Ellen DeGeneres Show Makes Call for Knowledgeable Harry Potter Fans

As a follow up to our post about the Ellen DeGeneres Show taping from Universal Studios Orlando and broadcasting a 'sneak peek' at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, the talk show's  website has put out a call for those knowledgeable in everything Harry Potter.  In the "Be Part of the Show' section, the following call has been issued:

Happy Birthday, Remus Lupin

As it is now past midnight in the U.K., the calendar on J.K. Rowling's official website has been updated to mark Remus Lupin's birthday. Many happy returns, Moony!

Helping Haiti Heal Gift Draw Tonight at 7:30pm EST

Tonight, at 7:30pm EST, the recipients of the hundreds of thank you gifts for donating to Helping Haiti Heal will be drawn on the SayAHA LiveStream channel.  The gift recipiants will be chosen randomly for each of the over one hundred different gifts donated as part of Helping Haiti Heal.  Those gifts include the signed UK set of seven signed Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling,...

Actors in the News Weekly Roundup

Actors from the Harry Potter films have this week been getting involved in theatre, fashion, film and Academy Awards. Theatermania reports that Alan Rickman (Severus Snape) will take part in a pre-performance Artist Talk at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Harvey Theatre. The talk will take place at 6pm on the 27th of April before a performance of the Donmar Warehouse production of August Strindberg's...

PotterCast 216: Do House Elves Lay Eggs?

 
PotterCast, our Harry Potter podcast, is here today to bring you its 216th episode of Harry Potter news, discussion, and fun.  First, the PotterCasters sort through the latest news, which include stories about Jo Rowling becoming a special edition Barbie doll, "Deathly Hallows" filming news from Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), confirmation of "Deathly Hallows" in 3D, Tom Felton's next...

Happy Birthday Doris!

Today's a special day in Leaky land as we get to celebrate the birthday of Doris Herrmann, our project manager, she who makes the wheels go round around here. We hope you'll all join us in wishing her an excellent day!

Bill Nighy Talks "Deathly Hallows" to ITN

Bill Nighy has appeared in a video on ITN's YouTube channel in which he discusses his role in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." The actor, who portrays Rufus Scrimgeour, spoke to the network briefly about the film, commenting that he was "pleased to be in it, and pleased to be working with Dan, Rupert and Emma, and with David Yates, the director, who I've worked with a great deal." Nighy...

New Books for Harry Potter Book Club and Jo's Book Nook

Both of our book clubs on the Leaky Lounge have chosen new books to read for the month of March. The Harry Potter Book Club is reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and you can find the forum at this link, where you will find all sorts of polls, prompts and more to discuss as you read the third book in the series. Secondly, our non-Harry Potter book club, Jo's Book Nook, has selected...

March 2010 Craft Along Now Open

Yesterday, the Crafty Witches launched a brand new environmentally-conscious Craft-Along, in time for the upcoming Earth Day on the 22nd of April. The challenge for this month is to turn your favourite Harry Potter book into a small reusable bag, enabling you to better help the planet by turning down the plastic carrier bags offered in shops.

MyLeaky points will be awarded to everyone who participates...

Scholastic Announce "All-New Harry Potter Online Experience"

Scholastic have updated their blog to announce that they are "preparing an all new Harry Potter experience." Although no specific details are revealed, the blog post states that the experience "will give new readers the perfect home to start their Hogwarts journey." The Harry Potter section of the Scholastic website also hints to the arrival of the new online experience, reading "Come back in two...

Winners of the February Illustrated Scene Contest Announced

In February, our Contest Team brought you their Illustrated Scene Contest, which invited you to illustrate a scene from the Harry Potter series which you find especially moving. The judges looked for the ability to share with others, through artwork, the mood your chosen scene evokes for you. After receiving many brilliant entries, the winners have been picked and are as follows:

First Place: Dumbledork87...

Hogwarts Express Arrives at Wizarding World Theme Park

Universal Orlando has released the first official high res image of the Hogwarts Express at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park.  The high res image can be seen right here in our Image Galleries.  Universal notes:

Sneak Peek of Wizarding World of Harry Potter Due This June on NBC

A sneak peek at the upcoming Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park will air this summer on NBC, according to the Hollywood Reporter.  Slated to air on the American TV network Sunday, June 6, "The Making of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter" program will "viewers a sneak peak [sic] of the Universal Orlando Resort's new theme park attraction."  While we have yet to receive word...

Harry Lands in Haiti; 16,000 Pounds of Relief Supplies Delivered to Haitian People

As readers will recall, the Helping Haiti Heal drive raised a grand total of $123,754.41 for Partners in Health, which made it possible for three cargo planes-- Harry, Ron, and Hermione-- filled with tons of relief supplies to be flown to Haiti.  Recently, Harry made his trip to Haiti, delivering 16,000 pounds of life-saving of medical supplies to the country.  The plane landed...

Harry Potter Actors Take Part in National Doodle Day for Charity

A number of actors from the Harry Potter films have joined hundreds of celebrities taking part in National Doodle Day. Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), Miriam Margolyes (Professor Sprout), Richard Griffiths (Uncle Dursley), Roger Lloyd Pack (Barty Crouch Sr.), Katie Leung (Cho Chang) and Oliver Phelps (George Weasley) are among the actors to auction off their doodles...