the Green Zone press junket:

Collider: You’re in another rather large franchise.

Jason Isaacs: Not anymore. Don’t make me cry.

Collider: You wrapped on that recently. Could you talk about your experiences on the last two films?

Jason Isaacs: Well, it’s very sad for me. I was already nostalgic for the history of Harry Potter while I was still making it and I knew the end was coming. It was two film…they made the last book into two films and it was a fantastic experience because everybody’s back…everyone who is left alive that is…and even some of the dead people. There is nothing greater than sitting around on a Harry Potter set when you’re not filming and listening to the likes of Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Bill Nighy and Jim Broadbent tell stories. And watching everybody crew the scenery up in the few moments you get on screen - trying to out ham each other is magnificent. This big franchise goes out in an epic way. But I was always cognisant of the fact that I’d have to pack up my little furry friend of a wig and stick it in a box and say goodbye to the cane. All the joy was tinged with sadness for me.

Continue reading the interview on Collider.com!

There's a new interview out this evening with Jonathan Smith, who is the head of production at TT Games (the company behind LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1 - 4). He tells GameSpot what we can expect from the game:

GSUK: What one thing about the game are you most proud of?

JS: The dynamic split-screen is really, really great in Lego Harry Potter, and that's something we're extremely proud of. [Something] especially well suited to Harry Potter, as well, that is really fun to play with and could've been quite a tough design challenge is the implementation of broomstick flying. The control system for flying brooms is really elegant and really nice and straightforward but gives you great flexibility and the sense of really being in control of a flying object. And we're really pleased with that.

Read more at this link! Thanks to Ri for the tip.

Exciting comments related to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 are out this evening thanks to Jason Isaacs, who spoke to ComingSoon.net at the premiere of Green Zone today.

Of particular interest is this about the final battle sequence:

"They made the last book into two films, and it was a fantastic experience because everyone who is left alive is back… and even some of the dead people," he said with a sly smile. "There is one long sequence where everyone who is left standing is there when the forces of good meet the forces of evil."

He also spoke about how they've been molding these two final films:

"This franchise goes out in an epic way," he concluded. "I think the end of the films will be a fantastically cinematic and visual feast and it will more than satisfy the readers of the books, but what you won't get is the book on screen. You will get something more and different."

More great comments from Jason can be read on ComingSoon.net!

The Associated Press interviewed Dan Radcliffe this morning and the interview was broadcast just a bit ago on Livestream.

The sole topic of the interview was Dan's involvement with The Trevor Project, which we've reported on previously.

Dan spoke about how he first heard about the Trevor Project, his upcoming PSA for it, and how the program helps gay and questioning youth.

View the video at this link (click the "Daniel Radcliffe" video listed under Past Interviews to start it from the beginning).

UPDATE: Killer Films got in touch with SlashFilm, who originally reported this story, and revealed that the woman who tweet'd the information is not producing the film. Therefore, this rumor is false.

Does Dan Radcliffe have his first post-Potter film all set?

The producer of the upcoming film 'The Lucky One', based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, tweeted yesterday...

Heading to Doug McGrath's script reading, starring Daniel Radcliffe

And then later...

Daniel Radcliffe and Lily Rabe were AMAZING together!

As Slashfilm points out, filming for 'The Lucky One' is set to begin in May. That's right around the time Deathly Hallows is expected to finish filming (we've heard filming should go well into June).

You can read about the book over on Amazon. As always, we'll keep you updated!

The Children's High Level Group yesterday unveiled its new name - Lumos - and a new brand with a rallying call to put an end to the systematic institutionalisation of disadvantaged children across Central and Eastern Europe.

From the official press release, J.K. Rowling says:

"Twenty years ago, as Communist regimes across Europe toppled, harrowing images of Europe's hidden children began to emerge. Thousands upon thousands of children were living in vast, depressing institutions – malnourished and often maltreated, with little access to the outside world. Slowly governments have begun to transform care systems. Real and lasting change takes time, but today we are putting down a marker and calling for significantly more progress in the next twenty years to ensure that eventually no children are living in, or at risk of entering, such institutions."

Lumos, chaired by the Potter author, will continue its work in the Czech Republic and the Republic of Moldova, as well as expanding into other countries, including Bulgaria.

Potter fans will remember the charity as the beneficiary of the sales from The Tales of Beedle the Bard. You can visit the Lumos website right here. To read the entire release click "more" below.

Last week, we told you that CNN was giving fans the chance to ask questions of actor Jason Isaacs, who plays Lucius Malfoy in the Potter series.

The video response is now available, where the actor talks about playing the "bad guy" roles, his favorite part of filming Potter, and what the preparation is like for playing Lucius Malfoy.

Isaacs also notes he auditioned for the role of Gilderoy Lockhart and was disappointed when he learned Kenneth Branagh had gotten the part, but is much happier five films later to have the role of Lucius.

Just over a week ago we announced a new partnership with Dolphin World of Vacations. They're a travel agency we teamed up with to provide MuggleNet fans with awesome travel deals to Orlando and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando!

We wanted to let you know that they've added many new MuggleNet Adventure options. At this link you can now find new 3-Star, Family, Luxury, and Resort packages that will save you hundreds on hotels and park tickets!

Be sure to check out the new packages, and we hope you plan an awesome vacation to Orlando!

The lead actor in the Potter films will be interviewed tomorrow by AP Live. The interview will then be broadcast on Livestream at 3:30 PM ET.

While we do not know exactly what Dan will be discussing, Livestream tells us possible talking points include his involvement with How to Succeed on Broadway, his role in Equus, living in NY, and maybe even Harry Potter.

To watch the broadcast, check back to this post tomorrow (Friday) at 3:30 PM ET. You will also be able to view it on Livestream.

After the interview airs we'll let you know what he talked about!

Lots of things are cookin' in the MuggleNet oven, and tonight we wanted to updated you on a few of them!

- First, MuggleNet 2.0 is steadily moving towards completion. Our coders are feverishly working on the redesign and all of its new features. Today we can announce that MuggleNet 2.0 will be live in just under 4 weeks from now!

