The HBO schedule for Order of the Phoenix is now online, and the fifth film in the Potter series is set to begin in high-definition on June 22nd at 9 PM EST. The Making Of special, which originally aired back in November, will start airing again on the June 19th.

Thanks, Julee, for the tip!

Over the past few months, we've been updating you on various construction photos from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Today, Screamscape.com has a few new pictures from construction, most notably one of a building from Hogsmeade Village.

We've also received word from a source who tells us that the entire Lost Continent area will close in early 2009 to make way for The Wizarding World. Two places inside Lost Conintent, the Voyage of Sinbad and Dueling Dragons (a show and a ride respectively) will both be kept but converted to Potter.

It's important to take this information with a grain of salt until we get official confirmation, even though rumors have been rampant lately about The Lost Continent's future. Thanks to Trish and Katie for the tips!

UPDATE: By popular demand we have extended the deadline for submissions to May 21st. Several of you requested more time because school is wrapping up now and the previous deadline was too soon.

For all you budding screenwriters and filmmakers out there MuggleNet, Magical Tours, and Alivan's have come up with the perfect contest for you! All you have to do is re-write a scene from any of the seven Harry Potter books, film it on video, and submit it to YouTube. Go HERE for complete contest details.

1st Prize is a complete set of all the British versions of the Harry Potter books – adult covers, boxed and sealed!

2nd Prize is a Majestic Hogwarts School robe, and

3rd Prize is your choice of wands from the Classic or Majestic Collections both from our friends at Alivan's.

Also, Magical Tours has extended the sign-up dates for last-minute guests for the MuggleNet Express Tour. Go to Magical Tours for more details, and to see a new video from the 2008 Magical Tours Intern, Thomas Pardee check this out.

According to United Agents, actress Suzanne Toase is currently filming her role as Alecto Carrow for the sixth Harry Potter film. It is yet unknown whether she'll reprise the role in Deathly Hallows.

Thanks to everyone who emailed in!

Another week, another new episode of our Harry Potter podcast! Join Laura, Eric, Micah, Elysa, Matt and I for a discussion of the past week's top Potter news stories, Chapter by Chapter, Make the Music Connection, and much more. Including:

- Rowling documentary, HBP video game, and court case transcripts.
- Chapter 27: The Final Hiding Place.
- How did the dragon fly over London and nobody noticed?
- We discuss Voldemort developing a very false sense of security.
- Why didn't Harry notice Voldemort only named six places the Horcruxes could be?
- Voicemails return.
- Make the Music Connection and Chicken Soup.

All that and much more can be found on Episode 143! To download for free, we recommend subscribing through Apple iTunes. Just click here and then press "Subscribe" to the right of our album art. No iPod or MP3 player needed! You can also visit the MuggleCast website to listen right within your browser. Enjoy!

The Daily Mail is reporting this evening that Philosopher's Stone, the first book in the Potter series, is now a choice for A-Levels in the United Kingdom. For those who don't know, A-Levels are academic placement tests similar to the SATs taken in the United States.

Pupils taking the English language and literature A-level next year will study Rowling's first Potter volume – the 12th best-selling book of all time and the basis for a Hollywood film – along with one other book for the module Themes in Language and Literature.

They will have to write a 1,200 to 1,500-word piece of coursework comparing the "approaches" of J.K. Rowling and the other writer.

Examiners will mark students on how they relate story lines and the activities of Harry Potter and his friends to the context of the times.

And students will have to show an understanding of J.K. Rowling's use of language, described recently as gibberish by a High Court judge. They will also have to write their own 500 to 800-word story inspired by the book.

To read more, including quotes from critics who believe that this just following today's pop culture. click here. Thanks to Sean for the tip!

Tickets for Equus on Broadway starring Potter stars Dan Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths are now on sale to the general public. Previously, they were only available to American Express cardholders.

To purchase, click here and then click "Find Tickets" towards the top right. As we told you earlier this month, previews begin on September 5th and then the show officially kicks off on September 25th. Thanks, Callie, for the tip!

This morning, Warner Brothers Consumer Products and Becker Group announced Harry Potter: The Exhibition, "a state-of-the-art exhibition highlighting artifacts from the Warner Bros. films based on J.K. Rowling's beloved book series."

According to the press release, the exhibition will span 10,000 square feet and host "elaborate displays of authentic costumes, props and artifacts from popular environments featured in the films."

The tour will begin in Spring of 2009. Exact dates and locations will be forthcoming, but they recommend keeping an eye on the official exhibition site. We'll update you with more as we know it!

