Latest news with #JKRowling
Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Harry Potter actors snapped on set as they start filming for new HBO series
The cast for the new HBO television series of Harry Potter have finally come together to start filming the TV adaption of the hugely popular book and movie series Hold on to your cloaks; the HBO series of Harry Potter is one step closer to being on our screens as the cast have been snapped on the set of the TV adaption of the hugely popular book and movie series. The cast for the upcoming show, set in the Wizarding World, have began filming on set to adapt JK Rowling's hugely popular novels to the small screen. Much of the cast has been revealed, as Dominic McLaughlin will star as the Boy Who Lived while joining him are Alastair Stout as the loyal sidekick Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton, set to portray the brilliantly brainy Hermione Granger. And now the cast have been photographed on the set, getting ready before the cameras start rolling. The show's star, Dominic, 11, was seen wearing a blue hooded jumper and a pair of round glasses – an accessory that has become synonymous with Harry Potter – as he filmed alongside the actors taking on the role as The Dursleys. Meanwhile, spoiled Dudley Dursley actor Amos Kitson was snapped wearing a shell suit jacket with cropped, wide sleeves which he matched with a pair of grey shell suit trousers with a blue stripe down the side. The actor posed for a photo taken on an iPad by a crew member, as Amos was seen giving the camera a grumpy expression as he appeared to get into character. Elsewhere on set, Uncle Vernon actor Daniel Rigby was seen having Vernon's signature moustache tended to by a makeup artist as he sported a pair of 1980s style bifocal glasses for the character. Meanwhile, actress Bel Powley was seen in costume as she takes on the role of Aunt Petunia in the new TV adaption. The actors were filming scenes at London Zoo for the series, in the very first on-set pictures of the highly anticipated, upcoming programme.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Harry Potter star cops driving ban
Star actress Emma Watson has had her license revoked after speeding in her university town, Oxford. The Harry Potter alum was caught driving at 61km/h in a 50km/h zone, and the BBC reported that Judge Arvind Sharma deducted three points from her license at the hearing on Wednesday. Watson had already lost nine points for other driving offences, and so when she lost the last three, she received an automatic six-month suspension of her license and was ordered to pay a fine of $2156. She did not attend the brief five minute hearing at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court. The actress, well known for her breakout role as Hermione Granger in the eight Harry Potter films, is now a student and has been studying a master's degree in creative writing at Oxford since 2023. She has also appeared in popular stand-a-lone films including The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Circle, Beauty and the Beast and The Bling Ring. Her most recent film credit was for her role as Meg in Greta Gerwig's 2019 adaption of Little Women, starring alongside Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Meryl Streep, Laura Dern and Timothee Chalamet. A new television adaption of the Harry Potter book series in currently in production with HBO. Arabella Stanton has been cast as Hermione, alongside Dominic McLaughlin as Harry and Alastair Stout as Ron. Watson distanced herself from the Harry Potter franchise after a public feud with JK Rowling over transgender rights in 2020. JK Rowling posted a controversial tweet in 2020, which began a long history of advocating against transgender rights Credit: TheWest Rowling posted a tweet in 2020 about an article titled 'Creating a more equal post-Covid-19 world for people who menstruate' which said ''people who menstruate.' I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?' If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. The tweet sparked backlash, and the author eventually published a 3600 word essay detailing her worries about 'new trans activism' and what she labelled 'the explosion in young women wishing to transition and also about the increasing numbers who seem to be detransitioning'. Following this, Watson spoke out in support of transgender people in a tweet where she said they 'deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are'. Since then, Watson has not taken part in Harry Potter related media, save for her appearance in the reunion special 'Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts', which notably did not feature JK Rowling. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Most photographed street 'wrecked' by vandals, say shopkeepers