- Second, a couple months ago we created this Deathly Hallows, Part 1 event on Facebook to organize a mass group of Potter fans who are excited for the film. If you use Facebook, please click here and then RSVP! Be sure to invite your friends as well! By RSVPing, we'll keep you on top of the latest Deathly Hallows pictures, videos, trailers, and more.

- Finally, we're happy to announce a more solid release schedule for MuggleCast, our Harry Potter podcast. Over the past 2 years, MuggleCast has had a steady stream of new episodes but no steady release schedule. You can now count on episodes to be released every 2 weeks (and no later). We know you love knowing when the next one is due. On the next episode we'll let you know what day of the week you can count on the episodes being released.

Stay tuned for more updates - particularly about MuggleNet 2.0 - in a couple weeks!

The fine people at Teen Vogue have updated their website this evening with two new features related to Potter actress Emma Watson's involvement with the fair-trade fashion company People Tree. We last reported on Emma's work with this company earlier this month.

Over on Teen Vogue you can see this gallery of pictures from the "Love From Emma" fashion line. Below are comments from Emma about her involvement with People Tree:

"Girls I've spoken with are as conscientious as ever, yet there's so little ethical clothing out there for people my age. In a way, I did it for me because I couldn't find what I wanted in stores. This collection reflects my casual side, the stuff I'd wear to class. The cuts are sexier than most sustainable brands. I'm a perfectionist, so I couldn't sleep if something wasn't exactly the way I wanted."

Read more at this link!

Potter fans continue to be benefiting from Helena Bonham Carter's press run for Alice in Wonderland. Earlier this week we showed you two interviews where Helena spoke about playing Hermione, the Deathly Hallows split, and her character in the final film as a whole.

Today, we get more juicy details from the actress who plays Bellatrix. This new interview comes from Rotten Tomatoes, who spoke with Helena today. In it, she discusses filming her final scene - which happened to be the one where she dies:

"I'm mostly in [Deathly Hallows: Part 2]," she told RT. "But it was fun. I died on my last day, which was really weird -- to actually be [killed] on my last day. Molly Weasley - Julie Walters - kills me."

And it'll be quite the moment, she explained. "I do get a good death scene," she told us. "It was really exhausting. As usual! [I'm] duelling, with a wand, on a table. I fell right off. I was clever enough to say, 'If you're going to ask me to duel, backwards, can we put a stuntman at the end?' They said, 'Ah, you won't need one.' And what did I do? Walked straight off.

"You'd think with 70 people looking at you, one of them would go, 'Er, could you stop?!' No! They loved it. I nearly killed myself -- on the day that I died."

Read more on Rotten Tomatoes!

Tom Felton has made a couple of tweets over the past 24 hours that may provide some insight into the fact that the filming of the Epilogue is near.

"Back at hogwarts getting a head cast. You guess what for."

"Just had my body cast in plaster. Very odd feeling! So nice when it comes off! Will be the last time I do that for HP. Quite sad really."

Don't forget you can follow our list of all the Potter starts on Twitter. Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Earlier today we told you about an interview with Helena where she discussed her role in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Now, a new interview with MTV (primarily to promote Helena's upcoming role in Alice in Wonderland) offers us even greater details from the actress. Most notable is her mention of the Deathly Hallows split occurring before the Malfoy Manor scenes. This, after many fans speculated it would happen directly after. From MTV's report:

"The best bit about being Bellatrix in this one is also because I got to pretend to be Hermione," she added of a pivotal scene that has the evil witch's identity being assumed by Harry's friend in order to gain access to Gringotts Wizarding Bank, which holds Hufflepuff's cup — and a part of Voldemort's soul. "Because Hermione takes polyjuice potion and gets to look like Bellatrix."

After J.K. Rowling wrote the scene in the final "Potter" book, the film series' producers were faced with a difficult question: Was it preferable to use makeup and CGI to make Watson look like Bonham Carter, or have the older actress act like the younger?

"Rather than put Emma Watson in a helluva load of make-up they just said, 'Now you go act like Hermione,' " Bonham Carter said of their decision. "That was fun, because I always wanted to be Hermione.

"It was great fun," she said of the scene. "[I was] looking at Dan [Radcliffe] and Rupert [Grint] and they were treating me as if I was 17."

The scene itself falls near the middle of the "Deathly Hallows" novel — but Bonham Carter's next statement might shed some important light on where the books will be split, a point on which the "Potter" crew have been elusive.

"I can't remember where they are going to cut," she explained, then remembered. "Yeah, [the scene is] definitely in the second one, because all of my stuff is in the second one. So you won't see me until 2011."

We're listening to BBC Radio 2's interview as it is broadcasted live (we reported the interview's airing yesterday). Below are our notes from the interview.

- (10:51 PM GMT) Stuart Craig says if part of the deal at the beginning was to work on this for 10 years, he would have said no. To his great surprise, he's here 10 years later having enjoyed all of it.
- (10:53 PM GMT) Nick Dudman: JK Rowling took the fantasy genre and made it acceptable to everyone. The amount of fantasy is vast compared to the size before Potter. The box office numbers tell you the vast number of people love these movies.
- (10:55 PM GMT) David Heyman: When Jo Rowling wrote the first book, she knew what the end was. It was amazing when I first met her that she had charted everything out.
- (11:00 PM GMT) David Heyman says the themes in the books and films are universally relatable - that is what is at the heart of Jo's stories.
- (11:00 PM GMT) David says he's primarily interested in making the best adaptation of Jo's book. Each time we tell the story in the best way we can. That's the key and that's the foundation, because if we make a bad film it's all meaningless.

Actress Imelda Staunton, who will be reprising her role as Dolores Umbridge in Deathly Hallows, will start filming next week, according to an article from the Liverpool Daily Post.

The article focuses on Staunton's visit to Liverpool’s Acting Academy, where the actress spoke of her career in film and television.

Thanks to Snitch Seeker!

In a new interview, actress Helena Bonham Carter, who plays Bellatrix Lestrange in the Potter films talks about wrapping up filming on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows..

"I get to do horrible things. I killed Sirius Black ages ago. I kill Dobby in this one and I torture Hermione. Oh, and I get to pretend to be Hermione. Hermione takes this potion that makes her look like me. So I had to act like Hermoine pretending to be me."

