Tag Archives: Harry Potter

Variety reports: Robbie Coltrane, who played the lovable half-giant Rubeus Hagrid in the “Harry Potter” franchise, has died, his agency WME confirmed on Friday. He was 72. Coltrane featured in every “Harry Potter” movie, from “Sorcerer’s Stone” in 2001 to “Death Hallows -Part 2” in 2011, and was much beloved for bringing the character from J.K. Rowling’s book series to …

Deadline Hollywood reports: James Snyder, who has played the title character of Broadway’s recently retooled Harry Potter and the Cursed Child since the show returned from the pandemic shutdown, has been fired by producers following a complaint by co-star Diane Davis about Snyder’s conduct. The exact nature of the conduct has not been specified. But producers Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin …

The Washington Post reports: A priest in northern Poland who led a public burning of books that included titles from the “Harry Potter” series and other items parishioners wanted destroyed has apologized, saying the ritual was not intended to condemn specific authors, religions or social groups. The Rev. Rafal Jarosiewicz called the burning of objects thought to be connected to …

The Guardian reports: Catholic priests in Poland have burned books that they say promote sorcery, including JK Rowling’s Harry Potter novels, in a ceremony they photographed and posted on Facebook. Three priests in the northern city of Koszalin were pictured carrying the books in a large basket from inside a church to a stone area outside. The books were set …

The Guardian reports: Alan Rickman, one of the best-loved and most warmly admired British actors of the past 30 years, has died in London aged 69. His death was confirmed on Thursday by his family. Rickman had been suffering from cancer. A star whose arch features and languid diction were recognisable across the generations, Rickman found a fresh legion of …

Five million views overnight. Via Wired: Oh, you thought you were free of the wizarding world of Harry Potter? Ho ho! Not so fast, my friend. The long-marinating prequel, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, will arrive next fall. Accio, franchise! Fantastic Beasts (a title that we’ll shorten, rather than acronym as FBAWTFT, because the latter looks like an …

3.5M views in one day.

One week after they became a YouTube sensation with their moonwalking Michael Jackson, the Ohio State University marching band has again gone viral with a performance that includes Superman saving a toppling building, Harry Potter catching the golden snitch, and a striding T-rex. 7M views already.

Gothamist has lots of photos of the Quidditch World Cup, which is taking place this weekend on Randall’s Island. Tagline: “100 Teams, 2000 Athletes, One World Cup.” OK!

So sez this “seventh-generation witch” turned evangelical.

Whoa. The final episode of Harry Potter broke all kinds of box office records over the weekend. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2” conjured an unprecedented $168.6 million in the U.S. and Canada in just three days, whizzing past the $158.4-million record set by 2008’s “The Dark Knight,” according to an estimate by distributor Warner Bros. The …

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Saying that the toys violate the organization’s Christian beliefs, the Salvation Army is throwing all donated Harry Potter items in the garbage. Anything related to the Twilight movies goes in the trash too. “I asked if these toys went to another charitable organizations but was told no, that by passing these toys on to another agency for distribution would be …

Unlike many of Britain’s uber-wealthy, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling isn’t dodging her taxes by setting up a home in another country. I chose to remain a domiciled taxpayer for a couple of reasons. The main one was that I wanted my children to grow up where I grew up, to have proper roots in a culture as old and …

Think Progress reports that Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling was removed from consideration for receiving a Presidential Medal Of Freedom because Dubya administration officials believed her book “encouraged” the practice of witchcraft. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civil award, and is given to individuals who have contributed to: 1) the security or national interests of the …