Shopkeepers on Scotland's most photographed street say it has been "wrecked" after vandals covered stonework and shop fronts in owner said he was shocked at the "unprecedented scale" of the damage after at least 10 shops on Victoria Street in Edinburgh's Old Town had graffiti tags sprayed on their windows, stone walls and doors at the street's colourful buildings, cobblestone pavement, and curved layout make it a popular setting for tourists and influencers to Scotland said inquiries were ongoing into the incident at the street often cited as an inspiration for the fictional Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter series. Harry Potter author JK Rowling lived in Edinburgh when she was writing the popular street, which links George IV bridge and the Grassmarket, is claimed as the inspiration for the alley where wizards bought their magical McRae, who owns three shops in Victoria Street including Museum Context, which sells officially licensed Harry Potter products, said he was shocked at the "unprecedented scale" of the vandalism over the weekend. "I've been doing business in the Old Town for a number of years and I've never seen anything on this kind of scale before with one street being so badly targeted and damaged," he said."Victoria Street is one of the most picturesque and beautiful streets in the city if not Scotland and a great deal of time and effort is spent by the independent business owners to keep it in that condition."So to come in to work and see this trail of destruction - I was very shocked and it was very demoralising."Mr McRae added: "It seems to me there are no consequences or there is no sense that people will be held accountable for what they are doing."He said something needed to be done as visitors and locals "shouldn't have to see the city wrecked with such impunity". John Bowman, owner of the Cuttea Sark in Victoria Street, said he had never seen vandalism on this scale in the 28 years he had been running his business in the street."I was annoyed like everyone else would be when I saw the graffiti," the 76-year-old said."I've had to buy paint to cover it up as it won't clean off."It's not good for tourism. The authorities should do something about it but they won't." Tom Kerry, who works in both Walker Slater clothing shops in the street, said it was "absolutely mindless vandalism"."It's ugly and looks like someone is trying to mark their territory," he said."We're a nice shop, we've been here since 1989 and a family-run business, so I didn't expect to come into work and see this. "We're a nice street and like to keep things looking good." Part of the graffiti attack at the weekend saw the 900-year-old St Giles' Cathedral targeted as well as other monuments and stone buildings in the Old Town - which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Golden, development and outreach manager of the heritage watchdog Cockburn Association, told BBC Scotland it was a delicate and difficult task to remove graffiti from historic Golden said it can require specialist equipment and knowledge to remove it properly without damaging the building itself."It should also be removed quickly to try to avoid irreparable damage to these historic buildings," she said. Stephen Jenkinson, City of Edinburgh Council's environment convener, said: "First and foremost, defacing any building with graffiti is a criminal offence and I'd encourage anyone with any information on the culprits to contact the police."This type of mindless behaviour damages the local environment for everyone, whether they be residents or visitors, and wastes time and money on removing it."We've invested in a dedicated graffiti team who will be happy to offer advice to private owners on how best to deal with it and, if requested, to remove it (on a cost recovery basis)."Police Scotland confirmed it had received a report of the vandalism on Victoria Street and inquiries were ongoing.
Evening Standard
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
Bloomsbury profits on track amid strong Sarah J Maas sales
It also indicated it hopes for further positive sales from the launch of JK Rowling's Pocket Potter series next month, adding that it has a 'strong' list of further releases for the rest of the year.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Bloomsbury profits on track amid strong Sarah J Maas sales
Publisher Bloomsbury has said it is on track to meet market expectations as it hailed strong sales of the latest book by Sarah J Maas. The Harry Potter publisher said it is expected to reveal a rise in profits for the current financial year. The London-listed firm said it is on track to perform in line with market guidance, which has projected a pre-tax profit of £41.6 million for the year to February 2026. It comes after the company saw profits slip 22% to £32.5 million in the previous financial year. Industry analysts currently expect the business to reveal a fall in revenues to £335.9 million this year, compared with £361 million a year earlier. On Tuesday, Bloomsbury pointed to positive sales in its consumer division, highlighting strong sales of the paperback of House Of Flame And Shadow by Ms Maas in the UK and US, after its release in June. It also indicated it hopes for further positive sales from the launch of JK Rowling's Pocket Potter series next month, adding that it has a 'strong' list of further releases for the rest of the year. Bloomsbury said it is continuing with the integration of the recently acquired Rowman & Littlefield business into its non-consumer division. The company said it is making progress with its growth strategy launched last year. It said: 'We continue to execute our Bloomsbury 2030 vision focused on our growth, portfolio and people. 'The resilience of our business created through the portfolio of portfolios strategy underpins the confidence our Board has in the future.'