Of her young Potter co-stars, she says:

"They are such nice human beings, bright and with such great manners. I love them. I miss them."

Thanks to Brandon!

A MuggleNet reader has passed along two nice photos of the Hogsmeade and Hogwarts construction areas at Universal Orlando's Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park.

While we've seen this area before, the key difference is these photos were taken at dusk. The silhouettes of the buildings make for a beautiful sight - we can't imagine how it'll look and feel on a warm summer night!

- Photo 1
- Photo 2

Actor Ciaran Hinds, who will appear as Aberforth Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, conducted an interview with WAAF's Hill-man Morning Show earlier today. To the delight of Potter fans, he briefly covered his role in Deathly Hallows:

Basically I'm there to play one long scene where I explain to the kids - who are not kids anymore - about some part of the history of Albus Dumbledore's life that they weren't fully up to the mark in. But I did get, for one split second, someone put a wand in my hand and I got to flash it.

You can listen to the entire interview at this link (the Potter stuff starts at 5:20). Thanks to Snitch Seeker for the tip.

As part of BBC Radio 2's Century of Cinema, David Puttnam and Brian Sibley will provide a set report from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows tomorrow evening at 10:30 p.m. GMT.

"This new programme brings David Puttnam's acclaimed series up-to-date with an exclusive on-set visit to Hogwarts, and contributions from the production team behind the most successful movie franchise ever: 'Harry Potter'."

Guests include producer David Heyman, Creature & Make-Up Effects Designer Nick Dudman, and Production Designer Stuart Craig.

In related news, Matthew Lewis has updated his Twitter to let fans know he will be shooting night scenes this week.

Thanks to DanRadcliffe.com!

It's Julie Walters' birthday today, Feb. 22! The actress, who plays Mrs. Molly Weasley in the Harry Potter films, turns 60 today.

Join us in wishing her a very happy birthday! Let her know it in the comments.

On top of our below report surrounding some fresh Wizarding World rumors, we also have a new construction photo update from This Is Briandom.

Of particular interest is this photo of a new storefront within Hogsmeade. The storefront appears to read "Spintwiches" and "Tomes and Scholls".

Another interesting photo is this one which shows a new Honeydukes sign sticking out of the store. In the same photo we see items within a store window.

See many more photos on This Is Briandom.

Screamscape, a very popular theme park website, has posted some new rumors concerning the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park that we thought would interest our visitors.

For starters, Screamscape has heard that employees hired to work in Ollvander's Wand Shop will receive wand information supplemented by JK Rowling:

I’m told that over 20 actors have been hired to act as the shop keepers, and have been told that they will be given a “wand bible” written up by JK Rowling to memorize, detailing the names and descriptions of around 400 different wands.

We're a bit skeptical about the "400 different wands" part of the rumor, as Universal confirmed on January 28th that there will be 13 different wands within the store.

Screamscape also reports on employee costumes for the Wizarding World:

It seems some of the first costumes have been put on display at Universal’s wardrobe facility and they are said to be quite detailed and impressive. Amongst the costumes on display were those for “Hogwarts Students” as well as the “Dragon Handlers”, which is what they are calling the ride ops on Dragon’s Challenge. Apparently the costumes were all made to JK Rowling’s specs… though one insider has already commented that JK must have never visited Orlando in the summer, because some of the outfits may end up being a bit too much to handle in the hot muggy summers.

As always, please take these rumors with a grain of salt until Universal Orlando releases more details! Read more of Screamscape's report at this link (scroll down to the 2/22/10 note).

Actor Alan Rickman, known to many for his portrayal of Severus Snape, turns 64 years old today.

Join us in wishing him a wonderful birthday!

The Telegraph has a new interview with Potter production designer Stuart Craig, where he discusses his career, his work on the series, as well as the detail he has put into items such as the Golden Snitch and the Weasley Clock. Of note was as an emotional moment that occurred for him recently on set.

"The last time I cried was a few days ago when we filmed the death of Alan Rickman's character, Snape. It's quite difficult to cry in rushes -- where we watch the previous day's work -- but he is an extraordinary actor and he dies an extremely good death."

You can check out a full scan of the article: Page 1 | Page 2

Thanks to Sam for all her help (getting the paper, scanning and e-mailing) and Violet for the tip!

Thanks to Attractions Magazine we have a nice new update from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park at Universal Orlando.

Their report reveals the exterior of the Owlery, a Hogsmeade sign, and beautiful aerial shots of the park that really give you a good idea of this park's size.

For all we've got on the Wizarding World, click here! Also visit our gallery for lots of images related to the park! Thanks to Wilmer for the tip.

AOL Moviefone has released a list of Hollywood's 10 Most Eeeeevil Actors and several notable Potter stars made the cut for their performances in the series. Coming in No. 9 is Gary Oldman, known for his role as Sirius Black:

"Oldman is so good at being bad, even his "good" roles are a bit on the dark side, like Harry Potter's godfather Sirius Black or Gotham police captain Jim Gordon."

Following at No. 6 is Jason Isaacs, who plays Lucius Malfoy:

The steely-eyed Brit's standout performance as the sadistic Redcoat who kills Mel Gibson's sons in 'The Patriot' set the tone for his popularity as Voldemort's deliciously evil Death Eater -- with awesome hair -- Lucius Malfoy in the 'Harry Potter' series."

Topping the list is Alan Rickman, known for his portrayal of Severus Snape:

"Maybe it's the deep and imposing voice, or because he's got a mean sneer, but Rickman is always game to play a nasty character. He has memorably depicted the slimy and seemingly-traitorous Severus Snape in the 'Harry Potter' films, the greedy and perverted Judge Turpin in 'Sweeney Todd' and terrorist Hans Gruber in the original 'Die Hard.' We love Rickman when he's good, but when he's bad, he's irresistible."

Thanks to Maggie for the tip!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been nominated in four categories at the 36th Annual Saturn Awards.

These awards are given out by The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films and sixth Potter movie landed in the Best Fantasy Film, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design and Best Special Effects categories.

The awards will be given out on June 24th.

Thanks to Roxy!

