"...All Good Things" An End For Harry Potter And Hogwarts

Source: Warner Bros

The long-awaited showdown between Harry and Voldemort "brings them back to the place where they each became who they were," author J.K. Rowling states. "It had to end at Hogwarts."

Their battle plays out through the school's once-hallowed halls. Director David Yates staged the sequence so it was not just two wizards in a wand duel, but two sworn enemies locked in mortal combat that can only end when one...or both...are dead.

The director elaborates, "We have them racing through the halls hurling spells at each other, but it also gets very physical. There's a point where they have each other by the throat and fall off a high balustrade, and they're twisting and turning, until you're not sure where one ends and the other begins. I was very keen to explore that because, thematically, that connection is what we'd been developing throughout the films."

Production Designer Stuart Craig and his team crafted the set to provide a multi-leveled arena. The production designer says, "Our principal objective was to introduce another element to the battlefield that would provide for more interesting blocking, so David (Yates) was involved in the design plan from the start. We created a series of staircases so that either Harry or Voldemort could be in the ascendancy and the other below, but it could switch very easily."

"I must have climbed more stairs for that scene than I have in my entire life," Radcliffe laughs. "But it was incredible."

Merging practical design and virtual design has always been integral to establishing the worlds of the Harry Potter movies, but that amalgamation was particularly vital in staging the battle at Hogwarts in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2." For the first time, the wide exterior shots of Hogwarts Castle were not captured with practical models, but were instead rendered though the use of CGI.

Yates says, "We constructed a good part of it, as always, but we also built a digital Hogwarts, which gave us the freedom to take the action in and around the school, anywhere we wanted."

But Harry and Voldemort are not the only ones fighting to the death. All around them the good and evil forces of the wizarding world—including creatures great and small—are engaged in a climactic all-out war, which bring brings back many familiar faces on both sides.

David Barron states, "We were fantastically lucky because virtually the entire cast wanted to be part of the finale. Some of them are only briefly seen, but it was important to them, and to us, that they be there. There are even a few characters who came to an untimely end in the previous films who make their presence felt in surprising ways, like Gary Oldman as Sirius Black and Michael Gambon as Dumbledore."

The returning cast also included Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid, Emma Thompson as Professor Sybil Trelawney, Jim Broadbent as Professor Horace Slughorn, Miriam Margolyes as Professor Pomona Sprout, Gemma Jones as Madam Pomfrey, David Bradley as Argus Filch, Jason Isaacs and Helen McCrory as Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, Natalia Tena as Nymphadora Tonks, and Dave Legeno as Fenrir Greyback.

The war against the Death Eaters takes a terrible toll on a number of favorite characters. Beloved wizards have fallen and Bellatrix Lestrange is poised to kill another—Ginny Weasley—when Molly Weasley steps into the fray.

Playing the Weasley family matriarch, Julie Walters offers, "Of course, Bellatrix is thinking, 'Come on, Granny,' but she has no idea what she's up against when she takes on the fierce, protective love of a mother."

The power of a mother's love has been an inherent theme throughout the Harry Potter stories, beginning with Lily Potter, whose supreme sacrifice for her son allowed him to be "the boy who lived." Rowling relates, "I lost my own mother six months into writing Harry Potter and then I became a mother shortly after. Motherhood, in every way, had a huge influence on my own life as I was writing the series, so it naturally seeped into the story in a relevant way."

Faced with a decision that could spell life or death for Harry, Narcissa Malfoy proves that the strength of a mother's love is not confined to any one side. "Narcissa may be a Lestrange by birth and a Malfoy by marriage, but it is the passionate loyalty to her son that defines her. Risking her own life, she protects Draco—first and foremost, she is a mother."

On the other hand, "Voldemort sees no necessity for love or friendship or compassion," Radcliffe observes. "He thinks of them as quite contemptible, a weakness, but that is his own weakness."


The casualties of the war extend beyond people to the stately Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which is left in utter ruin. Though the resulting devastation appears to be haphazard, Craig counters that it was all by design. "It wasn't just a question of knocking some walls down; the silhouette was as significant as a piece of sculpture. The Great Hall, for example, was the spine of Hogwarts, so in demolishing that, we knew it had to be an image that would leave a lasting impression."