ComingSoon.net received a hot tip early Friday morning, revealing that Part 1 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released November 19th, 2010.

The news comes just a little over a month since Warner Brothers announced the final book will be split into two films. No word yet on the exact date for Part 2, but Heyman has previously stated in an interview with the LA Times to look for a May 2011 release.

Thanks, Matt, for the tip!

UPDATE: PocketGamer.co.uk received a sneak peak at the Nintendo DS version of the game and their review is here!

Electronic Arts, makers of every Potter video game to date, has announced that production of Half-Blood Prince is underway. The release will coincide with the release of the film, and EA is thrilled about this next installment:

“We believe that the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince video game represents a milestone in the movie tie-in genre,” said Harvey Elliott, Head of EA Bright Light studio in the UK where the Harry Potter franchise has its home. “Building on the technological advancements of previous games in the series and with a particular focus on the unique control system of Nintendo’s WiiTM, the team here is working closely with the filmmakers to create an immersive interactive experience that captures the story, the action, the excitement and, above all, the fun of the film.”

The game is scheduled to be released on Wii, PS2, PS3, PC, MAC, X360, DS, and mobile devices. Thanks to Jamie for the tip, and we'll update you with more information in the coming months! For more information on the other Potter video games, click here.

Complete transcripts from the JK Rowling/Warner Bros. court case against RDR Books/HP Lexicon are now available. Click here for day one (April 14th), here for day two (April 15th), and here for day three (April 16th).

Thanks to Stanford Law School.

Reuters reported earlier this evening that ABC News "20/20" is working on a behind-the-scenes documentary on Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.

The in-depth profile, which will air in November, includes several interviews, the book tour for the final "Harry Potter" installment, and a tour of locations that inspired her characters. It even hints to what the future holds for Harry and his friends.

On this week’s episode of our Harry Potter podcast we take an in-depth look at the ongoing trial involving J.K. Rowling and RDR Books. Join Eric, Laura, Micah, Elysa and I as we have one of the more serious discussions in our three years of podcasting (but don't worry, we still have fun).

- The trial was very emotional for both Jo and Steve but did it have to get to this point?
- We review testimony given and comments made by both sides and offer our thoughts.
- Breaking down the "fair use" doctrine, we try and get inside the head of Judge Patterson.
- Which of the four categories of fair use would go in Jo or Steve's favor?
- The negative impact this could have on the Harry Potter fandom and the "floodgates" that could open.
- Elysa brings up a few previous court cases that have dealt with the "fair use" doctrine and the precedents set seem to favor J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. (Harper and Roe Publishers vs. Nation Enterprises).
- Make the Music Connection provides some laughter after a very serious episode.

All that and much more discussion can be found on this week’s episode! To download, we recommend subscribing for free through either Apple iTunes (press Subscribe once you're there) or the ZUNE Marketplace. If you are already subscribed, just refresh your feed. You can also find full shownotes and alternate download links at the MuggleCast website.

According to this article from Reuters, Emma Watson has been chosen to take over a role originally slated for actress Scarlett Johansson, because of her age:

Watson, 18, will play Betsy Balcombe, a young, impetuous noblewoman trapped on the isolated British island of St. Helena who falls in love with Napoleon, who has been exiled there.

The film, titled Napoleon and Betsy, is scheduled for release some time in 2009.

Yahoo! Local has posted a new video giving an inside look at just how much care Amazon puts into protecting Tales of Beedle the Bard, a collection of small fairy tales that JK Rowling donated to charity (the winning bidder was Amazon).

Daphne Durham, Amazon's Book Managing Editor, talks about what it's like to hold the book and it's said that there are still some hidden secrets yet-to-be-revealed within the book. Thanks to Lori and Charles for the tip!

The other day, we told you about The Harry Potter Alliance's goal of reaching over 1,000 signatures for a petition against genocide in Darfur. Thanks in part to all of you MuggleNet visitors, their expectations were far surpassed! Check out what Andrew Slack, founder of HPA, had to say about it right here.

If you haven't signed the petition yet, read more about it and find out how to sign it by clicking here!

Our friends at HP Fan Trips have announced a really great trip for anyone who may be interested visiting New York City for two big Potter-related events this fall.

From November 20th to the 22nd, join HP Fan Trips and fellow Potter fans for a weekend of seeing the Equus stage play starring Dan Radcliffe and the Half-Blood Prince film! Full details can be found right here.

