4th is 5th...

Warner Bros. Pictures' " Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" has crossed the $600 million mark in international receipts and ranks fifth among all-time international releases.

It sits behind "Titanic," the all-time champ with US$1.2 billion in international grosses; "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (US$752 million); "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," the first Potter movie (US$657 million); and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," the second (US$616 million).

The third installment, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," ranks ninth internationally with US$545 million.

Since its release in November, "Goblet" has collected cumulative grosses of US$91 million in Japan, US$84 million in the UK, US$62 million in Germany, US$55 million in France, US$26 million in Australia, US$23 million in Spain and US$21 million in Mexico, according to Sue Kroll and Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, Warner Bros. Pictures International's president of marketing and president of distribution, respectively.

Adding its domestic grosses, "Goblet" ranks eighth on the worldwide list.

Production has begun on the fifth Potter movie, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," with David Yates at the helm, for release next year.

Rupert Grint (C) who plays Ron, Emma Watson (L) who plays Hermione, and Daniel Radcliffe (R) who plays Harry Potter in the forthcoming film 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' attend a photocall in London in this file photo taken October 25, 2005. The film has crossed the US$600 million (343 million pound) mark in international receipts and ranks fifth among all-time international releases. [Reuters]


source: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn

Gary Oldman plays serious as Sirius

Harry Potter producers have confirmed Gary Oldman (on photo, left) will reprise his role as Sirius Black in The Order Of The Phoenix - despite reports to the contrary.

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.

But producer David Heyman insists there is plenty of time for Oldman to sign up: "We're not shooting his part for quite a while, and as is always the case, you begin with the parts that are most pressing.

"We have every intention of having Gary Oldman play Sirius Black."

The 47-year-old is currently shooting Zodiac in Los Angeles with Se7en director David Fincher.

Blogmaster's Note:
Gary Oldman, according to interviews, was one of those who taught Daniel Radcliffe to play the bass guitar.

source: http://breakingnews.iol.ie/entertainment

Boy bands vs. Boy wizard

Son of Dork frontman and McFly collaborator James Bourne (on photo, right) has slammed Daniel Radcliffe after he claimed that they fake playing.

The Harry Potter actor caused upset recently after he claimed that McFly do not play their own instruments. The claim caused outrage in the band and its friends in Son of Dork.

"Daniel Radcliffe talks a lot of s***," the former Busted member told The Mirror. "He keeps talking about everyone else's talent but he should look at his own - he is atrocious."

And Bourne was not the only Son of Dork member to lash out at the teen wizard - bandmate Dave Williams had a few words to say about him: "He's a s*** actor and the s****est character in the whole movie."


Blogmaster's note:
* who's Son of Dork? (anyway...)
* Daniel Radcliffe's photo from DanRadcliffe.co.uk

source: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk

The boy wizard Harry Potter will spin his magic once again at the film box office next year

The fifth installment in the franchise Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix commenced filming a few days ago at England’s Leavesden Studios. It is being directed by British filmmaker David Yates.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reprise their roles as close-knit teen wizards Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The production also welcomes back production designer Stuart Craig, costume designer Jany Temime, creature effects supervisor Nick Dudman, special effects supervisor John Richardson and visual effects supervisor Tim Burke.

The fourth film Harry Potter And the Goblet Of Fire did well at the box office. For the first time viewers got to see the villain Lord Voldemort played by Ralph Fiennes.

In the fifth film Harry returns for his fifth year of study at Hogwarts and discovers that much of the wizarding community is in denial about the teenager’s recent encounter with the evil Lord Voldemort, preferring to turn a blind eye to the news that Voldemort has returned. Fearing that Hogwarts’ venerable Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, is lying about Voldemort’s return in order to undermine his power and take his job, the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, appoints a new defense against the Dark Arts teacher to keep watch over Dumbledore and the Hogwarts students. But Professor Dolores Umbridge’s Ministry-approved course of defensive magic leaves the young wizards woefully unprepared to defend themselves against the dark forces threatening them and the entire wizarding community. So at the prompting of his friends Hermione and Ron, Harry takes matters into his own hands. Meeting secretly with a small group of students who name themselves “Dumbledore’s Army,” Harry teaches them how to defend themselves against the Dark Arts, preparing the courageous young wizards for the battle that lies ahead.

source: http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines

The Phoenix starts filming on 6th February

The three teenage stars of the "Harry Potter" movies are gathering for the fifth film in the wizard saga, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." Filming begins February with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint reprising their roles as teenage wizards.

