PRISON

VISITS

OK everyone, we're getting close. First trailers for the Prisoner of Azkaban have been confirmed to be attached to Looney Toons  Back in Action opening November 15th. This will be our first look at any actual fim scenes. Also, the release of the trailer should mean that the teaser posters should be released soon so fan sites like mine can get rid of thier fakes ;)                             - Markhiem

Cast

The Original Cast is returning for the third installment of the Potter francise, with a few exceptions: Naturally, with the death of the beloved Richard Harris, The part of Dumbledore has had to be recast. Also, fan favorite, Sean Biggerstaff will be missing from this film as quidditch captain Oliver Wood. The part was apparently cut from the film for reasons unknown. Otherwise, we celebrate the return of the following:

Daniel Radcliffe             Harry Potter Rupert Grint                  Ron Weasley Emma Watson               Hermione Granger Robbie Coltrane            Rubius Hagrid Dame Maggie Smith       Professor McGonagall Alan Rickman                Professor Snape Warwick Davis               Professor Flitwick Miriam Margoyles          Professor Sprout Tom Felton                     Draco Malfoy Jamie Walett                   Vincent Crabbe Joshua Herdman             Gregory Goyle Mark Williams                 Mr Arthur Weasley Julie Walters                    Mrs Molly Weasley Chris Rankin                   Percy Weasley James Phelps                   Fred Weasley Oliver Phelps                   George Weasley Bonnie Wright                 Ginnie Weasley Matthew Lewis                Neville Longbottom Richard Griffiths             Uncle Vernon Dursley Fiona Shaw                      Aunt Petunia Dursley Harry Melling                  Dudley Dursley Devon Murray                 Seamus Finnigan Alfred Enoch                    Dean Thomas David Bradley                  Argus Filtch Robert Hardy                   Cornelius Fudge John Cleese                      Nearly Headless Nick

New Cast

Albus Dumbledore - Micheal Gambon

While much speculation has occured over who will play Dumbledore after the death of Richard Harris, by far, the Best rumor and most consistant seemed to be Micheal Gambon, who is not only an amazing actor, but bears a slight simularity to the late Richard Harris. Although WB  officially denied that he has the part, sources continued to insist that he was indeed Dumbledore. Well, WB has finally come around and admitted the rumors true to the joy of us all.

Professor Lupin - David Thewlis

The part of Professor Lupin, everyone's favorite moon fearing Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher, goes to David Thewlis. An accomplished actor who has appeared in Dinotopia, The Island of Dr. Moroeu and Dragonheart, he bears the raggamuffin appearence that Rowling listed for Lupin.

Sirius Black - Gary Oldman

WB casting selectedGary Oldman for the part of Black. Not one of my favorite actors, I can still see him in the part. He has the sunken haunted look that Rowling wrote for Sirius, plus a long history of playing creepy villianous types. (Dracula, Air Force One, Lost in Space, Hannibal, etc.) I mostly picture him doing the cave scene in GOF that makes me see him as right for the part. I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

Peter Pettigrew - Timothy Spall

Timothy Spall has landed the role of Pettygrew. I know nothing of this actor, and haven't been able to gather much research on him. While he has been in some 50 films, such as Vanilla Sky and Rock star, I happen to have never seen any of them, but with a track record like his, I believe I have nothing to worry about.

Professor Sibyll Trelawney - Emma Thomson

Finally, three quarters of the way through the filming, the long awaited anouncement of who with play the divination teacher has been anounced, and though complaints have risen abot who was cast for Lupin and Sirius, I doubt anyone could complain about the casting of this role. Emma is a superb actress, who is not above doing a bit of self mocking comedy. Anyone who has seen Junior would know that. She also has a bit of history with the rest of the Potter cast having done films with Alan Rickman, Sean Biggerstaff, Robbie Coltraine and Kenneth Branagh who she was also briefly married to. I'm sure she will fit in beautifully.

Smaller Roles

Tom - Jim Tavere

Madam Rosmerta - Julie Christie

The Fat Lady - Dawn French

Aunt Marge - Pam Ferris

Sir Cadogan - Paul Whitehouse

Cedric Diggery & Cho Chang

Well here we have an interesting situation. These were the two characters fans have been waiting to see cast, anxiously and excitedly. I predicted that relative unknowns would be cast, while rumors about twelve different girls being cast as Cho and a petition for Orlando Bloom as Cedric circulated the internet. Now the roughest blow of all, the rumor that quidditch may be cut from the film altogether (my opinions on that subject later). As both of these characters are introduced through playing quidditch against Harry, it looks as though we may have to wait until Goblet of Fire to see these characters in live action. Remember Penelope Clearwater? She had a fair part in the Chamber of Secrets book, but her part was reduced in the film to a shot of the back of her head and a nod from Sir Nicholas. This may be the case with Cedric and Cho. While cutting quiddich from Azkaban is unlikely, cutting these characters might possibly happen. Sean Biggerstaff,the actor who has portrayed Oliver Wood, who is so important to the entire quidditch plot has been cut, so who knows?

A few Press Release Photos

These photos and others like them have given rise to a great controversy amoung Potter fans. The question on everyone's mind is, where are the robes? According to the world JK Rowling established, wizards and witches all wear robes, and have no comprehention of "muggle clothes". Yet in each of these pictures, all the charcacters, save Professor McGonagle, are wearing muggle clothes. I had assumed that we were just seeing scenes that took place when the characters were wearing thier own clothes until someone on HPANA made the comment that a muggle hating family like the Malfoy's would never be caught dead in muggle clothes, so why is Draco dressed in jeans and a sweat shirt? Good question, no?

Try to have a little faith in the producers, as the pic to the left shows, robes will be used in the films, so let's not start getting headaches about it okay?

MORE TO COME!!!