Tutshill Church in Gloucestershire has been displaying a visitors' book, featuring the signature of Potter author JK Rowling and a mystery person whose name was 'stolen' and given to a character in the book series, and has so far collected a total of £10,000 ($19,900), taking it a step closer to raising the roof. This is most likely the same book as shown in the recent documentary about Jo.

The church also says it has a first edition signed copy of Deathly Hallows, and is currently still deciding what to do with it, adding "[it might be] used as a prize or go to auction, depending on what will raise us more money."

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

My Boy Jack, the film based on the life of Rudyard Kipling's son, starring Daniel Radcliffe, is due to be first shown on PBS this sunday. The film "tells of a nation at war, and offers an intimate portrait of one family's complex and divided experience in it", displaying the difficulties faced during the First World War.

Please check your local listings for times.

Thanks to Kat for sending that in!

The second half of today's proceedings ended with a strong closing statement, according to the latest entry from The Wall Street Journal. JK Rowling also took the stand one final time, and it's clearer than ever that Judge Patterson believes each side has a strong case:

Maybe I Need a Reference Guide for This Case: That was Judge Patterson’s commentary at the close of testimony. Again, he urged the parties to consider settlement, reminding them that fair use is a “murky area” of law. Hammer then requested the opportunity to make a closing statement, which was a good call because his co-counsel, Anthony Falzone, delivered a strong one.

The lawyers of JK Rowling and Warner Brothers have sent MuggleNet a statement by the Potter author, commenting on where the case stands:

“The book at the heart of this case has overstepped a boundary so unreasonably that I have been forced, regretfully, to take legal action. Authors have a right to protect their works from misuse. Do I have fewer rights because many people read my books? If this book is published, it will open the floodgates for anyone to lift an author’s work and present it as their own. But if it is not published, that will be a boon not only to all who create original works, but to all who enjoy those works.”

The Wall Street Journal's Law Blog spoke earlier today with Ethan Horwitz, an IP lawyer from King & Spalding on the ongoing Lexicon case. Horwitz tries to further explain the ambiguous concept of "fair use," offering his overall opinion:

"It’s really pretty remarkable, in my opinion. The fair-use test has four factors and each side can find precedent to support it. The case law is really all over the map. And on the facts, too, I think it’s a really close case. It really smacks down right in the middle."

Additionally, he explains the strengths and weaknesses on both sides, but ultimately concludes that this case is "too close to call."

Day 3 of the JK Rowling/Warner Brothers VS RDR Books trial commenced today, and continues to spiral into one big mess of ordeals. Highlights from today, before lunch break:

- Lawyers for JKR/WB and RDR told the judge this morning that they reached a settlement on the false advertising and deceptive trade practices claims. You may remember yesterday that the judge suggested a settlement instead of a lawsuit. A representative for RDR also told the court that they hope to settle on the trademark infringement and unfair competition claims. Once that is out of the way, this just leaves the big copyright infringement claims left.

- Janet Sorensen, a professor of 18th and early 19th century English literature at U.C. Berkeley, was called to the stand today by RDR where she spoke of other fantasy works that also have companion guides to help the reader understand the content of the story.

- Judge Patterson was quoted as saying, "I think this case, with imagination, could be settled....But don't throw anything out because of my desire to move ahead." He suspects the case will be appealed, and that it could go all the way to the Supreme Court, taking years to resolve.

Read much more at The Wall Street Journal and MSNBC. We'll continue to keep you updated!

The following statement was recently released by a spokesperson on behalf of J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Entertainment after the conclusion of yesterday's court proceedings:

"A fan's affectionate enthusiasm should not obscure acts of plagiarism. The publishers knew what they were doing. The problem remains that the Lexicon takes an enormous amount of Ms. Rowling's work and adds virtually no original commentary of its own. As we've said in court, it takes too much and adds too little. Authors have a duty to prevent the exploitation of their works by people who contribute nothing original, creative or interpretive."

Towards the end of today's cross examination, Judge Robert Patterson stopped the testimony to question the trial as a whole. From the Wall Street Journal:

Judge Patterson removed his glasses and addressed the court. “I’m concerned that this case is more lawyer-driven than it is client-driven,” he lamented. “The fair use people are on one side, and a large company is on the other side. . . . The parties ought to see if there’s not a way to work this out, because there are strong issues in this case and it could come out one way or the other. The fair use doctrine is not clear.”

The Fair Use Doctrine is a United States Law, defined accurately by Wikipedia as allowing "limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders, such as use for scholarship or review."