"There is the sense that this is what war does; it decimates your places of safety and security," Rowling says. "Yes, they may only be physical places. But when it's home, that's everything."

The Great Hall had been one of the earliest and largest sets ever erected and it was a constant at Leavesden throughout the entire series. The sight of the production's longest-standing set reduced to rubble had a tremendous impact on the filmmakers, cast and crew.

Radcliffe recalls, "It was hard to watch something that had always been so vast and so solid suddenly be knocked down."

"It was quite shocking," Grint nods. "We grew up on those sets, so it was difficult for all of us to see."

"The idea of everything being taken down permanently felt a bit tragic," Watson says. "I guess I imagined they would always be there," she smiles.

Heyman, who had, years ago, witnessed the Hogwarts sets being built, offers, "To see the grandeur of Hogwarts destroyed was very emotional. In a very graphic way, it really brought home the fact that we were rapidly moving toward the end of the journey."

Emotions were high for eveone involved in the production as each day marked the "last time" for some aspect of filming until it was, in fact, a wrap.

At the end of their decade-long journey, the cast and filmmakers all share a sense of gratitude and pride as they bring the historic film series to a close.

David Barron recalls, "I thought I was prepared because we knew the day was coming for so long, but it was surprisingly moving for all of us. Everybody put so much of themselves into these movies, and on this one we all shared the added goal of making it a fitting finale to the series."

"Part of one's job is to say goodbye," Alan Rickman says. "There comes that time when it is right and proper to let it go; otherwise you can't move on. And so the best thing one can say is that it all ended the right way."

Rupert Grint offers, "The Harry Potter experience was an amazing time of my life, and something I'll never forget. I'm so proud to have been a part of it."

"How do I put into words what all of this has meant to me?" Emma Watson muses. "I don't consider it over because it will always be a part of who I am, and I feel so blessed to have shared in it."

Daniel Radcliffe reflects, "I know I'll never see a frame of these films that I don't connect immediately to a memory of a place or a time or a person. Even now I can't fully express how important it's been to me, but I can say it was a great time and it's something I will never be able to recreate."

David Yates agrees. "It's really hard to contextualize it, except to say it's been enormous fun—intense and very challenging at times, but never not fun. I wouldn't have missed it for the world and I'm proud and happy to have seen it through to the end."

"This was a wonderful collaboration," J.K. Rowling shares. "I was proud to work and form lasting friendships with some immensely talented people. So the overall experience of the films for me has been truly outstanding."

"I count myself extremely fortunate to have been part of Harry Potter, but none of us would have had this opportunity were it not for Jo Rowling and the world she so brilliantly created," David Heyman concludes. "One of the things I love about the books is that the stories are timeless...and hopefully we've achieved that with the movies."

See Also: New Photos For GREEN LANTERN And HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART 2 / The Deathly Hallows of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1" / Sneak Previews For Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows - Part 1, Jonah Hex, A Nightmare On Elm Street, The Losers & The Book Of Eli - Release Dates! / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince (2009)(Warner Bros) / Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix (2007)(Warner Bros)/ Hogwarts Yearbook - Actor Profile - Daniel Radcliffe / Hogwarts Yearbook - Actress Profile - Emma Watson / Hogwarts Yearbook - Actor Profile - Rupert Grint / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - Young Love Spawning New Problems At Hogwarts / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - Quidditch As You Have Never Seen It Before / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - Lord Voldemort's Chosen One / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - Looking Backward To Move Forward / The New Harry Potter Makes Its North American Premiere July 9th / The Night Harry Potter Made London Stand Still / Potter Star Radcliffe Shows A Different Side In Details Magazine Interview / Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Release Pushed Back Until The Summer Of 2009 /Sex And Drugs In The New Harry Potter Movie!?