News surrounding the LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1 - 4 video game continues to come in at a steady pace. Today, video game website Kotaku has posted a new behind-the-scenes look at the game.

The video includes new footage as well as interviews with the creators. See it right here!

Of note is a demonstration of the multiplayer mode, which splits the screen only when the two players go separate paths. This game is looking better and better!

Thanks to Snitch Seeker for the tip.

The latest episode of our Harry Potter podcast is now available! Join Micah, Eric, Nick and I for another fun episode with the following:

- Our news block is filled with LEGO product announcements!
- One of our listeners points out another amazing symmetry example in the series!
- Chapter by Chapter: Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapters 4 - 6.
- We discuss Hermione's desire to take so many classes. Plus, why is she taking Muggle Studies?
- Why is Harry's BIGGEST problem the fact that he won't be able to go to Hogsmeade?
- Are there any parallels between Ron/Scabbers and Hermione/Crookshanks?
- We look at the death omens throughout the whole series.
- Why was drunk Hagrid missing from the Prisoner of Azkaban film, but ever present in the Half-Blood Prince film?

All that and a LOT more can be heard by downloading! To download the fun for free, we recommend subscribing through iTunes.

Just CLICK HERE and then press "Subscribe" to the right of our album art. (Already subscribed? Refresh your feed!) No iPod or MP3 player needed! You can also visit the MuggleCast website to listen right within your browser, or to download the MP3 file to your desktop.

EDIT: Universal has let us know that the comment about an alcoholic version of butterbeer is not accurate. There will NOT be any alcoholic butterbeer served in the park.

A new report from The Ledger reveals interesting details today concerning some Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park features.

The new information came from a meeting with Universal Orlando's sales coordinator who met with a Central Florida Vacation Property Managers. Quotes which reveal the good stuff:

The largest ride will be Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

“You'll go on this great journey specifically designed for this part of the park,” Holt said. “It's ground-breaking, state of the art technology that will even surpass the Spiderman ride. If you've been on Spiderman, you know that's pretty big.”

The theme park will host the Three Broomsticks restaurant and the Hog's Head Pub, where Holt said guests can buy “very old liquor, and we'll have animated hog's heads on the wall that will interact with you while you drink your old beer. The Butter Beer is going to be non-alcholic. However, you can go into the Hog's Head Pub and ask for the alcoholic version.”

There will be shops as well, like Honeydukes, a candy store that will sell, among other things, chocolate frogs and Treacle Fudge. Dervish & Banges is a toy store that will sell, not surprisingly, broomsticks among the many selections.

“Ninety-five percent of them are completely unique products,” Holt said. “You will not be able to buy them anywhere else.”

There's a Frog Choir that will perform five times day, Holt said, adding, “This is very top secret, so you're the first one's to hear about it.”

CNN is giving fans the opportunity to leave Potter actor Jason Isaacs a comment or question on their official blog site. Isaacs is best known for his role as Lucius Malfoy.

So, whether you want an inside look on the filming of the last movie or what his favorite Harry Potter film is, head on over to the blog and see if he answers your post!

Thanks to Stephen!

Earlier this month we told you Electronic Arts, makers of the Harry Potter video games, published a list of video games they plan on releasing in 2010.

Of interest to Potter fans was one game listed as "Harry Potter Title TBA". Well, James Phelps, who plays Fred Weasley in the films, just confirmed the game in the following Tweet:

"Back at Leavesden for a bit of press regarding the new HP7 game. It looks really impressive from everything we've seen of it."

This game is scheduled to be released in the third quarter (between October - December) on consoles, handhelds, and PCs. Thanks to Brandon!

Universal Orlando is now offering a very special travel package for those interested in visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park.

"The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Vacation Package" includes hotel accommodations and admission to both Universal Orlando theme parks – along with a wide-range of benefits available only by booking through Universal Orlando Resort. On-site packages start at $645 per adult ($1,548 for family of four).

Benefits include early park admission, allowing guests to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter before other guests each day, as well as a traditional British breakfast at the Three Broomsticks, the signature eating establishment within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. And by staying at an on-site hotel, guests get exclusive Universal Express Access to select attractions and shows, allowing them to bypass regular lines.

"There has been worldwide anticipation for this one-of-a-kind entertainment experience, and we are thrilled to be offering families a way to experience the magic and excitement of Harry Potter's world," said Alice Norsworthy, executive vice president of marketing and sales for Universal Orlando Resort.

Additional packages are available here and travel begins on May 28, 2010. For complete details on the Potter package, click "more" below.

Rupert Grint is using his artistic ability to benefit Keech Hospice Care's adult and children's hospices. The Potter actor is known to enjoy drawing and painting and has created an elaborate, colored butterfly sketch.

Grint’s artwork will join the creations of many other celebrities including Coldplay, Theo Walcott and Fearne Cotton. The special group of paintings, named 'The Chrysalis Collection,' will be auctioned off on the eBay in March. Keech fundraiser Laura Devine said:

"We are delighted Rupert has chosen to support his local hospice charity, especially because many of the children we care for are big fans of the Harry Potter star."

"Rupert's masterpiece features many faces inside the butterfly's wings, each with their own quirky expression and unique character – a true Harry Potter creation that will have the fans thrilled!"

The auction will run from March 19th to 28th and there will be a public exhibition at the Stockwood Discovery Centre in Luton.

More comments from Tom Felton about shooting Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows have been released by MTV today. In these new bits from their interview, Tom talks about wrapping up Potter:

With that high-flying scene behind him, Felton has been looking forward, at long last, to shooting the concluding sequence in the series — that flash-forward postscript, in which author J.K. Rowling visits her core characters almost two decades in the future. It now seems director David Yates and his crew will make those scenes the final ones of the production shoot.

"Jamie Christopher, the first [assistant director], was always really keen to do that as the final scene, because it's such a poignant moment for the franchise, that fact that it's 19 years on, and we get to see what happened to the characters," said Felton, who plays blond baddie Draco Malfoy. "I confess we haven't shot that yet, but we are all extremely excited to do so."

A lawsuit against JK Rowling's UK Potter book publisher Bloomsbury regarding Jo's book series has now added JK Rowling as a defendant. A report detailing this news also includes a new comment from Jo, who reminds us she never even read the story she allegedly copied.