You can read more of what happened at today's trial concerning Lexicon author Steve Van Der Ark here. The trial has ended for the day and will continue into tomorrow and Thursday.

As we told you earlier, Emma Watson turns 18 today. Her official site has been updated with a video from the actress which you can check out here. Enjoy!

The Wall Street Journal has updated their blog again, this time talking about developments that occurred in court this morning.

But the most telling part of Vander Ark’s testimony came at the end of Hammer’s direct examination. Asked whether he still considered himself a part of the Harry Potter fan community — those that, in Vander Ark’s words, devote most of their free time to all things Potter, he choked up, and said, “I did.” But then, when pressed on it, he changed his answer. “I do,” he said, breaking up.

USA today further reports Van Der Ark as saying, "It's been ... it's been," he stammered, choking on his words. "It's been difficult because there has been a lot of criticism, obviously, and that was never the intention. ... This has been an important part of my life for the last nine years or so."

As most of you know by now, JK Rowling and Warner Bros. are currently involved in a court case against RDR Books and the HP Lexicon regarding a print version of the online Lexicon. Some of Jo's main reasons for taking legal action against this book are that she feels it is in breach of copyright of the Harry Potter novels, is not worthwhile to the reader (in that it provides very little commentary, most of which is "derisory" and "facetious"), and that it could detrimentally affect sales of an all-inclusive encyclopedia which she has long expressed a desire to write and from which sales revenue would be donated to charity.

MuggleNet fully supports Jo Rowling in this case. This week will be, without a doubt, difficult and emotional for the author who has spent 17 years creating the series we all love so much. Because of this, we feel that with as much support as possible, this time can be made more bearable for her.

Please feel free to leave any messages of support in the comments, which we will link to from the main page until a verdict on this case is reached. Thank you.

"I really don't want to cry because I'm British. These books, they saved me, not just in the very obvious material sense, although they did do that...I would have to say that there was a time when they saved my sanity." JK Rowling, April 14th

Andrew Slack from the Harry Potter Alliance has started a brand new petition against the genocide in Darfur. He wrote to us with this message:

It’s time now to join Harry, Dumbledore, and our real world hero Jo Rowling in making this world a place where the spirit of every child, including the children of Darfur, can be safe to come out of the cupboard and experience the magic of life and love.

There are millions of Harry Potter fans across this world.

Do you think one thousand Harry Potter fans can sign a petition to prosecute those guilty of war crimes against children in Darfur? The HP Alliance is asking all Harry Potter fans to go to http://wantedforwarcrimes.org/hpa right now, scroll down, and sign the petition. The mission is to wake up the UN Security Council to take action against the genocide in Darfur the way Dumbledore’s Army woke the world up to taking action around Voldemort’s return?

The HPA’s goal is one thousand signatures before the UN Security Council votes to take action in June.

We know MuggleNet fans can act quickly, so sign the petition today! Thanks to everyone for their support.

Emma Watson (Hermione Granger in the Potter films) turns 18 years of age today. From everyone here at MuggleNet, we wish her a fantastic birthday!

Also of note is actress Emma Thompson (Professor Trelawney) who is celebrating her 49th birthday today. Have a great one!

In a new interview, Jim Broadbent, who will play Horace Slughorn in the sixth Potter film has conceded that he's not a "massive fan" of the Potter books.

He explains, "It's not really part of my generation. But I had read the first one and seen the films. I caught up with the sixth one, which I'm in. But I have to admit I haven't read them all."

On playing the role of Slughorn, he added, "I like to mix it up, the big films and the little ones. A big range of different parts."

Thanks to everyone who emailed in!

JK Rowling yesterday read a statment outside the court regarding her case against RDR Books/HP Lexicon. A video of this can be seen at the BBC, and what she said in full is below:

"It gives me no pleasure to take legal action, but I am here today because I feel very strongly about an important issue that affects everyone and not just me. If books that plagiarize other works are permitted, authors, fans and readers stand to lose. There are lots of books in many languages that comment on or criticize Harry Potter and that’s fine. But the book in this case is different. It provides no analysis and virtually no commentary. It takes far too much and it offers precious little in return. I would just like to add that I am extremely grateful for the incredible support of Harry Potter fans everywhere."

Some photos of Jo outside court can be seen here.