The First Image From HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART 2

Source: Warner Bros

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART 2
In 3D and 2D in select theaters and IMAX on July 15

(Warner Bros. Pictures)

Director: David Yates
Writers: Steve Kloves
Based on the novel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Producers: David Heyman, David Barron, J.K. Rowling
Executive Producer: Lionel Wigram

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Jason Isaacs, Alan Rickman, David Thewlis, Julie Walters, Bonnie Wright

Fantasy Adventure. In Part 2 of the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the Wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.


www.harrypotter.com

See Also: The Deathly Hallows of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1" / Sneak Previews For Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows - Part 1, Jonah Hex, A Nightmare On Elm Street, The Losers & The Book Of Eli - Release Dates! / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince (2009)(Warner Bros) / Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix (2007)(Warner Bros) / Hogwarts Yearbook - Actor Profile - Daniel Radcliffe / Hogwarts Yearbook - Actress Profile - Emma Watson / Hogwarts Yearbook - Actor Profile - Rupert Grint / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - Young Love Spawning New Problems At Hogwarts / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - Quidditch As You Have Never Seen It Before / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - Lord Voldemort's Chosen One / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - Looking Backward To Move Forward / The New Harry Potter Makes Its North American Premiere July 9th / The Night Harry Potter Made London Stand Still / Potter Star Radcliffe Shows A Different Side In Details Magazine Interview / Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Release Pushed Back Until The Summer Of 2009 /Sex And Drugs In The New Harry Potter Movie!?

The Deathly Hallows of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1"

Source: Warner Bros

Narrowly escaping back to the forest, Harry and Hermione are soon reunited with Ron, who turns up just in time to save Harry from a cold, watery grave. "It's really Ron's big moment," Grint says. "He steps up and becomes the hero by believing what's in his heart and not what's in front of his eyes."

Turning their attention back to the hunt for the Horcruxes, there are new clues to piece together, specifically about the peculiar symbol that keeps cropping up--the circle within the triangle with a line through the center. It is Harry who remembers the first time they ever saw it: on a pendant worn by Xenophilius Lovegood.

The three have been focused on finding and destroying the Horcruxes, but suddenly a new mystery presents itself. They don't know if the symbol they've been seeing is somehow connected to their search, but it does appear to be significant, so Harry, Hermione and Ron set out for the Lovegood house.

Stuart Craig says that the home was patterned after Rowling's description in the book, noting, "Jo specified that the house is a black tower, so I wanted to be true to that. We gave it a deliberate taper and then made it lean, and the interior is as skewed as the exterior."

Dominating the main floor of the house is an old-fashioned printing press, with belts of paper running the length of the ceiling. Since it is also the home of Luna Lovegood, her artwork is proudly displayed on every wall. Evanna Lynch was also asked to lend her inspiration to the décor. McMillan says, "Evanna has a wonderful eye and came up with some great ideas. The end result is wonderfully eclectic, but homey."

When Harry asks Xenophilius about the symbol he wears, it turns out they had the answer with them all along. It is the sign of the Deathly Hallows from an old fable in The Tales of Beetle the Bard, the book left to Hermione by Dumbledore.

As she reads the story aloud, the symbol's meaning is revealed: the triangle is the Invisibility Cloak, to shield the wearer from Death; the circle represents the Resurrection Stone, to recall loved ones from Death; and the straight line denotes the Elder Wand, one more powerful than any other wand in existence. Two of the Deathly Hallows--the Invisibility Cloak and the Resurrection Stone--seem to have some basis in fact. So if the fable is true and the Elder Wand does exist, then Voldemort will stop at nothing to obtain it. And if he does, it might render the search for the Horcruxes meaningless.

Just as the significance of the story becomes clear, so does the danger they're in. Harry, Ron and Hermione must run for their lives, with the Snatchers, led by Scabior (Nick Moran), in close pursuit. The pulse-pounding foot chase was shot in the Swinley Forest in Berkshire, where both David Yates and Greg Powell admit they initially underestimated the athletic abilities of their young cast. The director explains, "I figured I'd have to do one take just to let them get a feel for the rough terrain before telling them they'd have to run faster. Then I called 'Action,' and, whoosh, they were gone!"