From Bloomberg:

The estate of English author Adrian Jacobs alleges in the complaint that part of his 1987 book, “The Adventures of Willy the Wizard: No. 1 Livid Land,” was copied by Rowling. A year of wizard contests in the book was similar to a central theme of “The Goblet of Fire,” the estate says, according to a statement it issued today on PR Newswire issued today.

Jacobs’s estate sued Bloomsbury Publishing Plc in a London court in June, according to the statement. The estate claims that Jacobs used concepts and themes such as wizard prisons, wizard hospitals and wizard colleges before Rowling did. The two authors also shared an agent, Christopher Little, who manages the Harry Potter brand worldwide, according to the statement.

“I am saddened that yet another claim has been made that I have taken material from another source to write Harry,” Rowling said today in a statement e-mailed by spokesman Mark Hutchinson. “The fact is I had never heard of the author or the book before the first accusation by those connected to the author’s estate in 2004; I have certainly never read the book.”

The official box art for LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1 - 4 is now available right here in our gallery.

The box art was released this morning by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

The game will be available on Nintendo DS, Playstation 3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360, and PC. It will be released sometime in May! For all we've got on LEGO Harry Potter, click here.

Our fearless leader - who has now been running MuggleNet for 10 years - is turning 23 years old today!

Happy Birthday, Emerson!

We all hope he's enjoying his time in New Orleans at Mardi Gras. Has anyone seen him down there?

... oh wait, I just checked his Twitter. He's having a fine time.

If Emerson were available for comment right now, what would he say? My guess is it Gives Him Hope when people Save Watts and Do That Too. By "that" I mean visit his other sites.

VideoGamer.com has a new interview online with LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 producer Loz Doyle.

On if gamers will get lost in Hogwarts:

"In year one, while the whole of Hogwarts does exist, you can't access it. We lock off doors, areas, you can't go outside right at the beginning. You start in the common room, and even though it feels like you're in Hogwarts - you see the main hall and you're like, oh this is huge - you can't go in very many places."

On just how big Hogwarts is:

"It is big, but what we've done is, even though it feels like Hogwarts, we haven't just recreated Hogwarts exactly as it is in the films. Whereas in a film they can have a location over here, location over here, then they just edit and they arrive at the place, in a game you've actually got to travel. So we've made it look like Hogwarts and feel like Hogwarts, but we've designed it around being able to get around and get to the places you want to go more easily. "

Doyle also discusses his interaction with author J.K. Rowling. Be sure to check out some brand-new screenshots in our gallery and for all we have on the LEGO game check out our Video Games section!

Thanks to Snitch Seeker!

We have an exciting partnership to announce this morning for fans who are looking to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park at Universal Studios Orlando.

MuggleNet has teamed up with Dolphin World of Vacations to provide great travel packages to our visitors. By visiting their MuggleNet Adventures page, you'll have access to sample rates and helpful travel information.

They also have special packages just for MuggleNet visitors - just let them know you're a visitor of our site and they'll help you put together an amazing Orlando vacation!

Dolphin World of Vacations is a trusted, experienced vacation planning company that we know you'll enjoy working with. We hope you enjoy your time down in Orlando and at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park!

As we reported a few days ago, WB and LEGO have joined forces to release a new line of Harry Potter products in October. Today, we have images of the LEGO construction sets.

The sets include Quidditch Match, The Burrow, Hagrid's Hut and more available here.

Thanks to Tracy!

Throughout all the recently speculation of when the park will open, we'd like to remind our visitors about a licensing agreement between Universal and Warner Brothers made way back in 2007.

The agreement read: "Grand opening means the date on which the themed area is fully operational and open to the public, which is targeted to occur in or about December 15, 2009 but may occur as late as June 30, 2010."

In related news, the Orlando Sentinel has a new report out detailing Universal's plans to handle increase crowds for the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter:

Unemployment is still high, but Orlando's theme parks are hiring ahead of the peak spring and summer travel periods.

A spokesman for Universal Orlando, which is scheduled to open Wizarding World of Harry Potter this spring, says it will be hiring more than 1,000 seasonal workers for spring and summer work.

A new E.M.S. update has been posted to Emma Watson's official site. In it, Emma discusses what's been going on in her life recently:

I'm now back at Uni having spent January filming more scenes from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It is absolutely wonderful to be back and to see all my friends again - and of course to get back to studying! Thanks so much for your support and kind words about my People Tree Collection, it was nerve racking, but I'm so glad it is being received so well and let's hope we can begin to make a difference. Love Emma

Thanks to Keith for the tip!

Our friends at HPEF have just announced that their upcoming Infinitus 2010 Harry Potter conference, to be held July 15th - 18th at the Universal Studios Orlando Resort, will include a special event inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, exclusively for Infinitus attendees!

More details concerning events within the park will be coming soon. MuggleCast will also be hosting a podcast at Infinitus and will participate in various activities throughout the entire conference. To learn more information and to register for the event, click here! If you do register, be sure to put "MuggleCast" in the referral box so they know who sent you!

Last week we showed you photos from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows filming in Swinley Forest, and today we have a few more thanks to Oclumencia.

The photos depict some sort of structure - which we suspect is part of Hogwarts - being built in the forest. See the photos here in our gallery.

What could it be for? Let the speculation begin!

It has been a while since LEGO last produced Harry Potter construction sets based on the films. Their contract with WB had expired a couple years ago.

But there's great news for fans of LEGO Harry Potter products today. A press release was just issued announcing six new LEGO Harry Potter construction sets and a LEGO Harry Potter board game:

Based on the compelling stories and characters of the Harry Potter films, the new line includes six construction sets derived from iconic scenes and locations, including the Hogwarts Castle, Hagrid’s Hut, Hogwarts Express and Quidditch Match and leveraging building surprises of previously released LEGO Harry Potter sets, some of which ranked among all-time LEGO best-sellers. Available in October, the sets feature new and newly decorated minifigures, like Bellatrix Lestrange and Luna Lovegood.

Additionally, as the LEGO brand rolls into the board game category for the first time in 2010, it brings the Harry Potter property with it in a premium, constructible board game called Hogwarts, launching in August. Players build and then move throughout the iconic castle to be the first to collect various objects to win the game – but even the most skilled players can be foiled by an ability to move classrooms around the board.

