Rumor about Harry Potter

What Is J.K .Rowling Saying About Harry Potter Book 7?

As soon as readers of all ages finished Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, a clamor arose as to when Harry Potter Book 7 would be published and how author J.K. Rowling would end the series. There were so many incorrect rumors about Harry Potter 6 before it was published that I decided to ignore the rumors and stick to the author's own words about Harry Potter Book 7.

Note: - See All About Harry Potter 7 for more articles and FAQs.

Dateline: July 10, 2007

Will There Be Another Harry Potter Book?

In response to the Save Harry campaign spearheaded by those ancxious for Harry to live and more books to be written, J.K. Rowling, who in the past had said this was it, the last Harry Potter book, stated, "never say never."

"'I think that Harry's story comes to quite a clear end, sadly,' Rowling said."

"But I've always said that I wouldn't say never.

I can't say I'll never write another book about that world just because I think, what do I know in 10 years time...? But I think it's unlikely." (ABC News Australia, July 10, 2007)

Dateline: May 14, 2007

J.K. Rowling Makes A Plea For No Spoilers

Today, in a diary entry on her Web site, J.K. Rowling expressed concern about people with knowledge about the plot of Harry Potter Book 7, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, revealing the information. She thanked the Harry Potter fansite The Leaky Cauldron for its April 28th editorial condemning spoilers. Rowling stated,

"The Leaky Cauldron's early mission statement on spoilers (ie, don't, and we're not putting them up if you do) is deeply appreciated by yours truly. . . . I want the readers who have, in many instances, grown up with Harry, to embark on the last adventure they will share with him without knowing where they are they going."

Dateline: February 6, 2007

J.K. Rowling Reveals Her Feelings on Completing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Today, in an extended diary entry on her Web site that begins with a quotation from Charles Dickens, J.K. Rowling shares her mixed emotions at having completed the manuscript for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final book in her Harry Potter series. Rowling reveals, "I've never felt such a mixture of extreme emotions in my life, never dreamed I could feel simultaneously heartbroken and euphoric." Rowling goes on to reassure fans, "If it comes as any consolation, I think there will be plenty to continue arguing and speculating about even after 'Deathly Hallows' comes out." Rowling ends the diary entry by revealing that of all the Harry Potter books, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is her favorite.

Dateline: February 1, 2007

We Now Know the Publication Date of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!

On February 1, 2007, J.K. Rowling's American publisher, Scholastic, announced that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released at 12:01 a.m. on July 21, 2007. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be published by Scholastic in hardcover (ISBN: 0-545-01022-5), under the Arthur A. Levine imprint. The book will be illustrated by Mary GrandPré, the illustrator of previous six Harry Potter books. The deluxe edition (ISBN: 0-545-02937-6) and reinforced library edition (ISBN: 0-545-02936-8) will also be released at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, July 21, 2007. On February 1, 2007, J.K. Rowling confirmed this on her Web site and also announced the same publication date in the UK and "in other English speaking countries around the world."

Dateline: December 21, 2006

We Know Know the Title! It's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The word is out! The title of Harry Potter Book 7 is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. According to BBC News and a number of other news sources, and confirmed by her U.S. publisher, Scholastic, the announcement was made on J.K. Rowling's Web site. If you missed it, here's why. According to Bloomberg.com, "The title of the seventh book in the series was revealed through a puzzle on the British writer's Web site, where visitors have to click on items to reveal a chamber and then guess the name of the book from the clues given." If you want to try it, see the Seattle Times article about it for some assistance.

We Don't Know the Publication Date Yet

If there's a title, does that mean Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is almost done? In J.K. Rowling's December 19th online diary entry, the first entry in quite some time, the author states,

"I am now writing scenes that have been planned, in some cases, for a dozen years or even more. I don't think anyone who has not been in a similar situation can possibly know how this feels: I am alternately elated and overwrought. I both want, and don't want, to finish this book (don't worry, I will)."

However, no finish date is mentioned or implied. On Scholastic's site, the publisher states, in reference to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, "The publication date has not been set."

Dateline: October-November 2006

Is J.K. Rowling Making Any Progress on Harry Potter Book 7?