This week's episode of our Harry Potter podcast is now online! Join Eric, Laura, Micah, Matt and I for discussion of Potter stories from last week, Chapter by Chapter, a new segment, and much more! Including:

- Andrew has a treasure chest from HP Quest!
- Micah will be first in line at Equus in NYC.
- We announce when our next MuggleCast LIVE online will be.
- Chapter by Chapter covers Chapter 26 of Deathly Hallows: Gringotts.
- A new segment: This Week in MuggleCast (Episode 35)
- HUH?! E-mail of the Week.
- Chicken Soup for the MuggleCast Soul.

All that and much much more can be found on this week's episode! To download, we recommend subscribing for free through either Apple iTunes or the ZUNE Marketplace. If you are already subscribed, just refresh your feed. You can also find full shownotes and alternate download links at the MuggleCast website. Enjoy!

UPDATE: WSJ has now updated with an overview of all of the developments that occurred today, and noted that tomorrow's defense testimony will be from a publishing expert. We'll continue to update everyone throughout the week with the latest from the courtroom, so stay tuned!

The Wall Street Journal's Law Blog has been updated with a lengthy report of everything that occurred this morning in court prior to lunch. Of particular interest to us was Jo's testimony, which is very heartfelt:

“I don’t want to cry, because I’m British,” said Rowling, breaking down a bit, “but the [Harry Potter books] meant setting aside my children.” If that was a show of weakness on Rowling’s part, to the Law Blog’s sensibilities, it was effective in making her seem sympathetic. It was also a counterpoint to testimony that was otherwise declarative and authoritative.

“This trial has decimated my creative work over the last month,” said Rowling. “You lose the [plot] threads and worry whether you’ll be able to pick them up again.”

“Should my fans be flooded with a surfeit of substandard books — so called lexicons — I’m not sure I’d have the will or heart to continue,” said Rowling, who went on to characterize the H.P. Lexicon as “sloppy,” “lazy,” and “incorrect.”

We'll continue to update you with more developments as they appear. For more, check out the two news posts (1 and 2) below this one.

Author J.K. Rowling testified earlier this morning in a Manhattan Federal courthouse that should The Harry Potter Lexicon be published, she feels "that carte blanche will be given to anybody who wants to make a quick bit of money."

Bloomberg News and BBC News have documented the following quotes from the testimony:

"The idea of my readership parting with their or their parents' hard-earned cash for this is a travesty."

"RDR's book constitutes a Harry Potter rip-off of the type I have spent years trying to prevent."

"If RDR's position is accepted, it will undoubtedly have a significant, negative impact on the freedoms enjoyed by genuine fans on the internet."

"He [Mr. Vander Ark] has simply taken it and copied it. It is sloppy, lazy and it takes my work wholesale."

We will keep you posted as the story develops.

UPDATE: The Guardian has a photo of JK Rowling arriving in court this morning. Also, Newsday has an article from the start of the trial.

UPDATE 2: The New York Times has a new article taking a look at the whole trial, including a quote from MuggleNet staff member Ben Schoen. They also have a picture of Jo entering court, which can be viewed here.

As we told you late last month, the court trial between JK Rowling and RDR Books over The Harry Potter Lexicon will begin Monday morning. The Associated Press has a new article about it and specifically talks about plans for Jo:

Rowling is scheduled to testify Monday in a trial that is sure to generate huge interest among Harry Potter fans and the public. Her lawyer has arranged with the judge to have a private security guard for Rowling in the courtroom and for the author to spend breaks in the seclusion of a jury room — away from any die-hard Potter fans in attendance.

We'll continue to provide updates on the case this week when available. Thanks to Remi for the tip!

We wish Jo the best of luck in court today.

The Daily Mail reported today that Helen McCrory will reprise her role as Narcissa Malfoy in the final two-part installment of the Harry Potter series.

It was mentioned that after giving up her original role of Bellatrix Lestrange to Helena Bonham Carter due to pregnancy, she will make her debut as Narcissa in Half-Blood Prince and return for Deathly Hallows.

McCrory was quoted as saying, "Just wait for me to be wicked and witchy."

Thanks to SnitchSeeker for the tip!

The HP Alliance has announced this evening that, among several well known authors, JK Rowling is part of an open letter asking everyone in the world to take notice to what is happening in Darfur as part of Global Day for Darfur:

Today is the Day for Darfur, which marks the fifth anniversary of one of the world’s bloodiest conflicts. Over 200,000 people have been killed and over two million have been forced to flee from their homes and villages. Children barely old enough to walk, yet alone run, have seen their homes burnt and razed to the ground, their mothers raped and their fathers killed. Most are now holed up in sprawling camps, traumatised and living in fear. Children in Darfur draw pictures of bombs and guns. It is all they have ever known. Childhood is under attack in Darfur.