While more details are still scarce, today MuggleNet reader Marie sent in a video demonstration of the LEGO Harry Potter board game. Viewable here on YouTube, the demonstration is in German but it gives you a good visual idea of what's to come!

And don't forget about that LEGO Harry Potter video game to be released in May!

Two more pieces of Wizarding World news to report on today on top of our earlier report.

MuggleNet reader Bob recently visited Universal Studios Orlando and managed to get some great pics of construction. Most notable is this photo showing part of Hogsmeade from ground level - you can see Honeydukes and part of Zonko's. Also very interesting is this photo which shows the perspective you'll have of Hogwarts (at top of frame) by walking through Hogsmeade. View all of Bob's photos in our gallery.

Bob also spoke with employees around the park who gave him some bits of info. They first mentioned that the Dueling Dragons and Flight of the Hippogriff rides will be based on rides that already exist in Universal Studios - but that we already knew. What was new concerns the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride. The employee told him that the ride will most likely NOT be ready for the Grand Opening that is planned in the Spring, so that particular ride will open at a later time.

Please take this with a grain of salt for now, even though it allegedly came from an employee. We reached out to Universal a few hours ago for comment and have not heard back yet. It's very possible the employee heard incorrect information.

An eagle-eyed theme park enthusiast at OrlandoUnited.com has spotted a Ford Anglia hiding behind some plants (click for picture) at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, Florida.

Given that the Anglia is sitting uncovered outside, we assume this specific car was not used for filming.

The enthusiast also caught sight of construction workers unloading what appear to be big pictures from a truck. To be used in one of the restaurants or attractions?

For all we've got on the theme park, click here!

Our friend Zack Luye of Adagio Teas recently posted a video review of fan-made Harry Potter house teas.

They're available to purchase through Adagio's website, but you may not want to purchase them - Zack didn't enjoy the combinations too much.

Watch his review at this link!

In a new interview with MTV, the actor who plays Draco Malfoy explains the relationship between his character and Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:

"Harry and Draco almost have a bond, and they save each other's lives on numerous occasions," he said. "It's a really weird love/hate relationship. It's great that it's left to our interpretation of how and why this is all happening. We have shot some really interesting stuff with me and Daniel — me saving him and him saving me. For once, we're not just bickering!"

We can't wait to see how this all plays out on screen! Read more with Tom at this link.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will premiere on ABC's "Saturday Movie of the Week" Feb. 27, according to a news release from the television network.

We'll let you know if any exclusive features are announced. Thanks to Snitch Seeker!

There's a new interview out today with Chris Columbus, who Potter fans know for directing Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets. His latest film, titled Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is due out this weekend in the United States.

Many have compared Percy Jackson to Harry Potter, noting several similarities (especially when you watch this Percy Jackson trailer). It's why we decided to post the below interview from ScreenStar, who specifically asks Columbus about making sure he wasn't copying his own work on Potter too much:

Q: How often did you catch yourself on the Percy Jackson set saying, "Nope, did that on Potter. Can't do it again."?

A: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. To a certain extent, if I felt there were any similarities -- because people always ask the question -- I really, really tried hard to remove them from the film. I didn't really want the comparisons, but the comparisons, when you're doing anything in the fantasy genre, are inevitable. Every time I saw a bit of a pitfall we'd move away from it.

Read the rest of the interview at this link, where Chris discusses advances in special effects since Potter and much more.

Electronic Arts, makers of the Harry Potter video games that follow the plots of the films, today announced their third quarter fiscal year 2010 results. With it came a list of video games they plan on releasing in 2010.

Of interest to Potter fans is one game listed as "Harry Potter Title TBA". It is scheduled to be released in the third quarter (between October - December) on consoles, handhelds, and PCs.

We suspect this is a Deathly Hallows, Part 1 video game. Do you have any guesses? As always, we'll keep you updated! Thanks to Rami for the tip.

The actor who plays Draco Malfoy in the Potter series is officially on board for the film The Apparition.

The news was first confirmed by Shock Till You Drop.

Tom will play Patrick, who is the third lead in the story. Congrats, Tom!

Thanks to everyone who e-mailed with the tip.

As we reported several weeks ago, crews for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows have been filming scenes in Swinley Forest.

London Taxi Tours, well known for finding Potter sets, has uploaded another video from the area. The video shows more wigwam-like huts built for filming surrounded by very large trees. We also see tourists checking out the area.

The Daily Mail and Express newspapers have both published new interviews with actress Emma Watson over the past 24 hours.

In the former interview, Emma discusses her plans for fashion design in the future:

Q: You’ve done acting, modelling, and now you’re designing. Is this the future for Emma Watson?

A: Oh, I don’t have any plans to be a designer. I’m doing this range because I really care about fair-trade and ethical fashion. I’m so pleased that I got involved, but I don’t want to take all the credit for being the designer because I haven’t trained as a designer or even gone to art college – in fact, I had no idea about the amount of work involved at the outset!

While speaking with Express, Emma touches on wrapping up Deathly Hallows filming in a few months and acting in the future:

Potter producers have scheduled filming to allow her to attend college and film her remaining scenes during her holidays. The last day of filming Harry Potter draws closer, however.

“I will be uncontrollable,” she says, picturing that final day on set. “It’s been half of our lives. It’s made us, it’s formed us. It’s such a big part of my life so it will be really sad.”

Emma is still debating whether to continue with acting long term. “I just want to be sure it’s what I want. I was so young and I don’t think I really knew the greatness of what I was signing on for. I really want to study. I would love to try theatre. I need to try stuff out. But I say all this now, I’m sure I’ll still be here in 10 years, making Harry Potter 30.”

Thanks to Marese for The Daily Mail article!

According to J.K. Rowling's official website, today marks 60 years since the birth of a wonderful father figure in the Harry Potter series.

What better gift to him than birthday wishes from a bunch of muggles? Happy birthday, Mr. Weasley!

Today, several Orlando theme park fansites posted new construction photos from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park.