In a November 28 article about Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince winning a Royal Mail Award for Scottish Children's Books, Scotsman.com reported on the message J.K. Rowling sent that was read by her editor at the awards ceremony. In the message, Rowling stated, "I'm sorry I am unable to receive this award in person today, but I currently have my head down writing the final book, which is coming along nicely."

After reporting in September that she was trying to decide between two possible titles for Harry Potter 7, on October 31, J.K. Rowling reported on her Web site that, "I've now got a third title...Title three currently ahead by a nose,..."

Rupert Grint's Carreer

A self-proclaimed fan of the Harry Potter book series, young Grint was interested in getting a role in the film. For his audition, he sent a video he made of himself, in which he dressed as his drama teacher, while rapping about how much he wanted the part and won the casting selection with it. After completing the first Potter film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (released in the United States as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), he appeared as Alan A. Allen in the British comedy film Thunderpants (2002). In 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2007, he again starred as Ron Weasley in the Potter sequels Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Grint also starred in the coming of age story Driving Lessons with Laura Linney and Julie Walters (who has played Mrs. Weasley in the Harry Potter movies), which was released in the summer of 2006.

Also known for his radio and television voice-over work, he appeared as Nigel Molesworth of the Baggy Trousers series for BBC Radio 4^[4] and voiced Peter Pan in a BBC documentary.

On 9 July 2007, Grint and fellow cast-mates Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson left imprints of their hands, feet and wands in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.^[5]

While directing Prisoner of Azkaban, Alfonso Cuarón is reported to have gained the strong impression that Grint is "the likely future star out of the Hogwarts trio". ^[6]

The Writer of Harry Potter

In 1995, Rowling completed her manuscript for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on an old manual typewriter.^[29] Upon the enthusiastic response of Bryony Evans, a reader who had been asked to review the book’s first three chapters, the Fulham-based Christopher Little Literary Agents agreed to represent Rowling in her quest for a publisher. The book was handed to twelve publishing houses, all of which rejected it.^[30] A year later she was finally given the green light (and a £1500 advance) by editor Barry Cunningham from the small publisher Bloomsbury.^[31][30] The decision to take Rowling on was apparently largely due to Alice Newton, the eight-year-old daughter of the company’s chairman, who was given the first chapter to review by her father, and immediately demanded the next.^[32] Although Bloomsbury agreed to publish the book, Cunningham says that he advised Rowling to get a day job, since she had little chance of making money in children’s books.^[33] Soon after, Rowling received an £8000 grant from the Scottish Arts Council to enable her to continue writing.^[29][34]

The following spring, an auction was held in the United States for the rights to publish the novel, and was won by Scholastic Inc., for $105,000. Rowling has said she “nearly died” when she heard the news.^[35] In June 1997, Bloomsbury published Philosopher’s Stone with an initial print-run of one thousand copies, five hundred of which were distributed to libraries. Today, such copies are valued between £16,000 and £25,000.^[36]

Five months later, the book won its first award, a Nestlé Smarties Book Prize. In February, the novel won the prestigious British Book Award for Children’s Book of the Year, and later, the Children’s Book Award. In October 1998, Scholastic published Philosopher’s Stone in the US under the title of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: a change Rowling claims she now regrets and would have fought if she had been in a better position at the time.^[12][29]

In December 1999, the third novel, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, won the Smarties Prize, making Rowling the first person to win the award three times running.^[29] She later withdrew the fourth Harry Potter novel from contention to allow other books a fair chance. In January 2000, Prisoner of Azkaban won the inaugural Whitbread Children’s Book of the Year award, though it lost the Book of the Year prize to Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf.^[37]

The title of the seventh Harry Potter book was revealed 21 December 2006 to be Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.^[38] On 1 February 2007 Rowling wrote on a bust in her hotel room at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh that she had completed the seventh book in that room on 11 January 2007.^[39] Later in February 2007, Neil Blair, a lawyer with Rowling's literary agency, announced that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will not be released as an e-book, just as Rowling has not allowed the first six Potter books to be so released.^[40] The seventh and final book of the series was released on July 21, 2007 (0:00 BST) and became the fastest-selling book of all time.^[6]

All seven volumes of the Harry Potter series, one for each of Harry’s school years, have broken sales records. The last four have been, consecutively, the fastest-selling books in history, grossing more in their opening 24 hours than blockbuster films.^[29][41] The series, totalling 4,195 pages,^[42] has been translated into 65 languages.^[43]

