VZSciFi DataFile: Harry Potter Film

File Commenced: 8 August 2000. LAST UPDATED: 13 November 2000

VZSciFi DataFile: Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone

The children's wizard hero comes to the big screen

Current Status: A boy wizard has been found. Warner Bros. have announced that (August 2000) that 13-year-old British actor Gabriel Thomson has been picked from thousands of young hopefuls to play the bespectacled wizard in the forthcoming Harry Potter film. Thomson was last seen on British television playing the young Pip in the BBC adaptation of Great Expectations shown in the UK during Christmas 1999. His most recent film role was the lead in the New Line production of The New Adventures of Pinocchio, which was released in 1999.
The selection of Radcliffe to star as the plucky young wizard's apprentice capped an extensive talent search among thousands of kids who sought the part in the film, based on the first of four best-selling children's books by J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. said.
In addition, newcomers Emma Watson, 10, and Rupert Grint, 11, whose acting experience to date consists only of parts in school plays, will join the cast as Harry's two best friends at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry -- Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. The announcement by Warner Bros., carried on its official web site (http://www.harrypotter.com), follows mounting speculation in the British press since the studio issued a casting call months ago.
The roles of Harry, Hermione and Ron are the only ones to be announced so far, though other names have surfaced during the past few weeks in the trade press. Britain's Alan Rickman and Irish actor Richard Harris reportedly have been in talks to play the roles of Professor Snape and headmaster Dumbledore, respectively.
Dame Maggie Smith has emerged in media reports in connection with Harry's art teacher, Professor McGonagall, and Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane as been linked to the role of Hagrid, the school's groundsman who befriends the young wizard.
Previously: The Mail on Sunday (30 July 2000) reported that 11-year old actor Sean Flynn, grandson of Errol Flynn was to read for the part of Harry Potter. Warner Bros. are seeking three actors to play Harry as the character ages through what the company hopes will be a movie series as successful as the books by J.K. Rowling.
Mother Rory said: "He's just like my father. It's uncanny to see how the camera loves him because he has charisma, like Dad."
Sean recently completed a film with Cheers star Kirstie Alley and has made hundreds of commercials. Although he lives in Los Angeles with his mother and father - the Israelie-American film producer Gideon Amir - he spends summer holidays in Britan. "Sean has a perfect English accent," Rory told the Mail, who lived for a decade in Oxfordshire.
Such news will add to concerns that, despite requests from the author, Harry Potter may not be played by a British actor.
On 13 July The Guardian reported that sources at Warner Brothers had moved to head off speculation that the forthcoming Harry Potter picture will have an American hero. The news site Annanova had originally reported problems over the casting of Harry Potter for the eagerly-anticipated Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone movie.
In a story followed up by the Guardian it was reported that British casting executive Susie Figgis has been scouring Britain for the right young actor to play JK Rowling's hero and is understood to have come up with 10 possibilities. Top of her list was thought to be Durham-born Jamie Bell, who makes his big-screen debut in the autumn, alongside Julie Walters in Dancer.
According to Annanova, director Christopher Columbus had been less than impressed with the choices of actor on offer and may be looking for an American to fill the role, despite his claims, again repeated in the Guardian in March this year, that: "It's essential to find a British boy to play Harry."
However, Annanova's sources appear to have been ill-informed. Inside.com has quoted an unnamed senior source at Warner Bros as promising that "This will be a British Harry. Not a single person in this film will be anything other than British. Chris is very protective of the integrity of the book."
JK Rowling, creator of Harry Potter, has specifically said that she wanted a British child to play the role, and this row echoes earlier problems in the film's production when Steven Spielberg, who was originally lined up to direct the film, allegedly walked away from the project after disputes over creative differences with Rowling, having been set on casting American child star Haley Joel Osment (of The Sixth Sense fame) in the title role.
The latest reports suggest that director Columbus is being careful to stay much more faithful to the original books.
Harry Potter fans have been scrambling for copies of the latest novel, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Early reports showed that more than three million copies have been sold in the US, and the book and its predecessors quickly dominated the UK book charts.
• Author J K Rowling has admitted she's nervous about the Harry Potter movie Hollywood is making. She admits she does not have much control over what happens with the movie, but is being regularly asked for her opinion. Additional information on this aspect: Guardian Unlimited
• J.K.Rowling has also apparently revealed a dislike for critical works such as the Science Fiction Foundation's Terry Pratchett: Guilty of Literature, accordfing to her agent Christopher Little as he forbade quotation from the sacred texts (at least their British editions) in the proposed Harry Potter and the Ivory Tower. Ansible reports that oincidentally, the Publisher's Lunch e-newsletter rumours that Rowling is thinking of changing agents, having discovered that an alleged 20 per cent commission plus deduction of all charges and overheads is not exactly standard.

Cast:Gabriel Thomson (Harry Potter); Emma Watson (Hermione Granger); Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley)
The Hollywood Reporter reported 19 June that Scottish actor-comedian Robbie Coltrane was in negotiations to play the large, friendly giant Hagrid. Hagrid is the games keeper at Harry Potter's magical school, Hogwarts, who was expelled from the school under mysterious circumstances.
Hollywood Reporter added that British actress Maggie Smith was also understood to be in discussions regarding a role in the film, though it is unclear whether Smith's schedule will work out because of other commitments.
Coltrane's recent film roles include appearances as the Russian black marketeer Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky in the James Bond feature, The World Is Not Enough a role he also played in GoldenEye.
Script: Steven Kloves (Wonder Boys screenplay, Flesh and Bone, Fabulous Baker Boys, Racing with the Moon. Favourite Harry Potter character: Hermione. Sometimes credited as: Steve Kloves.
Producers: Producer David Heyman
Director: Christopher Columbus
Other Prod Personnel:
Prod Company: Warner Bros.
Production Notes:
US Release Date:
UK Release Date:

Licensing
Electronic Arts: The The Computer Game
Electronic Arts sealed the deal with Warner Bros. to give them the exclusive interactive rights to the Harry Potter book series and film franchise at the end of August 2000. No financial details were released.
The Animation World Network reported that EA has the key Internet gaming rights which could bring Potter games to America Online, where EA is the exclusive programmer of their game section. EA worldwide studios president Don Mattrick will work with author J.K. Rowling, film director Christopher Columbus and executive producer David Heyman on the game titles.
"EA has accepted the challenge to create a series of interactive games that reflect the incredible imagination of J.K. Rowling's books," said Mattrick. "We are extremely excited to become part of the HARRY POTTER phenomenon by bringing our own brand of interactive magic to this fantastic series."

Merchandise: Harry Potter Book Link at Amazon.co.uk