Visit the HP Alliance's website to read the full letter, see who else signed the letter, and more.

The author of the wildly popular Twilight series recently gave an interview to MTV News and spoke about the connection between her books and the Potter series. She also speaks about the fandoms for both:

“The interesting thing about the comparison is that I think you can compare my fans to her fans more easily [than me to her]. I do think that we both have people who are just really really enthusiastic, and will come miles to see you and be involved, and everybody really cares about our characters. But the [’Harry Potter’ and ‘Twilight’] stories are just so different.”

We here at MuggleNet are well aware that several of you are big Twilight fans (a few of you finally gave in after hearing about it on MuggleCast so much). It may interest you to know that I was on the set of the upcoming Twilight film two weeks ago and released my set report just last week for movie site DarkHorizons.com.

UPDATE: An English translation has been posted at the link at the bottom of the post. BIG thanks to Sept19, who's translation we're using. Thanks also goes to everyone else who translated: Dennis, Cristina, Kate, Mery, Penélope, Alli, Wilmer, Maria, Ljane, and Diego!

A news channel in Mexico recently awarded a lucky Potter fan the chance to visit Leavesden Studios last month. She did just that, and recently posted a small set report online.

One interesting tidbit: there is already a small portrait hanging for Dumbledore in his office. This seconds what was said in this report from London Taxi Tours, stating the Dumbledore death scenes have been shot.

The report was written in Spanish and accompanied by a picture of Matt Lewis, Katie Leung, and a couple contest winners in the Great Hall. A full translation can be found at the link below.

The infamous London Taxi Tours has updated with some news concerning filming for Half-Blood Prince:

We know they have filmed Dumbledore’s death and the Quidditch has also been filmed, which might explain why the cranes are now gone. We also know that the Malfoy’s house is under construction.

A few new pictures of a huge set outside of Leavesden Studios are also available on their website. Thanks to The Portkey for the tip!

Earlier this evening author J.K. Rowling attended the Galaxy British Book Awards in London where she received the Lifetime Achievement Award. According to the site, the award "recognizes an enduringly popular author whose books have made an outstanding contribution to contemporary literature."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown had nothing but praise for Rowling:

"She has joined a distinguished line of British authors whose work has got the whole country reading. Her books will be read for many years to come by successive generations."

Thanks to HPANA and everyone who e-mailed for the tip!

Back in December, Amazon purchased JK Rowling's Tales of Beedle the Bard for $3.98 million in a charity auction. The online retailer promised they would work on some plans, and today they've announced a new contest that will let you fly to London and read the tales yourself!

For more details on how to enter (you must be 13 or older), click here! Good luck to everyone who enters, and thanks to everyone who e-mailed with the tip!

Back in November we told you that Equus, a very mature play featuring Dan Radcliffe (Harry) and Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon), will be coming to Broadway.

We've now learned that the play will commence previews on September 5th, with opening night falling on September 25th. It will run for 22 weeks, ending on February 8th (just under two years from when Dan made his Equus debut).

Thanks to everyone who e-mailed with the tip!

Our friends at DanRadcliffe.com have kicked off a new fundraiser for the Demelza Children's Hospice Fund in celebration of Dan's 19th birthday. Each year, Dan asks his fans to donate to Demelza instead of sending him gifts. DR.com has a fun new way to do it for 2008:

Rather than just send in your wishes once you donate, we'd like you to get a little creative. Think of your favourite line from any film, or think of a line that most reminds you of Daniel. Send it in along with your name and country and be included in our Reel Love production right here for everyone to see!

To participate in their Reel Love 19th Birthday Project, click here!

HP Quest, the first online quest for Potter fans of its type, is well underway and going great! Fans from over 22 countries are participating and receiving prize boxes with clues in them. There are still two more weeks left to join in on the fun and win big Potter prizes, so visit the website for more information!

Last week we told you about a piece of work appearing in The Birthday Book to mark Prince Charles' 60th birthday.

Now, theBookseller.com is reporting that the piece of work will be an extract from Deathly Hallows. What's more, it will be illustrated by British cartoonist and illustrator Quentin Blake.

Thanks to Pruneau for the tip!

Potterish has a new interview with Tom Moorcroft, the actor who will be playing Regulus Black in Half-Blood Prince. In it, they talk about the scene Moorcroft filmed, his relationship with David Yates, and a possible role in Deathly Hallows:

Do you have any information about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, where your character has a big role during the books?
No information as of yet, I gather that right now they’re concentrating on the Half Blood Prince. It would make sense to use the same actor again to save confusion, but I personally have no idea. I would like to get called back though.