Rowling said she is "left wing" and that there is a certain amount of "political stuff" in Harry Potter, but that "every reader will bring their own agenda to the book."^[44] Several articles have noted influences of Rowling's heroine, author Jessica Mitford, whom Rowling describes as a "self-taught socialist,"^[45] and noted leftist themes in Harry Potter, like cooperation among the magical races,^[46] anti-racism,^{[47] [48]}and opposition to the slavery of House elves.^[49] Rowling's three unforgivable spells- killing, torture, and enslavement- are also cited as influenced by her prior work with Amnesty International.^[50]

The American communist newspaper People's Weekly World noted parallels between Rowling's heroine Jessica Mitford's fight against Nazism, which other members of Mitford's aristocratic family notoriously supported, and similar conflicts inside the Black Family in Harry Potter.^[51] After the publication of Deathly Hallows, Rowling responded to queries about metaphors in the books for ethnic cleansing, 'Well, it is a political metaphor. But … I didn't sit down and think, "I want to recreate Nazi Germany," in the-- in the wizarding world. Because-- although there are-- quite consciously overtones of Nazi Germany, there are also associations with other political situations. So I can't really single one out.'^[52]

Danielle Radcliffe in Harry Potter

Radcliffe was asked to audition for the role of Harry Potter in 2000 by producer David Heyman, while in attendance at a play named Stones in His Pockets in London.^[2][10] In August of that year, after several auditions, he was selected to play the role in the big-budget adaptation of the award-winning book series by J.K. Rowling. Radcliffe made his film debut in 2001 with a supporting role alongside Pierce Brosnan in The Tailor of Panama, and the first Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (United States title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) was released later that year.

During the spring of 2002, the 12-year-old Radcliffe appeared in an episode of The Bill, playing the role of a young boy who helped his mother with voluntary work for a charity.

Radcliffe has also starred in the four subsequent Harry Potter film adaptations: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007). He has signed on for the sixth and seventh films; Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, scheduled for release on November 21, 2008 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows expected in 2010. The films continue to produce high box office results worldwide.

In 2002 Radcliffe appeared as a guest in the West End production The Play What I Wrote directed by Kenneth Branagh (who appeared with Radcliffe in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets). In 2006, he began to make the transition from child to adult actor, appearing in the television series Extras as a parody of himself, as well as filming the independent Australian drama December Boys. The film, which was recently bought by Warner Bros., is currently set for an August 2007 release. He opened on 27 February 2007 in a revival of Peter Shaffer's play Equus as Alan Strang, a stable boy who has an obsession with horses. The role generated significant pre-opening media interest and advance sales topped two million pounds, as Radcliffe appeared nude in one scene in the play.^[11] Radcliffe's performance received positive reviews,^[12] as critics were impressed by the nuance and depth of his against-type role.^[13] Radcliffe's last performance in Equus took place on June 9, 2007; another production of the play will open in New York City in the summer of 2008, and Radcliffe may reprise his role.^[14] He is currently filming the ITV drama My Boy Jack in Ireland. In it he plays Jack Kipling, a World War I-era soldier and the son of author Rudyard Kipling.^[15][16] About this he said:^[17]

“

For many people my age, the First World War is just a topic in a history book. But I've always been fascinated by the subject and think it's as relevant today as it ever was.

”

At the age of sixteen, Radcliffe became the youngest non-royal ever to have an individual portrait in Britain's National Portrait Gallery. On 13 April 2006, his portrait, drawn by Stuart Pearson Wright, was unveiled as part of a new exhibition opening at London's Royal National Theatre, then moved to the National Portrait Gallery where it resides.^[18] Radcliffe was fourteen at the time of the portrait's creation.

