Harry Potter & Order of the Phoenix film news and rumors...

[neglet]

Here's the place for news of the film, which should debut in June 2007. They've just started filming. Here are some things we do know:

new writer: instead of Steve Kloves, Michael Goldenberg (Contact, Peter Pan) is adapting
new director: David Yates, a British TV director; this is his first feature
the three lead actors--Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, & Emma Watson--are all returning
they have cast Oscar-nominated Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge

http://www.empireonline.com/images/image_index/150x180/2666.jpg

I haven't heard much on what they might be cutting to make the book film-length, but we can post here as we find out more.

[DarkJedi]

Here are some more facts or rumors from the blessed Wiki.



Confirmed:

Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe [3]
Ron Weasley Rupert Grint [4]
Hermione Granger Emma Watson [5]
Dean Thomas Alfred Enoch [6]
Draco Malfoy Tom Felton [7]
Lord Voldemort Ralph Fiennes [8]
Alastor 'Mad Eye' Moody Brendan Gleeson [9]
Kingsley Shacklebolt George Harris [10]
Lucius Malfoy Jason Isaacs [11]
Cho Chang Katie Leung [12]
Neville Longbottom Matthew Lewis [13]
Seamus Finnigan Devon Murray [14]
Sirius Black Gary Oldman [15]
Fred Weasley James Phelps [16]
George Weasley Oliver Phelps [17]
Percy Weasley Chris Rankin [18]
Percy Weasley Chris Rankin [18]
Dolores Umbridge Imelda Staunton [19]
Remus Lupin David Thewlis [20]
Young James Potter Robbie Jarvis [21]
Molly Weasley Julie Walters [22]
Vincent Crabbe Jamie Waylett [23]
Ginny Weasley Bonnie Wright [24]

[Tricksterson]

I've heard that Rachel Hurd Wood is up for Luna, any confirmation/denial?

[neglet]

I've heard that Rachel Hurd Wood is up for Luna, any confirmation/denial?

This is probably untrue. Empire reported (http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?nid=17837) that the producers had an open casting call for Luna a couple of weeks ago.

However, they have announced (http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?nid=17956) the casting of Kingsley Shacklebolt: George Harris, whom you might remember from "Raiders of the Lost Ark" as Katanga:

http://www.empireonline.com/images/image_index/150x180/4814.jpg

[Tricksterson]

The rumor about Rachel was (alas) untrue. Instead a newcomer, Evanna Lynch has been chosen. Nymphadora Tonks will be played by Natalie Tena and Bellatrix by Helen McCrory.

[neglet]

Here's (http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/#article:8317) the report at the Leaky Cauldron, with links and a pic of the new Luna.

[Rowanberry]

IMO, Evanna Lynch at least looks quite good for the part; she's not too pretty, which I think Rachel Hurd Wood might have been.

[KingVoyeur]

Oldman Axed from Harry Potter Film?

Actor Gary Oldman looks unlikely to reprise his role as Sirius Black in the next Harry Potter offering, after reports he has been mysteriously axed from the wizard franchise. Oldman, who has appeared in the last two movies adapted from JK Rowling's popular children's books, has yet to be signed for a third term - even though filming for Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix has already begun. The actor's manager, Douglas Urbanski, tells British newspaper The Sun, "You will be shocked to learn there are no plans for Gary to appear in the film. To say we are puzzled is an understatement at the very least! We are left with no choice but to pursue other employment for him." Vanessa Davis, spokeswoman for production company Warner Brothers, confirms no deal has been reached, but insists there is still time to resolve the confusion. She says, "With any film the priority is confirming the cast who will be on the set from the outset."

Ummm, ok, why would they do this? Makes no sense, it'll just screw up and confuse younger kids up who already associate Oldman with Sirius.

[Emperor Norton]

Nymphadora Tonks will be played by Natalie Tena.

People might remember Natalia Tena as the punk girl whom Marcus has a crush on in the movie About a Boy (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0276751/), based on the Nick Hornby novel (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1573227331).

[neglet]

No worries, WB has confirmed that both Gary Oldman and David Thewlis will be returning for the film of OoP: Report at the Leaky Cauldron. (http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/#article:8337) Evidently they are still working out details of Oldman's contract, but WB expects him to return.

Also, another LC report (http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/#article:8345) says they have cast Amelia Bones (Sian Thomas), Auror Dawlish (Richard Leaf), and Zacharias Smith (Nick Shim).

The report also says the Dursleys are going to be in the fifth film, and they have been casting for "young Wormtail," "young Lily," "young James," etc. So we know they must be keeping the opening of book 5, with the Dementor attack on Dudley, as well as the pensieve scene of "Snape's Worst Nightmare."

