Tuesday, July 8, 2014

'Harry Potter' returns in a Rowling short story

Although Daniel Radcliffe and his "Harry Potter" co-stars graduated from the franchise in 2011, studio Warner Bros. is planning additional films set in the Potter-verse. One spinoff <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/12/showbiz/movies/jk-rowling-new-movie-potter/index.html?iref=allsearch' target='_blank'>will be based on a fictional Hogwarts textbook,</a> and another "Harry Potter" spinoff <a href='http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/jk-rowlings-quidditch-through-the-ages-earmarked-as-next-harry-potter-spinoff-film-8849021.html' target='_blank'>potentially could examine Quidditch</a>. Radcliffe, who has been busy with movies like "Kill Your Darlings," <a href='http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/daniel-radcliffe-says-no-to-new-harry-potter-film-20130918' target='_blank'>doesn't plan to make an appearance</a>. But what's the rest of the cast up to these days?Although Daniel Radcliffe and his "Harry Potter" co-stars graduated from the franchise in 2011, studio Warner Bros. is planning additional films set in the Potter-verse. One spinoff will be based on a fictional Hogwarts textbook, and another "Harry Potter" spinoff potentially could examine Quidditch. Radcliffe, who has been busy with movies like "Kill Your Darlings," doesn't plan to make an appearance. But what's the rest of the cast up to these days?
Since portraying sharp witch Hermione in the "Harry Potter" series, Emma Watson has broken away from the supernatural with roles grounded in the (mostly) real world. After "My Week With Marilyn," "The Perks of Being A Wallflower" and "The Bling Ring," the 23-year-old actress also showed her sense of humor in Seth Rogen's outlandish summer comedy, "This Is the End."Since portraying sharp witch Hermione in the "Harry Potter" series, Emma Watson has broken away from the supernatural with roles grounded in the (mostly) real world. After "My Week With Marilyn," "The Perks of Being A Wallflower" and "The Bling Ring," the 23-year-old actress also showed her sense of humor in Seth Rogen's outlandish summer comedy, "This Is the End."
Rupert Grint kept it fairly low-key after he ended his 10-year run as one of Harry Potter's best friends, Ron Weasley. But this fall, the 25-year-old will take on a risky role with "CGBG" -- if you <a href='http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/09/25/rupert-grint-naked-cgbg/' target='_blank'>need proof that Grint's all grown-up, check out the trailer.</a>Rupert Grint kept it fairly low-key after he ended his 10-year run as one of Harry Potter's best friends, Ron Weasley. But this fall, the 25-year-old will take on a risky role with "CGBG" -- if you need proof that Grint's all grown-up, check out the trailer.
Bonnie Wright began playing Ginny Weasley at age 10, and since leaving the franchise has been on a steady diet of dramas. Wright will next appear in December's "The Philosophers," followed by "Before I Sleep" with Tom Sizemore. Bonnie Wright began playing Ginny Weasley at age 10, and since leaving the franchise has been on a steady diet of dramas. Wright will next appear in December's "The Philosophers," followed by "Before I Sleep" with Tom Sizemore.
Just enough time has passed for us to stop cringing at the sight of Tom Felton, who came to be known as the weakling bully Draco Malfoy. Even while working on the "Potter" franchise, Felton dabbled in other films, like "The Disappeared" and "Get Him to the Greek." Felton has been busy since "Potter" wrapped, and will appear next year in a World War II movie called "Ghosts of the Pacific."Just enough time has passed for us to stop cringing at the sight of Tom Felton, who came to be known as the weakling bully Draco Malfoy. Even while working on the "Potter" franchise, Felton dabbled in other films, like "The Disappeared" and "Get Him to the Greek." Felton has been busy since "Potter" wrapped, and will appear next year in a World War II movie called "Ghosts of the Pacific."
By the time the "Potter" movies wrapped, Matthew Lewis -- and his character, Neville Longbottom -- had morphed into <a href='http://www.buzzfeed.com/lyapalater/let-us-not-forget-that-neville-longbottom-aka-matthew-lewis' target='_blank'>quite the charming young man</a>. Now 24, Lewis initially migrated over to TV for a spell with 2012's "The Syndicate." By the time the "Potter" movies wrapped, Matthew Lewis -- and his character, Neville Longbottom -- had morphed into quite the charming young man. Now 24, Lewis initially migrated over to TV for a spell with 2012's "The Syndicate."
The brothers who played the elder Weasleys -- George and Fred -- <a href='http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2169421/Harry-Potter-stars-James-Oliver-Phelps-ditch-ginger-hair-dye-head-Hollywood.html' target='_blank'>don't have the trademark ginger hair anymore</a>, but they're still recognizable as the prankster pair. James (left) and Oliver Phelps are still happy to talk all things "Potter," even as they move on to other endeavors. James has been recently active on stage, and Oliver has been traveling in support of his website, <a href='http://www.jopworld.com/category/blog/' target='_blank'>JopWorld.com.</a>The brothers who played the elder Weasleys -- George and Fred -- don't have the trademark ginger hair anymore, but they're still recognizable as the prankster pair. James (left) and Oliver Phelps are still happy to talk all things "Potter," even as they move on to other endeavors. James has been recently active on stage, and Oliver has been traveling in support of his website, JopWorld.com.
Evanna Lynch's Luna Lovegood showed up halfway through the "Potter" saga, but her character was so wonderfully strange she's easily among the most memorable. And if there's anyone who's eager for the "Harry Potter" spinoff films, it's Lynch: "Maybe 'Fantastic Beasts' will turn into a long ting like HP did &amp; I can play Luna as an old lady?" <a href='https://twitter.com/Evy_Lynch/with_replies' target='_blank'>she tweeted</a>. "Even if I'm too old to play Luna, can I go through 10 hours prosthetics to play a crumple-horned-snorkack. Please??"Evanna Lynch's Luna Lovegood showed up halfway through the "Potter" saga, but her character was so wonderfully strange she's easily among the most memorable. And if there's anyone who's eager for the "Harry Potter" spinoff films, it's Lynch: "Maybe 'Fantastic Beasts' will turn into a long ting like HP did & I can play Luna as an old lady?" she tweeted. "Even if I'm too old to play Luna, can I go through 10 hours prosthetics to play a crumple-horned-snorkack. Please??"
Jamie Waylett's Vincent Crabbe appeared in the first half of the franchise, and life post-"Potter" hasn't been so easy for the actor. In May 2012, <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/20/world/europe/uk-harry-potter-actor-jailed/index.html' target='_blank'>he was sentenced to two years in jail</a> for his participation in the 2011 London riots. Jamie Waylett's Vincent Crabbe appeared in the first half of the franchise, and life post-"Potter" hasn't been so easy for the actor. In May 2012, he was sentenced to two years in jail for his participation in the 2011 London riots.
Devon Murray's Seamus Finnigan was an easy character to love, and fans have missed seeing Murray (and hearing his accent) on the big screen. The 24-year-old actor <a href='https://twitter.com/DevonMMurray/status/383279833520013313' target='_blank'>assured a supporter </a>from his unverified Twitter account in late September that he's "been offered a lead role in a new movie so could be seeing my mug soon :)"Devon Murray's Seamus Finnigan was an easy character to love, and fans have missed seeing Murray (and hearing his accent) on the big screen. The 24-year-old actor assured a supporter from his unverified Twitter account in late September that he's "been offered a lead role in a new movie so could be seeing my mug soon :)"
  • Rowling posted a "Potter" short story on her fan site
  • In it, Potter is attending the 2014 Quidditch World Cup
  • The author has continued to whet fans' appetites

