Muggles to Avada Kedavra Bridge at King's Cross

Story Overview:
A bridge and clock at King's Cross Station key to the Harry Potter series films and major tourist attraction, seen most recently in Order of the Phoenix, are under threat of being destroyed for renovations to be made to the station. Efforts by British architect Ptolemy Dean and Potter fans are under way to save the bridge, but the prognosis doesn't look good.

Source: ITN
Via: The Leaky Cauldron
Article: Potter Bridge to Disappear
Video: Potter Bridge to Disappear

Warner Brothers Press Release: Two Parts for Deathly Hallows

Story Overview:
Warner Brothers' Official Press Release.

Source: Business Wire
Via: The Leaky Cauldron
Story Link: Warner Bros. Plans Two-Part Film Adaptation of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” to Be Directed by David Yates

Deathly Hallows Will Be Two Parts, Says Warner Brothers

Story Overview:
Rumours have been flying around the internet for weeks now that Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final part of the epic Harry Potter novel phenomenon will be made into two separate films.

Today, David Heyman spoke in an interview with the Los Angeles Times confirming that the Deathly Hallows will be split into two films simply titled "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I", which will release in November 2010, and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II", which will release in May 2011. Heyman says that he spoke to J. K. Rowling, the series author and that, "she was cool with it" and that "that was quite a relief".

When asked about this decision Daniel Radcliffe, who plays the title character, Harry Potter, in the films, said, "I think it's the only way you can do it without cutting out a huge portion of the book."

Warner Brothers Entertainment President Alan Horn and Jeff Rubinov are expected to talk about the plans for the future of the Harry Potter film series on Thursday.

The two films will be shot simultaneously, directed by Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince director David Yates, with screenplays by screenwriter Steve Kloves.

Source: Los Angeles Times
Via: Google News
Story Link: Final Harry Potter Book Will Spawn Two Movies

Tilda Swinton and the Great Potter Bash

Story Overview:
Tilda Swinton, known for her role in The Chronicles of Narnia series as the White Witch recently spoke concerning the Harry Potter series with words that ring as near treason in the birthplace of the most popular novel series to ever grace the earth, saying that she refuses to have anything to do with the Harry Potter franchise and that she would never act in any of its films, a surprise seeing as nearly every major British actor and actress have had or will have some role in the films. She attributes her dislike for the Harry Potter series to her days as a youth in boarding school saying that, "it [Harry Potter] fetishises boarding school for children" and that she is "loath to say anything good about boarding school".

Source: Portable Planet
Via: Google News
Story Link: Tilda Swinton: Not a Harry Potter Fan

Potter "Book" Blu-Ray Releases for 2008

Story Overview:
Warner Brothers has recently announced plans to re-release certain titles to Blu-Ray in special, "book" collectable packaging, including the Harry Potter series. Release dates and specific titles are not yet known.

Source: High-Def Digest
Via: Google News
Story Link: Warner Plans Ten Blu-ray "Book" Releases for 2008

David Yates is "Tempted"

Story Overview:
In a new video interview, when asked about directing Deathly Hallows, he notes that they're "talking about it everyday" but that he "can't really say" but that he is tempted. Video of this new interview is available at the Empire Online website and can be viewed here.

Source: Empire Online
Via: The Leaky Cauldron
Story Link: Best Director - David Yates

Director David Yates Takes "Best Director" at Empire Awards

Story Overview:
Today, Emma Watson, known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise, attended and presented at the Empire Awards, where director David Yates, who directed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, took the "Best Director" award. Also present were actresses Evanna Lynch, who plays Luna Lovegood, and Katie Leung, who plays Cho Chang, actor Jim Broadbent, who will be playing Horace Slughorn in Half-Blood Prince, and Prisoner of Azkaban director Alfonso Cuarón.

See images from the Empire Awards here, here, and here.

A complete list of winners can be seen here.

Source: Empire Online
Via: The Leaky Cauldron
Story Link: Emma Watson Attends Empire Magazine Awards in London

"Half-Blood Prince" Filming at Millennium Bridge

Story Overview: Reports have come in that filming, sans main cast characters, has begun at Millennium Bridge in London. Photos of the shoot can be seen here at PotterManiac.net.

Source: The Leaky Cauldron
Via: The Leaky Cauldron
Story Link: Location Filming for "Half-Blood Prince" at Millennium Bridge in London

Timothy Spall "Peter Pettigrew" Loves to be Bad

Story Overview:
Timothy Spall, known to Potter fans as Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter films, has given an interview concerning his role in films and his preference for the evil characters.

Source: The Times of India
Via: Yahoo! News
Story Link: I Love Playing Evil Characters!: Timothy

Harry Potter in Amazon's HD-DVD Blowout

Story Overview:
With the recent demise of hi-definition competitor HD-DVD against its rival, Blu-Ray, Amazon.com is purging its HD-DVD stock. Among those HD-DVD sets featured is the Harry Potter series at 52% off, coming to $71.42. Other featured titles include the Bourne Trilogy and the Ultimate Matrix Collection.

Source: The Man Room
Via: Google News
Story Link: New Amazon HD DVD Sale Features Harry Potter

Rumour: Streakers Soil "Half-Blood Prince" Filming

Story Preview:
TWO male streakers held up filming of the new HARRY POTTER movie – by darting naked through undergrowth during a woodland scene.

News Source: The Sun
Via: The Leaky Cauldron
Story Link: Streaking is Believing During "Half-Blood Prince" Filming

New Fan-Made "Half-Blood Prince" Teaser Poster?

Story Preview:
It has been a while since we've had any media updates for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, so we figured we'd take a risk with this one. According to 'ef', below is the upcoming teaser poster for the film.

News Source: CanMag
Via: Google News
Story Link: Half-Blood Prince Teaser Poster!?

Blu-Ray Wins Format War: Is Harry Potter the Cause?

Story Preview:
Blu-ray supporters however have a different take on its emergence as the dominant format. Vice President of Panasonic's technology and liaison group, Jeffrey Cove, points to Harry Potter and the 'Order of the Phoenix' as the defining moment in the format war.

News Source: HDTV Org
Via: Google News
Story Links: Did Harry Potter Win the HD Format War For Blu-ray? and Toshiba Concedes HD Victory to Sony