Most notable are these very cool shots from a helicopter taken just the other day. They show the entire construction area in views we've never before seen. We also get our first glimpse of Hogsmeade store fronts.

You can see other construction photo updates here, here and here.

Thanks to Pat for the tip!

Two new videos have emerged online providing a behind-the-scenes look at LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4.

The first is with a character artist, who discusses how Buckbeak is created. He says that the creature is built from scratch and shows how Buckbeak goes from the animation tool to the actual gameplay.

The second is an interview with Jonathan Smith of Travellers Tales. He discusses the overall gameplay and how characters can grow by attending classes and learning new spells. He added this game has a new physics system which allows it to be more realistic, and that humor also plays a major role in this video game.

Thanks to Snitch Seeker!

It's been almost two weeks since the Potter community came together with others online to raise money for the relief effort in Haiti. Since then, Helping Haiti Heal has raised close to $97,000 thanks to all of your incredible efforts!

If we get to the $105,000 mark, Partners in Health will name the three full cargo planes we funded after Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

This morning J.K. Rowling has passed along a message, specifically to all of you:

To everyone who has helped raise such an incredible amount for the earthquake survivors in Haiti: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

Like many others, I made a personal donation to the DEC shortly after the earthquake happened; but never did I expect such an amazing response from all of you. You cannot imagine how awed, moved and humbled I am to know that planes named Harry, Ron and Hermione are going to be flying off to help. I did not need this to remind me how extraordinary Harry’s fans are, but you keep giving me proofs. THANK YOU! - Jo

Remember, that you can still donate right here with a chance to win some great prizes!

Warwick Davis, who plays Professor Flitwick in the Potter films, updated his Twitter account with some filming information early this morning.

Morning! On my way to 'Hogwarts'. Looking forward it. I'll be 'Griphook' today. Wish I could tell you what we're shooting."

What do you think they are filming? If you're a Twitter user, you can follow Warwick: @WarwickADavis, and while you're there, follow all the Harry Potter stars on Twitter.

Thanks to Joshua!

The latest episode of our Harry Potter podcast is now available for your listening pleasure!

Join Ben, Jamie, Micah and myself as we discuss (and in Ben's case, get deep over) the latest Harry Potter news stories. We also kick off our Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter by Chapter series! Plus:

- It's an all-guy show, and Andrew predicts extra madness.
- Lots of updates on the theme park, as Ben reveals he's not that excited.
- Our thoughts on Deathly Hallows being a 3D film.
- We discuss the Dursley's ongoing stubbornness, Aunt Marge's rudeness, and MUCH more related to the first three POA chapters.
- An e-mail arrives from a listener who doesn't think the Harry Potter series is as great as we make it out to be.
- We can FINALLY say we'll be doing a podcast at Infinitus 2010!

All that and a LOT more can be heard by downloading! To download the fun for free, we recommend subscribing through iTunes.

Just CLICK HERE and then press "Subscribe" to the right of our album art. (Already subscribed? Refresh your feed!) No iPod or MP3 player needed! You can also visit the MuggleCast website to listen right within your browser, or to download the MP3 file to your desktop.

Movieline.com has disclosed a new list of the top grossing actors of 2009. The article notes Dan Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint all individually out-earned actor George Clooney.

On Rupert and Emma: "The young actors each took home $30 million for the two-part franchise finale Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

On Dan: "The Potter star made $40 million for Hallows. Has there been a more radically life-changing casting of an unknown? Maybe Al Pacino in The Godfather? Help me understand."

EDIT: Rupert Grint's agency has contacted Rupert-Grint.us again to let them know that the actor is NOT confirmed to attend the theme park opening. There was a misunderstanding. We apologize for the misinformation, but we'll keep you updated!

Though it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise (Universal will undoubtedly want to make a big PR splash by having most of the main Potter cast attend), Rupert-Grint.us has confirmed with Rupert's reps that he will attend the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park.

We've learned previously that the Phelps twins, Bonnie Wright, and Tom Felton are all set to attend the park's opening as well.

We'll take an educated guess now and assume that Dan Radcliffe and Emma Watson will also attend.

Hey guys! I just wanted to give you a quick update about a few of the projects Gaby and I have been working on that we're really proud of!

Many of you know about Givoogle (Use Google to raise money for charity!), and GivesMeHope (FML for optimists), but a few weeks ago we launched LoveGivesMeHope - full of stories that make you go "AWWW!" Here's a recent one that got to me (yes, Gaby turned me into a big softy):

When my sister was younger she came home from school one day and demanded I take her to the library so she could get books on sign language. ...I asked why? She told me there was a new kid at school who was deaf and she wanted to befriend him.

Today I stood beside her at their wedding watching her sign... "I DO".

Today, we are proud to announce the launch of OMG Facts - the official website of the #1 fact source on Twitter. Created four months ago by 16-year-old Adorian Deck, a former MuggleNetter, @OMGFacts already has 335,000 followers.

OMG Facts uses GMH's user moderation system to ensure ONLY the most interesting facts are published. Here are a few:

The average office desk has 400 times more bacteria than a toilet bowl.

When you put a seashell next to your ear, it's the sound of your blood surging in your veins, not the ocean.

Speaking of Twitter, if you've been seeing a lot of people retweeting the account @IDoThat2, it's because it's the #1 most-retweeted account on Twitter. We created it for fun a few weeks ago. :)

Oh yes, we have a date for the wedding - Summer 2011, in Ecuador. ... Thank you SO MUCH, everybody, for your support! We love you all!

The other day we showed you Universal Orlando's new Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park commercial.

The commercial is now available in a nice high definition format. View it right here on YouTube!

You'll be able to watch this commercial during the first half of the Super Bowl (this Sunday). For all we've got on the theme park, click here.

Sky News is reporting that Mattel has created a special JK Rowling Barbie doll - which, sadly, won't see mass production:

Harry Potter author JK Rowling, tennis champion Kim Clijsters and Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria have all been given the ultimate plastic accolade: being turned into a Barbie doll.

The JK Rowling doll, meanwhile, is dressed in the black wool suit and hot pink top combination she wore at the 2009 Monsters and Critics Award Banquet.

The three one-of-a-kind Barbie dolls, which will not go on general sale, are being showcased in Mattel’s showroom at the world's largest toy fair in Nuremberg, Germany.