See the full interview right here. Thanks again to Potterish!

This week's episode of our Harry Potter podcast marks our 140th episode of MuggleCast. On this show, we knock out two more chapters from Deathly Hallows, play Make the Music Connection, discuss the latest news, and much more!

- We discuss JK Rowling's answers at the James Joyce Awards.
- Create Your Own MuggleCast Segment Contest returns!
- Andrew talks briefly about his visit to the Twilight set.
- Chapter by Chapter covers Chapters 24 and 25 of Deathly Hallows.
- We discuss Griphook's very intriguing view of Harry.
- Remus asks Harry to be Ted's godfather. We talk about the change of heart since their last meeting.
- John Hurt MUST come back for Deathly Hallows reprise his role as Ollivander, we decide.

All that and much much more can be found on this week's episode! To download, we recommend subscribing for free through either Apple iTunes or the ZUNE Marketplace. If you are already subscribed, just refresh your feed. You can also find full shownotes and alternate download links at the MuggleCast website. Enjoy!

UPDATE: Kneazle sent in a very detailed report of her visit, having seen us report about it here. Check it out on the "Read More..." link below!

Thanks to MuggleNet reader Rose for letting us know that the 16th Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibition is ending on April 12th, and may be of interest to Potter fans. On display from Order of the Phoenix are Tonks’ final battle outfit, Umbridge’s pink skirt/suit outfit, Lucius Malfoy’s outfit, a Death Eater outfit, and Voldemort’s cloak.

The display is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free to the public. Several costumes from other films are also on display, including Sweeney Todd, Beowulf, Enchanted, and Hairspray. Find more information at their website! Thanks again to Rose for the tip.

The third and final photo from Emma Watson's Warner Brothers photo shoot is now online. Check it out here! Thanks to everyone who e-mailed with the tip.

Earlier this year, JK Rowling was awarded by University College Dublin with the James Joyce award. On accepting the award, Jo spoke to hundreds of fans and a full transcript of this can be read below, thanks to LGDS.com. Here's an excerpt:

"Snape, on the other hand, I had to drop clues all the way through because as you know in the seventh book when you have the revelation scene where everything shifts and you realize why Snape was… what Snape’s motivation was. I had to plot that through the books because at the point where you see what was really going on, it would have been an absolute cheat on the reader at that point just to show a bunch of stuff you’ve never seen before, you know… “Oh by the way, in the background this was happening.” So I did know. It was a complicated plotting process but by the time Philosopher’s Stone was finished, I definitely knew all the big things about Snape and Dumbledore because in many ways they’re the two most important characters in the seventh book… Well, other than the trio, Harry, Ron and Hermione."

The second photo from a recent official Warner Bros. photoshoot with Emma Watson is now online at EmmaWatson.com. Check it out here in our gallery!

The London Times reports today that "writing by Anthony Horowitz, Philip Pullman and J. K. Rowling will appear in The Birthday Book, to be published by The Prince’s Foundation for Children & the Arts to mark the Prince of Wales’s 60th birthday." We'll let you know as soon as we have more information.

Thanks to those who emailed!

In case you didn't realize it by now, we decided to spend the day coming up with lots of fun news stories that could probably happen in the Wizarding World (Yes, including sex scandals, alcohol abuse, and steroid use). Thanks goes out to Emerson, Micah, and Matt for writing these stories.

Also, for all of you MuggleCast listeners, the announcement that we'd be putting Twilight, Lord of the Rings, and Narnia discussions into our show was a prank. We fooled lots of you, and we feel bad for those people who e-mailed us lengthly explanations for why it was a really good/bad idea. We'd NEVER bore you with those other books.

We hope you enjoyed all of the stories for this year's April Fools, not to mention Fred and George's birthday!

With Half-Blood Prince premiering this Fall and a two part Deathly Hallows film scheduled to be released by 2011, Warner Brothers has announced today that JK Rowling's upcoming Harry Potter Encyclopedia is in the works to become a possible three season animated series. Producer David Heyman noted, "We have one last opportunity to do Potter justice, and we are going to spend plenty of time on this one to make sure we leave this franchise satisfied. We chose animation to keep the Wizarding World just as limitless as in the books."

The WB publicity department was quick to note that this is not one last money making opportunity. Rather, the movie studio is very well aware that fans will not be ready to give up Potter once the second part of Deathly Hallows is released. "With that in mind," notes one publicist (name not given), "we want everyone to get a Potter filling for years to come."