(CNN) -- "Harry Potter" is back, albeit briefly.

J.K. Rowling has posted a short story on her "Pottermore" site which gives a glimpse into the life of a 30-something Potter.

The 1,500-word story is presented as an item in the Daily Prophet by gossip correspondent Rita Skeeter, who notes, "About to turn 34, there are a couple of threads of silver in the famous Auror's black hair, but he continues to wear the distinctive round glasses that some might say are better suited to a style-deficient twelve-year-old."

The setting is the 2014 Quidditch World Cup, which Harry is attending with friends including Ron and Hermione. Also in attendance is Ron's sister Ginny, who is now Mrs. Potter. Skeeter informs the reader that Ron is not aging all that gracefully, and the "famous ginger hair appears to be thinning slightly." Harry now sports a mysterious scar on his right cheekbone.

According to The Guardian, the story is part of a series of pieces written by Rowling about the 2014 Quidditch Cup for the site, which features all things "Potter"-related.

It's not the first time Rowling has whetted the appetite of "Potter" fans since the publication of the final novel in the series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," in 2007.

In 2013 it was announced that the author would be making her screenwriting debut with a movie centered around one of Harry Potter's textbooks, "Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them," and the adventures of its author, Newt Scamander. Rowling also stirred conversation among "Potter" devotees in February 2014 when she revealed she believed Hermione should have married Harry instead of Ron.

Source : http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_entertainment/~3/SiPq7A1J7N8/index.html