On July 9, 2007, Radcliffe and fellow cast members Rupert Grint and Emma Watson left imprints of their hands, feet and wands in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.^[19]

Emma Watson in Harry Potter

Watson was eleven years old when Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was released. In her first major interview with the BBC in 2001, Watson stated she particularly enjoyed doing the stunts, especially in the scene when her character is chased by a troll and has to dart under sinks and run through the legs of bigger actors.^[8] Later, she added that her parents did their best to make her feel comfortable, and that her biggest thrill was getting to know all her adult co-stars, including Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, and Robbie Coltrane, among others.^[9]

A year later, Watson again starred as Hermione in the 2002 film Chamber of Secrets, the second installment of the Harry Potter film series. Now twelve years old, she said that success had not changed her, and that she was happy to know the filming process now instead of being new to everything as she was in the first film.^[10] In a 2007 interview, Watson added that in both films, she lost several baby teeth and had to wear dentures to avoid continuity issues.^[11]

In 2004, Prisoner of Azkaban was released, part three of the Harry Potter film series. Watson was appreciative of the more assertive role Hermione played in this film. Among others, she enjoyed the scene where Watson's character punches Harry Potter's nemesis Draco Malfoy (played by Tom Felton) when he taunts her and also angrily storms out of class when she becomes frustrated with Divination professor Sybill Trelawney, played by Emma Thompson.^[12] She thought that Emma Thompson as Trelawney was "absolutely hilarious."^[12] Watson stated that she found comfort in the fact that many of the crew who had filmed Philosopher's Stone were also filming Prisoner of Azkaban. Then 14 years old, she stated that even for stars like fellow Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe and her, teenage years were just as difficult as for anyone.^[13] Later that year, Watson also served on a panel, along with Pierce Brosnan, Chamber of Secrets co-star Kenneth Branagh, and Samantha Morton, to select the 2004 teen-aged filmmakers' "First Light" for the Film Award ceremony in Leicester Square in London.^[14]

Goblet of Fire was the fourth installment of the Harry Potter film series, released in 2005. Watson again reprised her role as Hermione Granger. Watson called director Mike Newell "fantastic," and quickly shot down rumours that she and her colleagues Radcliffe and Grint could be replaced in the following movies.^[15] For Watson, much of the humour of the film sprung from the tension between the characters Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they mature. She said: "I loved all the arguing... I think it's much more realistic that they would argue and that there would be problems. So I thought it was great fun. And it makes for a lot of humorous relief from this quite dark book."^[16] In addition, she revealed that she was a Ron and Hermione shipper, stating "Hermione and Ron just need to get it together! It just needs to happen and they just need to get on with it."^[17] Later that year, Watson became the youngest person to appear on the cover of Teen Vogue magazine, until the subsequent appearance of American actress Willa Holland.^[18] In 2006, Watson also played Hermione in The Queen's Handbag, a special mini-episode of Harry Potter in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday.^[19]

In the 2007 film Order of the Phoenix, Watson reprised her role as Hermione for the fifth time in seven years. She was appreciative of director David Yates, saying he was "quiet, very calm, very thoughtful, very sensitive."^[18] She also said that one of the favourite scenes of the film was when her character practices combat magic with Rupert Grint's character Ron Weasley; when he patronises her, her spell blows him into a wall. Watson stated, "It was a real 'girl power' moment, of which there are many in this film."^[18] She was impressed with newcomers Evanna Lynch and Imelda Staunton, who played Luna Lovegood and the villainous Dolores Umbridge respectively, and also reinforced the notion that her character Hermione should romance Ron Weasley.^[20] Watson stated that she was a target of some friendly ridicule on set, because of her straight-A GCSE exam results,^[18] and added that the end scene unnerved her, when there are many flashbacks of earlier Harry Potter movies. Of the flashbacks, Watson stated, "It's just like having your baby pictures blown up on a 20-foot screen and placed in 37 countries... You see yourself and you say, 'God, who is that girl?'."^[21]

In 2007, Helen Barlow of The Sydney Morning Herald said that Watson was no longer perceived as a child actor, but as a sensual young woman who dressed up and appeared on newspaper covers. Watson herself toned down this impression, stating "I love dressing up, but it doesn't rule or dictate my life."^[21] Additionally, she was voted number 98 in the FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2007 list.^[5] Watson herself said this was "the weirdest thing ever... I was like, 'Good God!' But I suppose it is a compliment for me and Hermione."^[22]

Watson's work in the Harry Potter series has amassed her a combined £10 million ($20.3 million).^[4] Watson herself acknowledged that she will never have to work again for money, but she has declined quitting school and becoming a full-time actress because "learning keeps [her] motivated."^[23]

On July 9, 2007, Watson and fellow Harry Potter co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint left imprints of their hands, feet, and wands in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.^[24]