While no details are official, insiders tell us the series will be a collage of scenes inspired by facts revealed in Rowling's Encyclopedia. Season 1 is slated to be released between late 2012 and early 2013.

After retiring from the world of Quidditch as one of most respected and celebrated players in the history of the sport, Ginny Weasley has written a book exposing the rampant use of wizarding growth hormone in the professional Quidditch world.

She gave us a sneak peak at the tell-all exposé:

"WGH is being used to strengthen beaters so they have a better aim at their targets and make sure they take a good fall. Widespread WGH use is responsible for the increasing rate and horrifying severity of injuries sustained on the field."

When asked if any well-known professional Quidditch players are implicated in the scandal, Weasley, the Daily Prophet's Senior Wizarding Sports Correspondent, remains conspiscuously silent, promising only to expect surprises.

The younger brother of world-renowned wizard Albus Dumbledore was arrested this morning outside the Hog’s Head for his involvement in an underground illegal goat trafficking ring. Madam Rosmerta noticed an alarming number of goats walking limply around Hogsmeade one afternoon and decided to alert the Ministry.

It was later discovered that the goats who failed to show Aberforth considerable attention were fated to enter an outside pen, which served a holding area until they were taken underground at night and had various charms performed on them. The Ministry seized what looked to be plans for an undeground goat fighting league. A rather irritated Aberforth said it was his way of showing them "tough love" and the animals spoke to him in a way humans never could.

On top of all of the news we've been bringing you today out of the wizarding world, it's time to highlight a big part of our fandom that looks to be crumbling apart quickly.

Several Wizard Rock bands have announced major changes to their bands. Here are a few of them:
- Harry and the Potters have announced they will be breaking up and releasing solo albums.
- The Remus Lupins have announced they will be changing to The Snapes. Additionally, Alex will no longer give hugs.
- The Whomping Willows, who is made up of solely one person (Matt), will be breaking up. No word yet on how one person splits up his own band, or a reunion.
- Draco and the Malfoys have announced that they are actually the Original Harry and the Potters.

If any more disturbing announcements occur, we'll let you know here.

Update: The Whomping Willows have announced that the earlier announcement was, in fact, an April Fools joke designed to draw attention to their real news: Warner Brothers has signed Matt on to an exclusive recording contract and will be setting him up as the "Official Band of Wizard Rock." His new name will be M-Bezzle and he is adding four other men to his line up.

Further Update: Matt has posted another blog informing his fans that as the pressures of the major recording contract proved too much to handle, The Whomping Willows are officially over. He will, however be continuing a solo project to be called "The Whomping Willows".

Apple, Inc. today introduced WiPhone, combining four products - a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a breakthrough Internet communications device, and a first-class spell encyclopedia. WiPhone introduces an entirely new user interface based on a large multi-touch display and wand recognition system allowing the user to control the device based on finger and wand movement.

"WiPhone is a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile Wizarding phone," says Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Wizards are all born with two ultimate pointing devices - their fingers and their wands - and iPhone uses them both to create the most revolutionary user interface since the Accio spell."

WiPhone, to be released June 29th, 2008, will cost 103 galleons, 8 sickles, and 12 knuts. It will be available at Apple's two recently opened Wizard stores located in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.

After years of tending to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, everyone’s favorite half-giant is making a name for himself on television. Are You Smarter Than Rubeus Hagrid? airs every Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.

Host Jeff Foxworthy said the show is a great success and is nearing the viewership of hit reality TV show American Idol. While the contestants tend to outwit Hagrid on the Q&A section, the hands-on portion of the show where they are asked to tame a Blast-Ended Skrewt, usually show that Rubeus ain’t as dumb as he looks.

Following the fall of Voldemort, Professor Sibyl Trelawney has given up the bottle. Known for her occasional sherry drinking episodes while teaching Divination at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Trelawney has now been dry for many years. "It hasn't been easy, but one must understand the pressure of possessing the inner eye. Around the time of the Dark Lord, so many thoughts were running rampant through my mind. It drove me to indulge in the special sauce a little too much."

Trelawney's sponsor, who requested to remain anonymous, says that she has been known to still have the occasional outburst. "From time to time, Sibyl will have a vision that disturbs her to the point of running to the alcohol closet in hopes of drinking [visions] away."

The picture above depicts Sibyl recently attempting to get her hands on a bottle of Grey Goose. Thankfully, Professor McGonagall was present to hold back Sibyl when she had a vision, so no damage was done.