Britain's David Yates, who last year made the HBO movie "The Girl in the Cafe," will direct and "Vera Drake" star Imelda Staunton will play the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Delores Umbridge.

Other new cast members announced last week include 14-year-old newcomer Evanna Lynch as Hogwarts student Luna Lovegood; Natalia Tena, who played in "About a Boy," as Nymphadora Tonks, a young dark wizard-catcher; Helen McCrory, who appeared in "Count of Monte Cristo," as Bellatrix Lestrange, a dark wizard; and Michael Wildman, who appeared in "The Merchant of Venice," as Kingsley Shacklebolt, a dark wizard-catcher. "Phoenix" is expected to be released next year.

source: http://www.sunherald.com

Katie cancels University Plans for a Harry Potter kiss at OotP

HARRY Potter star Katie Leung is dumping her university plans to have her first big-screen kiss.

Fans will see Daniel Radcliffe, who plays the boy wizard, in a clinch with the Motherwell girl.

The 18-year-old has been signed up to return as Cho Chang for the next movie in the blockbuster series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Katie has had to shelve plans to study art at university because filming starts tomorrow. She said:

"I am now preparing myself for the next instalment and I am very much looking forward to it.

"Cho's character develops into a more interesting role.

"I have room to improve, so hopefully I can progress as an actress in this movie."

source: http://www.sundaymail.co.uk

BTBE's Daniel Radcliffe Fanlisting membership approved

On January 31st, Obliviate site approves www.djradcliffe.blogspot.com ("famously" known as Behind The Blue Eyes!)'s membership.

To check the Daniel Radcliffe Fanlisting, visit the link thru here. (BTBE is member 981!)

***
Obliviate, a Daniel Radcliffe Fanlisting presently has a total of 1110 members from 74 countries (119 members from the Philippines that came second and the USA with 437 members that came most-numbered on the list.)

Potter hopes to grab awards this year

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has tipped the film Capote to win big at this year's awards ceremonies.

He also singled out The Constant Gardener as the other film he has enjoyed most this year.

"It's between those two, for me," he said.

Daniel said he was looking forward to dusting down his suit for the many award ceremonies, including the Oscars in March.

He added, unsurprisingly, that he thought Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire should win everything it is nominated for.

source: http://www.itn.co.uk/news/entertainment_932491.html

Children lit stars to attend Queen's Tea Party

A national ballot for youngsters wanting to attend a star-studded children's party at Buckingham Palace to mark the Queen's 80th birthday is due to open.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe, who plays the magical teenage wizard in the hit films, will be among those at the event on Sunday June 25.

The Queen is hosting the tea party in the Palace gardens to celebrate Britain's favourite children's stories.

Much loved characters from both traditional and more modern books will be there such as Tracy Beaker, Paddington Bear, Mowgli, Winnie the Pooh and the Gruffalo.

All children living in the UK aged between four and 14 are invited to apply for tickets through a national ballot by logging on to the CBBC website.

Buckingham Palace is due to release further details of the party, which will feature a colourful entertainment show in the evening which will be broadcast live on the BBC.

A Palace spokeswoman said: "The Children's Party at the Palace will be a celebration of British children's literature, both traditional and modern, which we hope will encourage children to read and enjoy books.

"The day will also focus on the family and the key role that grandparents and parents, relatives and friends can play in shaping a child's love of books through the favourite stories that families pass down through generations. We hope this day will encourage children to explore new worlds through the characters and their stories."

Other events taking place this year to mark the Queen's milestone birthday include a National Service of Thanksgiving on June 15 at St Paul's Cathedral. On the same day, she will tuck into a special lunch - with the menu chosen by members of the public in a poll as part of a BBC television programme.

The Queen will celebrate her official birthday with the annual Trooping the Colour parade on June 17. She will spend her actual birthday on April 21 at Windsor Castle and the Prince of Wales will host a family dinner in her honour in the evening. Charles is said to be planning a televised address to be shown ahead of the occasion.

© Copyright Press Association Ltd 2006, All Rights Reserved.

source: http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=163662006