Powell echoes, "To be honest, I had told the stuntmen they would have to slow down because they would outpace the actors, but that went completely out the window on the first shot, because the three of them took off like gazelles and left my guys standing in the dust."

Filming the scene also generated some healthy competition between Daniel, Emma and Rupert, who regarded it as more of a race than a chase. "All those years of training with the stunt team finally paid off. There was no question in my mind that I could beat them...not that I'm competitive or anything," Radcliffe deadpans.

"It got quite intense," Grint adds, "especially since we were having to dodge between trees and jump over logs. It was a lot of fun though."

Watson confirms, "It was pretty funny, especially when David had to take us aside and say, 'I just want to remind you that this scene is not about which one of you can run the fastest.' But I definitely gave the boys a run for their money," she smiles.

In the instant the Snatchers are about to overtake them, Hermione flattens Harry with a Stinging Jinx to hide his identity behind extremely swollen features. Special make-up effects designer Nick Dudman and his team used a silicone material to distend Radcliffe's face. "It was tricky," Dudman says "because the only thing on Dan's face that's actually him is one eye. Every detail had to be perfect, down to his eyebrows and stubble, which had to be inserted into the make-up, one hair at a time. My people, Steve Murphy and Paula Eden, did a fantastic job. It took three hours to apply, but Dan was a trouper."

The one feature the Stinging Jinx cannot mask is Harry's lightning scar, which, while distorted, is still barely visible. Believing they may have caught the ultimate prize, the Snatchers deliver their quarry to Malfoy Manor.

The design for the outside of the house was inspired by Hardwick Hall, a Tudor-era mansion that Craig has long admired. He elaborates, "It has these enormous windows, which, especially at night, have a mysterious, slightly threatening, and magical quality to them--huge areas of glass with seemingly nothing but darkness behind them. So the exterior was terrific, and then we invented an interior to match."

At the manor, Bellatrix Lestrange and the Malfoys are waiting. Now the only thing standing between Harry and certain death is his Hogwarts nemesis, Draco, who is faced with a life-altering choice between identifying his former classmate and thereby restoring his family's standing with the Dark Lord, or restoring his own soul.

Radcliffe observes, "What's great about the story is the complexity of good versus evil. It isn't always a clear split between the characters. Even Harry is obviously connected to Voldemort, so there are people we have always seen as evil who have good in them and good people who are seriously flawed."

It turns out that Harry, Hermione and Ron are not the only ones imprisoned at Malfoy Manor. The Death Eaters are also holding Luna Lovegood, the goblin Griphook (Warwick Davis), and the wand maker, Ollivander. A possible rescue comes from an unlikely source...but only at a great sacrifice.

The last house seen in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1" stands in stark contrast to the grandeur of Malfoy Manor: a cottage that appears to be made entirely out of shells. Prefabricated in workshops at Leavesden, the house was then constructed on a beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Craig recalls, "We chose that beach because it had great sand dunes and also because David wanted white water and the sound of crashing waves. But those waves came at a price because the beach had incredibly high winds. The entire structure had to be heavily fortified and weighted down with giant water bottles that were several tons each just to keep the whole thing stabilized and stop it from blowing over."

David Heyman remarks, "Being out on location for this film provided a sense of scale and verisimilitude, especially since the story takes us away from the familiar setting of Hogwarts and puts us on the road with Harry, Ron and Hermione."

Composer Alexandre Desplat, who created his first Harry Potter score for "The Deathly Hallows - Part 1," agrees. "Our heroes are constantly in motion, so I wanted the music to follow the thread of their journey, and find just the right balance between the action, suspense and emotion."

"Alexandre's music expresses so many different colors and emotions," says Heyman. "His score has scale and intimacy, darkness and light."

"My goal was to give the film an original musical imprint," Desplat continues. "At the same time, I wanted to carry on the rich musical tradition of the composers who have scored the previous Harry Potter films in keeping with the series' great heritage."

David Barron reflects, "That is what makes these films so incredible to work on--that they have a rock solid foundation, which began with Jo's books. The most important thing to us was to make a film fitting the material she created."