Exhibitors from around the world are meeting to show off the trends that will fill this year's Christmas stockings.

See another photo of the JK Rowling Barbie at this link. We wish we could buy one! Thanks to Tove for the tip.

Join us in wishing actor Warwick Davis, who plays Professor Flitwick in the films, a very happy birthday!

You may recall that he made an appearance on MuggleCast Episode 47 back in 2006. In honor of his birthday, take a listen or read the transcript here!

If you're a Twitter user, you might know Davis is an avid user as well. Be sure to wish him a great day @WarwickADavis, and while you're there, follow all the Harry Potter stars on Twitter.

With the opening date of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter drawing nearer, NBC's The Today Show here in the United States, is offering one "exceptional" class a chance to win a trip to the theme park's grand opening.

By answering the question "Why is my class extraordinary?," you could be part of a group on a three-day, two-night trip to the opening celebration festivities of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida.

You can watch video from The Today Show right here and can read the details of the competition on the show's official site. The contest begins today and ends on March 19, 2010, at 5:00 PM ET.

Thanks to Tami and Cam!

In preparation for millions of people learning about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park on Super Bowl Sunday, Universal Orlando has launched a new website for the park. A press release sent out this morning by Universal talks about new features:

- A first-person perspective, photo-realistic video of Hogsmeade and Hogwarts castle
- The Wizarding World News, which will provide guests with information about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Visuals and details about the various shops, attractions and the eating establishment in the land
- Owl Post e-cards for friends and family
- And, over the next couple of months, the microsite will also continue to be updated with ground-breaking interactive elements.

Previews of the upcoming LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1 - 4 video game continue to appear online. The latest are from gaming websites Destructoid and GameSpot.

The most interesting new tidbit (in my opinion) is the amount of playable characters: 140. From Destructoid:

Subtle nods from the first four books are throughout the game, and with 140 playable characters, fans of the series will surely find some odd combinations to play with. One awesome moment was in the Chamber of Secrets portion of the game, where Harry enters the memory of Tom Riddle. In this level, players can play co-op or switch between the colored Harry or the sepia-toned Riddle. It's not often you get to play as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

And a little more about gameplay from GameSpot:

There are plenty of secrets to discover in the world of Harry Potter by being thorough. Not only do you find your way to the next area, but if you find the four crest pieces in each area, you'll also get a gold brick, which will then give you access to bonus material. Moving from one area to the next doesn't involve jumping around in a hub menu; instead, the story events (six events in each story) will unfold when they're supposed to, which provides a seamless transition from one level to the next.

Nikki Finke and The Hollywood Reporter - two very reliable sources in the movie industry - are both reporting Warner Brothers has confirmed its plans to make Deathly Hallows, Part 1 a 3D film.

Word about Warner Brothers considering 3D for most of its 2010 films first surfaced last week. From Nikki Finke:

Additional titles in 2010 that will be released in 3D (in addition to 2D) include Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (July), Guardians of Ga’Hoole (September), and Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows, Part 1 (November) -- and I'm told Part II as well at a later date

Said Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros Pictures, in the announcement, “We are experienced and have been successful in the conversion of 2D to 3D going back to such hits as The Polar Express, select scenes in Superman Returns and the last two Harry Potter films.” Fellman continued, “The results for Clash of the Titans will be presented onscreen with the highest-quality images available today.”

Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros Picture Group, said, “We’re excited about 3D and look forward to bringing a rich, involving visual experience to audiences around the world.”

The nominees for the 82 Annual Oscars were announced this morning, and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was nominated for Best Cinematography.

The film is competing against Avatar, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, and The White Ribbon.

Check out the Oscars on March 7th on ABC!

UPDATE: Universal has let us know that the commercial will appear on Access Hollywood tonight! Check your local listings for air times.

The other day we told you that a brand new commercial for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park would debut during this weekend's upcoming Super Bowl.

The ad has made its way online early and is viewable at this link. It includes a small cameo by Dan Radcliffe, who asks two visitors of the park to "follow him" through the world.

What do you think of the ad? Is it good publicity for the park? Be sure to watch it during Super Bowl 44 - this Sunday during the first half of the game! Thanks to Gillian and Peter for the tip.

UPDATE: Warner Brothers tells us they have only stated a release in May and Game Informer "does not have the correct date".

Thanks to MuggleNet reader Tsuki for letting us know that the latest print issue of Game Informer lists LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1 - 4 with a May 3rd release date.

Game Informer was also the first source to reveal (on their website) that the game would be released in May.

While this May 3rd date is not 100% confirmed (yet), seeing an exact date printed in a reliable video game publication like Game Informer is certainly a good sign!

Click here to check out some of the more recent LEGO: Harry Potter news, pictures, videos, and more!

There are some new interview bits online this morning thanks to Potter fansite HarryPotterForever.fr.

While the translation is very rough, we learn about challenges and scenes that Dan, Emma, and Rupert have recently shot:

Emma Watson
To kiss Rupert in front of cameras will stay the strangest experience for me, since I've played in Harry Potter. Him and I was frightened about this scene, and would like to do it quickly. But the hardest is coming ... I have to kiss Dan ! It's a scene where Ron imagine a kiss between Harry and Hermione."

"We haven't filmed the epilogue yet, in which we can see the future of Harry, Ron and Hermione 19 years later. At the beginning, producers would like to replace us, but they finally kept us. We will look like 40 years old persons. I'm very impatient to see that !"

Daniel Radcliffe
"In the Deathly Hallows, you'll see Harry as you never saw him before ! For example, I shot a scene where i'm entirely naked. When I read the script, I thought that I would carry underwears but no ! I've already done it for Equus so it wasn't so difficult. I'm wondering how people will react, even if any things will be hidden in the screen !"

EDIT: We forgot to point this out when writing the post last night - the new vignette confirms the May release date. We first heard about a May release the other day.

What better way to start the work week than with exclusive Potter material for fansites?

Enjoy the below photos and video from WB Interactive Entertainment - released exclusively to fansites this morning!

View a new LEGO: Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets Vignette video

View LOTS of new pictures in our gallery!