Groovy!

[DarkJedi]

You beat me to posting the latest news....I had to sleep during the day because of working 30 hours straight.....and oh nooooooo, Negs has to beat me to the punch.

I should take your own paddle and turn it around on you. :wink:

[neglet]

Don't hate me because I'm speedy. :winks:

[Deacon]

Coming Soon (I'm not posting a link, since there isn't really a story to link to) has stated that the release date has been put back to November 2007.

Kinda sad that we'll have to wait longer, but I'd rather they got it right than rushed it into release (we've been lucky the sequels have turned out as well as they have given the year-and-a-half turnaround).

Plus... I just prefer Christmas release dates for these movies.

[kawaiidragonfoe821]

*Sigh* I hope this won't be as disappointing as GOF was, though I have a sinking feeling that it will be. At least they did something right & replaced Steve Klovis, I was never totally okay with his adaptons. Why did they cut Oldman out of the film?! They'd better not be cutting his part out too! Also, they'd better keep the end the same & not warp it all around like they did in GOF. I was sooo looking forward to seeing DD & Fudge have their face-off in the hospital wing!

[neglet]

Just an update: Gary Oldman has officially signed a contract for OOP, so he will be reappearing as Sirius in the film. I'm sure that's a relief to many fans!

[neglet]

Another update: because of Helen McCrory's pregnancy, the part of Bellatrix Lestrange has had to be recast. And who did they find to fill in at the last moment? None other than Helena Bonham Carter!

Here's (http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/#article:8702)the report at the Leaky Cauldron.

[Queen Mae]

That is AWESOME! I adore Helena and I was really hoping she'd make an appearance in these films. She'll be great at playing Bella because she's very good at playing crazy

[Belledame]

Bellatrix is supposed to be a great beauty whose looks were ravaged by Azkaban. I just don't see Carter that way.

[neglet]

Bellatrix is supposed to be a great beauty whose looks were ravaged by Azkaban. I just don't see Carter that way.

Which, as the great beauty? Or as someone ravaged? Either way, they can do wonders with makeup.

[Queen Mae]

I think Helena is GORGEOUS. She looks stunning in "A Room with a View." But beauty is a very subjective thing, so I'm not sure that there's any way to make people completely happy based on "looks."

[Belledame]

I don't see her as a great beauty. "A Room with a View" was nearly 20 years ago. I know they can make her up. There were just...others I would have preferred.

[BaschTheGreat]

I thought it was confirmed that 'Sirius Black Gary Oldman [15]' wasnt coming back...which has me baffled, but i believe i read that on EW or Crave.

[kawaiidragonfoe821]

Gary is coming back after all? Thats good to hear, I was hoping he would change his mind.

[DarkJedi]

Didn't know whether to start a new one or put it here...Here ya go...

Warner Bros releases 5 new photos of the upcoming OotP film to Comingsoon.net and apparently the Leaky Cauldron...

Five new photos of the upcoming movie. (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=16645)

[rappites]

Thanks dude.

The kids are growing up quick aren't they?

[neglet]

Love the picture of Umbridge's office, it's even ickier than I pictured it! Staunton looks perfect as Umbridge. How many days till July?

[DarkJedi]

It definitely looks like everyone had a visual change (hair style) in that DA meeting photo, the twins included.

Definitely agree on Umbridge's office. Staunton fits the mold perfectly and sitting in that office would freak me out too. :lol:

[neglet]

I hope the kittens on the plate move, a la Hogwarts paintings. Wouldn't it have been fun to be the AD who had to get all those kitty shots!

[Rowanberry]

Yes, Umbridge's office is perfect, with all that horrible kitsch. And Imelda Staunton looks just the right person for that part.

[DarkJedi]

Thanks goes to Tishortie from our sister community(Harry Potter forums) and of course to Mugglenet.com from where she got the next photos of....


The Dursleys!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y184/cinescaper2/Dursleys.jpg






For the full size photo of those evil beings, here's the mugglenet link:

Full Size Pic of the Dursleys here (http://www.mugglenet.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=1934&pos=0)


lol Negs, it looks like Warner Bros is getting ready to drive all Harry Potter fans into some excitement....pics being released as well as news. Stuff may get alittle chaotic as the movie nears release next summer.

[neglet]

Dudley the Punk! Can't wait to see him turned into blubbering mush by the dementor. :D

[DarkJedi]

Definitely going to be cool to see em again. It seemed lacking that they weren't in the GOF movie.