"It all begins and ends with Jo; we wouldn't be here without her," Heyman states. "I feel privileged to have worked on Harry Potter for more than a decade. It has been inspiring, challenging and an awful lot of fun."

Yates says, "I'm particularly thrilled and proud that I'm the director who gets to bring the climax of her great story to the audience. That's what I'm looking forward to."

To be continued...

See Also: Sneak Previews For Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows - Part 1, Jonah Hex, A Nightmare On Elm Street, The Losers & The Book Of Eli - Release Dates! / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince (2009)(Warner Bros) / Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix (2007)(Warner Bros) / Hogwarts Yearbook - Actor Profile - Daniel Radcliffe / Hogwarts Yearbook - Actress Profile - Emma Watson / Hogwarts Yearbook - Actor Profile - Rupert Grint / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - Young Love Spawning New Problems At Hogwarts / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - Quidditch As You Have Never Seen It Before / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - Lord Voldemort's Chosen One / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - Looking Backward To Move Forward / The New Harry Potter Makes Its North American Premiere July 9th / The Night Harry Potter Made London Stand Still / Potter Star Radcliffe Shows A Different Side In Details Magazine Interview / Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Release Pushed Back Until The Summer Of 2009 /Sex And Drugs In The New Harry Potter Movie!?

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince (2009)(Warner Bros)

Source: Warner Bros

Emboldened by the return of Lord Voldemort, the Death Eaters are wreaking havoc in both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that new dangers may lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. He needs Harry to help him uncover a vital key to unlocking Voldemort's defenses, critical information known only to Hogwarts' former Potions Professor, Horace Slughorn. With that in mind, Dumbledore manipulates his old colleague into returning to his previous post with promises of more money, a bigger office...and the chance to teach the famous Harry Potter.

Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Harry's long friendship with Ginny Weasley is growing into something deeper, but standing in the way is Ginny's boyfriend, Dean Thomas, not to mention her big brother Ron. But Ron's got romantic entanglements of his own to worry about, with Lavender Brown lavishing her affections on him, leaving Hermione simmering with jealousy yet determined not to show her feelings. And then a box of love potion-laced chocolates ends up in the wrong hands and changes everything.

As romance blossoms, one student remains aloof with far more important matters on his mind. He is determined to make his mark, albeit a dark one. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" not only represents a new chapter in the lives of Harry and his friends and foes, it is one that blends humor and heartbreak, romance and redemption, and the past and the present as never before. And in the wake of Lord Voldemort's return, the choice between good and evil has never had more serious ramifications.

Heyman offers, "One of the central themes in the Harry Potter books is the choices we make are what ultimately define us. It's also something we have explored and will continue to explore in the films. Each of the books, as well as the respective films, chronicles a different year in Harry's life, and the sixth installment is no exception. In the last film, we were watching Harry at a difficult stage--tormented by dreams, questioning himself and beset by personal demons. Now he's a year older and that brings a different set of issues and responsibilities."

"For me, the films have always been about a loss of innocence," says Daniel Radcliffe, the actor behind the title character, who can perhaps no longer be called the boy wizard. "When Harry came into this world, it was all just amazing and brilliant and kind of pure. But as the films have gone on, that's totally disintegrated, and he's realizing that the wizarding world has just as many, if not more, challenges than the world he grew up in before."

However, there are some challenges shared by teenagers in both worlds, whether wizard or Muggle. Producer David Barron acknowledges that there is no magic spell to evade the perils of adolescence, noting, "Romantic entanglements are never easy, at whatever age we are, but in adolescence they can be particularly difficult. I think Jo (J.K. Rowling) captured that wonderfully in the book and our remarkable director, David Yates, and our talented cast have brought it beautifully to the screen with both heart and humor."

Heyman states, "Jo gave us the gift of these magnificent books and every one is a jewel. Her imagination never ceases to amaze me. Each Harry Potter book brings us new challenges and new opportunities, so coming into this movie, we were as excited as ever."

