Available now - Maigret: 'The Complete Collection' starring Michael Gambon

Imagine Michael Gambon without his long, white Dumbledore beard. Now imagine him as a French police inspector. That is exactly what you get with his TV role as Jules Maigret, a character based on the many novels and short stories by Georges Simenon.There have been many versions of this character throughout the years, but Michael Gambon's portrayal in the 1992-93 series is said to be one of the best.

Now fans can purchase the 4 disc DVD set, 'Maigret: The Complete Collection', right here. The set included the 12 episodes Gambon was in as well as an eight-page booklet.

The show first aired in the U.S. on PBS, and rumor has it that Gambon may be back to do more episodes.

Have you watched the show or plan on purchasing the DVD set? Let us know!

Dumbledore takes New York City in new film

Sir Michael Gambon, also known as Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, will take on his next role in Love is Strange. ComingSoon.net reports that the film will be directed by Ira Sachs, known for Keep the Lights On, and will also star Alfred Molina.

“Gambon and Molina play Ben and George, a couple who after 28 years together, finally marry at a City Hall wedding in Manhattan. On return from their honeymoon, however, Ben gets fired from his job as a choir director for a Catholic high school. With not enough money to stay in their small apartment, the two are forced to move in, separately, with a nephew and his family in Brooklyn, and the two gay cops next door.”

Production for Love is Strange is set to begin this summer in New York City.

Will you be going to see Love is Strange when it is released?

Some lucky fans in the U.K. will get to see 'Quartet' early - find out how right here!

We previously reported that Harry Potter stars Dame Maggie Smith, who portrayed Professor McGonagall, and Sir Michael Gambon, who portrayed Albus Dumbledore, would be appearing in the new film Quartet. Though the film, which is a story about events at a home for retired opera singers, won’t be released until January, some lucky fans in the U.K. have an opportunity to see an early screening!

U.K. cell phone service provider Orange offered a limited number of tickets through their website, giving a few lucky people the chance to see the film at VUE theaters on December 18th, almost two weeks early. We here at MuggleNet were too slow to snag tickets—were any of you more successful? If so, be sure and check in and let us know how it was!

In the meantime, those who aren’t going to be able to see the film early can check out interview footage from last night’s London Premiere here. Sadly, neither Dame Maggie Smith nor Sir Michael Gambon is featured in the clip, but it still offers interesting insight into Quartet.

Will you be going to see Quartet when it’s released? Did you manage to get tickets to see the film early? Let us know!

Dan Radcliffe apologized to Robbie Coltrane for Phone Prank

Daniel Radcliffe’s tendency to prank his fellow Harry Potter cast-mates often added levity to the set, but there was at least one time when his antics went a little too far.

Reportedly, Robbie Coltrane, who portrayed Hagrid in the films, was once a victim of a prank where the young actor changed the settings on his friend’s phone from English to Turkish. The joke seems harmless enough—except that Coltrane was left unable to make calls!

The infuriated actor had a hard time finding anyone on set who could change the settings of his phone back to English, and Radcliffe was left feeling understandably sheepish about what he had done. Coltrane remembers the event clearly:

Eventually we found a girl in the Harry Potter make-up department who was Turkish Cypriot. She phoned her mum and was chatting away in great detail until they sorted it out. I think Daniel was so upset at what had happened that he wrote me that note...'Dear Mr. Coltrane, I'm sorry I changed your mobile telephone into Turkish...

Have you ever been part of a prank gone too far? Let us know in the comments!

‘All That Fall’ soared on its final performance

This past Sunday, November 25th, marked Sir Michael Gambon’s final performance in Samuel Beckett’s radio play, All That Fall. The play, which had been running for three weeks, featured Gambon, also known as Albus Dumbledore, as Dan Rooney alongside Eileen Atkins in this version of the original 1956 production.

MuggleNet’s very own Nicholas Myers was fortunate enough to be in the audience of the sold out play performed live at The Arts Theatre in Leicester Square and has written a review, in which he describes the play as:

With a rich delivery from the plays leads, accompanied heavily by sound effects, the sharp-witted script in all its melodic extravagance leaves you in a melancholic laughter, befitting of a tragic comedy.

You can read Nick's review right here.

Michael Gambon will now return to shooting one of his latest films, Quartet, which stars fellow Potter alumna Dame Maggie Smith, and is set for release on January 4th, 2013.

Were you among the lucky few to see this performance? Do you have any thoughts on this review?

Michael Gambon to receive a coincidental BIFA Honour December 9th

Although no Order of Merlin or Supreme Mugwump, Sir Michael Gambon, known today as the actor who portrayed Albus Dumbledore in the final six Harry Potter films, will be honoured with a very prestigious award at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA). The Telegraph reports that Gambon, along with fellow British actor Jude Law, will be presented with awards at this year’s London ceremony.

Sir Michael Gambon, whose career spans over six decades, will be recognized with the Richard Harris Award, which recognizes outstanding contribution to British Film. This name might seem familiar, especially in correlation with Gambon, as Richard Harris, the award’s namesake, also played Albus Dumbledore in the first two Potter films, but sadly passed away in 2002. Previous winners of this award include fellow Potter actors Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter, as well as Daniel Day-Lewis and Bob Hoskins. Gambon is presently starring in Sir Trevor Nunn's theatre production of All That Falls, in London.

The British Independent Film Awards will take place on December 9th. Sir Michael Gambon has certainly had an incredible career in theatre, television, and on film, and is truly deserving of this esteemed award.

Do you have a favourite Dumbledore moment? Which of Sir Michael Gambon’s other works have you seen? Let us know in the comments below.