One thing's for sure, that definitely looks like "Dudley Demented". :)

[kawaiidragonfoe821]

I cant say that i liked Steve Klovis very much, I loved Contact & Peter Pan though, i think that he will do a great job.

[DarkJedi]

I forgot to add this last week but according to The Leaky Cauldron, Comingsoon.net, Cinescape and a number of news sites...WB has confirmed that Dobby will not be in this next film. Kreacher will be though of course.

There will be no sharp contrasts for audiences between a good house-elf and a bad one.

[Rowanberry]

That's kind of understandable; Dobby isn't actually essential until in HBP, where he's keeping an eye on Kreacher (and Malfoy).

[DarkJedi]

From the Leaky Cauldron:


OotP Director David Yates: "I've Shot a Movie That's Probably Over Three Hours"


A TLC reader let us know today that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix director David Yates is quoted in the December issue of Empire magazine regarding the length of the new movie. Quotage (from page 33 apparently):


"The book's huge, but it actually distills quite easily... That said, I've shot a movie that's probably over three hours, so I'll have to lose 45 minutes in the edit."


Please Note: We do not know if the final length of Phoenix has firmly been set as they are just now completing production on the film in England, so this is all very preliminary -in other words, don't panic yet! We are trying to get more information about this and will update with more.

[Tricksterson]

NONONO! They don't get it! We'd be happy to watch a three hour HP movie! Don't they understand that we're fanatical loons?:)

[neglet]

Yeah, but I imagine WB doesn't like the idea of losing out on revenue by reducing the number of showings theatres can have per day.

Still, more extras for the DVD, eh?

[Tricksterson]

Yeah, but I imagine WB doesn't like the idea of losing out on revenue by reducing the number of showings theatres can have per day.

Still, more extras for the DVD, eh?

Like it's not going to be on four screens in every theatre.:Smirk:

[DarkJedi]

Update:

Here's 10 more photos from the upcoming Order of the Phoenix movie...

Ten new photos from the upcoming movie. (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=17605)

[lunaticomoony]

Hmmm.... this looks quite lonely... anyway there's something I liked to know...

WHERE IS LUPIN!!!

I haven't seen a single picture of him.

[neglet]

The Leaky Cauldron has a very detailed report (http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/#article:9592) on a rough screening of OOP that was shown earlier this year. Don't click unless you want detailed SPOILERS on things that have been cut, included, and/or changed from the book to the movie! I can tell you, however, that overall the person who reported thinks it's one of the best HP movies yet.

[KingVoyeur]

Does anyone have the link to the Harry Potter forums that used to be on these boards? I'm trying to find a piece of merchandise and am not having any luck, so I figured I'd ask the folks over there.

[neglet]

I think those forums are kaput. I'd try a dedicated HP site like http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org. I think they have forums where you might ask.

[KingVoyeur]

Cool thanks!

[rappites]

The original three have signed on for the last two. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070324/ap_on_en_mo/film_harry_potter)


'Bout daggone time. Now we all sigh a heavy sigh of relief that the last two films will not be filmed with different actors.

[neglet]

So, EW had a huge cover story on the upcoming film. There wasn't a ton that fans of the books (or readers of these threads) didn't know already, but they did list some of the events from the book that didn't make it into the film. I'll put them in spoiler codes, in case you don't want to know them:

Weasley is our [Quidditch] King? Cut.
Mrs. Weasley's boggart? Gone.
Dobby the house elf? Fuggedaboutit.
Neville's parents at St. Mungo's? Not shown. (I'd assume neither will we see Prof. Lockhart.)

Oh, and reportedly the film will be under two and a half hours, the shortest so far.

[DarkJedi]

Four new Harry Potter photos have surfaced online a week or so after Warner Bros has confirmed Watson has been resigned to play Granger in the final two films.

You can view the pictures here. (http://www.emovienews.com/articles/new-harry-pictures.html) Just click on them twice to get the full size since their file size is 400 kbs +.

[neglet]

We have a new, full-length trailer up at Yahoo! Movies: click here and then the link for "trailer no. 2." (http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808475612/trailer)

July is going to be such a great month for us HP fans!

[Belledame]

I went through all the trailer caps at Mugglenet and Leaky Cauldron. It looks like we'll have almost the entire book. And it looks like it will be on FIRE!!! I can't wait to see this. From beginning to end of the book, I saw cuts of everything I must see. And what I didn't see must be in the film because it's what the whole book is about.

Come on 7/11!!! (Although I can't understand why the book and the movie don't both drop on 7/31 - Harry's birthday. It's so perfect to at least drop the last book on that date.)