Director David Yates had entered the world of Harry Potter with "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," the fifth film in the series. "I had such a great experience on the last film and was thrilled to be asked back," he says. "I loved the sixth book. It is hugely entertaining, bringing more romance to Hogwarts than we've ever seen before combined with an intriguing uncovering of Voldemort's past that has huge implications for the rest of the series.

"Another year brings up another set of challenges for Harry, Ron and Hermione, and the older they get the more complex they become," Yates continues. "I really enjoyed exploring deeper aspects of the characters further with Dan, Rupert (Grint) and Emma (Watson). They are really keen to push and be pushed in their roles because we all want these characters to grow and develop both with the unfolding stories and the audience."

The cast has equal praise for their director. "David is a joy to work with," says Radcliffe. "I always looked forward to seeing him on the set because he has so much energy and enthusiasm, which is fantastic."

Rupert Grint, who plays the role of Harry's best friend, Ron Weasley, adds, "We all got on really well with David, so we were pleased he was coming back. Going through the script, he really listened to what we had to say about our characters, but he also offered a lot of help and guidance."

Having scripted the first four Harry Potter films, Steve Kloves returned to the franchise to write the screenplay for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." Heyman comments, "In this film, more than in the previous ones, there were a number of narrative threads to follow, so that was one of the great challenges. We were blessed to have another wonderful screenplay from Steve Kloves, who wove them all together brilliantly. And David Yates really made them gel. He is a formidable director. Apart from telling a good story, the humanity of the characters is so important to him and he continues to draw out new sides of our actors that even I had never seen before."

As "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" opens, Yates observes, "It is a very tense time in the wizarding world because Lord Voldemort has returned from hiding."

Empowered by the return of the Dark Lord, the Death Eaters are attacking openly and at will, and even the Muggle world is not impervious to their reign of terror. As ominous dark clouds swirl over London, people look up, sensing an unfamiliar danger. Suddenly, three Death Eaters swoop out of the clouds and fly through the city, leaving a path of destruction in their wake. Unseen by the naked eye, they spiral around London's Millennium Bridge, causing it to buckle and then collapse, sending pedestrians running for their lives.

Heyman relates, "The anarchy wrought by Voldemort's followers that has begun to undermine the wizarding world is now washing over into the Muggle world."

We catch up with Harry Potter in a train station coffee shop, with one eye on the Daily Prophet story about the bridge attack and the other on the pretty waitress who needs no coaxing to tell him what time her shift ends. But before Harry can follow through on his date, Professor Dumbledore appears on the station platform and literally whisks him away on a mysterious mission.

Barron notes, "Harry has no idea where they are going or what Dumbledore is expecting of him when they get there. But he knows that if Dumbledore has asked him to do something, it must be important, so Harry doesn't ask questions; he just goes with it."

Reprising the role of the venerable Professor Dumbledore, Michael Gambon remarks, "The relationship between Harry and Dumbledore in this film goes beyond headmaster and student. As Harry has grown from a schoolboy into an intelligent young man, their relationship has grown into more of a close friendship."

Heyman elaborates, "What we're seeing in this film is Dumbledore preparing Harry to carry the mantle. As we have seen in the past, he is again a father figure to Harry, but no longer is Harry the child he was when the stories began. He is a young man and so Dumbledore deals with him on somewhat more equal terms. But we still see Dumbledore guiding him and helping him prepare for the future--a future that inevitably involves a confrontation with Voldemort."

Arriving in the village of Budleigh Babberton, Dumbledore takes Harry to the home of a Muggle family, which appears to have been ransacked. Though the house seems uninhabited, it doesn't take long before Dumbledore uncovers an interloper hiding amidst the mess: Horace Slughorn. Once a popular Potions professor at Hogwarts, Horace had retired years earlier, taking with him memories of his best students, including one Tom Riddle, who showed a particular interest in the Dark Arts.

When Voldemort was believed dead, memories of the boy he once was seemed of little consequence. But now that Voldemort is proven to be very much alive, the history of Tom Riddle's transformation into the Dark Lord could hold the clues to his power. And Dumbledore is sure that Horace Slughorn remembers Tom Riddle all too well because Tom had been one of his star pupils.

Barron explains, "Slughorn is a social climber. He loves to know the best people and to name drop the celebrities of their world. He's immensely proud that many of them had passed through his classes when he was a professor at Hogwarts, and that he can still call on them. It appeals to his vanity."

Veteran actor Jim Broadbent, who stars as Horace Slughorn, describes his role as "a fascinating and rich character. He's passionate about his work and incredibly knowledgeable as a Potions master. He's top-notch, but he's also flawed. There is a dark secret in his past that weighs heavily on him. He has gone to great lengths never to reveal it...and that's where Harry Potter comes in. Harry is the bait for Slughorn to return to Hogwarts."

Basking in the reflected glory of his most prized students, Slughorn keeps all their photographs on a shelf where he can point to them with pride. And Dumbledore has no doubt that the famous Harry Potter--the Chosen One himself--would be what he calls "the crowning jewel" of that collection.

Nevertheless, Slughorn tries his best not to appear too overeager: "He insists on a bigger office and a large pay raise," Broadbent asserts.

Slughorn's demands for a better office were the marching orders for production designer Stuart Craig and his team. "That was the directive: to give him a very substantial office," says Craig. "We wanted it to be rich and dramatic and have a strong architectural form. It has a huge fireplace and a splendid terrace with a view of the mountains. What it needed most of all was a sense of theatricality, as befitting the character."

"The set was magnificent. I'm glad Horace held out for better digs," Broadbent smiles. "It was wonderful."

Costume designer Jany Temime also had fun creating the wardrobe for the character she describes as "a bit of a dandy. Professor Slughorn is a rather eccentric English gentleman, who loves good wine, good food, good company and, of course, good clothes. We dressed him in tweed suits with big patterns and little bowties and he also has a lovely velour suit that he wears for his Christmas party. He looks extremely grand. At the same time, he has not been working for some time and his clothes have seen better days, so while his clothes are beautiful, there are a few buttons hanging, and so forth."

Temime discloses that she also added something to help Broadbent be the measure of the man, so to speak. "We had to pad him because the character is much rounder than Jim is in reality. When we saw him for the first costume fitting, he came in as Jim Broadbent and left as Professor Slughorn. It was a pleasure to work with him."

Yates agrees. "Jim is a delight. He has a tremendous capacity for both comedy and pathos and I knew he would bring so much to the table. Slughorn is a very colorful character, and Jim wasn't afraid to take risks and try things that were heightened but still felt anchored in truth. Slughorn is also a real snob; he's only interested in talking to the most important person in the room and ignores everybody else. I thought Jim could have some fun with that and he did."

"We felt incredibly fortunate to have an actor of Jim's caliber join our Harry Potter family," adds Heyman. "From the very first film, we have been so honored by the depth of the acting talent in our casts, and he is one of the best. He was a warm and generous presence on the set."

David Yates, who directed the 2007 summer blockbuster "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," returned to direct "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." David Heyman, the producer of all of the Harry Potter films, produced the film, together with David Barron. Screenwriter Steve Kloves, who scripted the first four installments of the film franchise, adapted the screenplay based on the book by J.K. Rowling. Lionel Wigram served as executive producer, with John Trehy co-producing.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films production, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," the sixth installment of Warner Bros. Pictures' Harry Potter film franchise based on the beloved novels by J.K. Rowling. Once again heading the cast, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reprise their roles as young wizards Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, who are facing new challenges and dangers following Lord Voldemort's return.

Other returning Harry Potter cast members include: Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange; Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid; Warwick Davis as Professor Filius Flitwick; Michael Gambon as Professor Albus Dumbledore; Alan Rickman as Professor Severus Snape; Maggie Smith as Professor Minerva McGonagall; and Julie Walters as Molly Weasley.

A number of young stars also reprise their roles as Hogwarts students, including Tom Felton as Harry's longtime adversary, Draco Malfoy; Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood; and Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley, the youngest of the Weasley clan.

Two award-winning actors join the cast in their first Harry Potter film. Academy Award® winner Jim Broadbent ("Iris," "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe") plays Potions Professor Horace Slughorn. BAFTA Award winner Helen McCrory ("Streetlife," "The Queen") appears as Narcissa Malfoy, mother to Draco Malfoy and sister to the evil Bellatrix Lestrange. Additionally, several young newcomers are making their feature film debuts in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince": Jessie Cave plays the role of Lavender Brown, who only has eyes for Ron Weasley; Hero Fiennes Tiffin is seen in the role of Tom Riddle at age 11; and Frank Dillane plays the 16-year-old Riddle, who is already on the path to becoming the evil Lord Voldemort.

Collaborating with David Yates behind the camera, two-time Oscar®-nominated director of photography Bruno Delbonnel ("A Very Long Engagement," "Amelie") lensed his first Harry Potter film. The behind-the-scenes team also reunites such Harry Potter veterans as production designer Stuart Craig, editor Mark Day, composer Nicholas Hooper, visual effects supervisor Tim Burke, and costume designer Jany Temime.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is being distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince": An IMAX 3D Experience, digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® through proprietary IMAX DMR® technology--will be released by Warner Bros. Pictures in select theatres in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago on July 15th, concurrently with the nationwide 35mm release in traditional theatres. The film will open nationwide in IMAX on July 29th. Using IMAX's revolutionary live action 2D to 3D conversion technology, the movie's opening sequence has been transformed into IMAX 3D. The film will also be shown completely in IMAX 2D in select locations without IMAX® 3D capability. With crystal clear images, laser-aligned digital sound and maximized field of view, IMAX provides the world's most immersive movie experience.

http://www.harrypotter.com/

Sequel To: Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix (2007)(Warner Bros)

See Also: Hogwarts Yearbook - Actor Profile - Daniel Radcliffe / Hogwarts Yearbook - Actress Profile - Emma Watson / Hogwarts Yearbook - Actor Profile - Rupert Grint / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - Young Love Spawning New Problems At Hogwarts / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - Quidditch As You Have Never Seen It Before / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - Lord Voldemort's Chosen One / Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - Looking Backward To Move Forward / The New Harry Potter Makes Its North American Premiere July 9th / The Night Harry Potter Made London Stand Still / Potter Star Radcliffe Shows A Different Side In Details Magazine Interview / Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Release Pushed Back Until The Summer Of 2009 /Sex And Drugs In The New Harry Potter Movie!?

Hogwarts Yearbook - Actor Profile - Rupert Grint

Source: Warner Bros

RUPERT GRINT has starred as Ron Weasley, Harry Potter's classmate and loyal best friend in the Harry Potter films, beginning in 2001. He is currently at work on the feature film adaptation of the final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," which will be seen in two full-length parts: the first due out in November 2010 and the conclusion opening in summer 2011.

Grint most recently starred in the independent British film "Cherrybomb," which screened to critical acclaim at film festivals in the U.K. and Europe. He can next be seen in the upcoming comedy "Wild Target," in which he will appear alongside Emily Blunt and Bill Nighy. Directed by Jonathan Lynn, "Wild Target" is based on the 1993 French film "Cible Emouvante" and tells the story of a hitman who tries to retire but gets distracted by a beautiful thief.

Grint made his professional acting debut when he won the role of Ron Weasley in 2001's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." His performance in that film brought him a British Film Critics' Circle Award nomination for Best Newcomer and a Young Artist Award for Most Promising Newcomer. In addition, the U.K.'s leading film magazine, Empire, presented Grint and his Harry Potter co-stars, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, with the prestigious Outstanding Contribution Award in recognition of their performances in all of the Harry Potter films.

In 2002, following his work in the first Harry Potter film, Grint starred as a young madcap professor in Peter Hewitt's "Thunderpants," alongside Simon Callow, Stephen Fry and Paul Giamatti. He then returned to the role of Ron Weasley in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." In 2006, Grint appeared opposite Julie Walters and Laura Linney in Jeremy Brock's acclaimed independent feature "Driving Lessons." The following year, he starred as Ron in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."

Prior to winning the role of Ron Weasley, Grint performed in school and local theatre, including productions of "Annie," "Peter Pan" and "Rumpelstiltskin."