New HBP Stills in EW

The most recent issue of Entertainment Weekly features a new image of Dan Radclffe as Harry Potter on it's cover. As such, the issue features quite a few new articles about and images from Half-Blood Prince. Of note, the magazine features a still of Snape and Narcissa making the unbreakable vow. All these new images can be viewed at hbpmoviepics.

UPDATE: More pictures are online tonight. Thanks to hbpmoviepics via Pipoca Combo, you can view these pictures here.

Half-Blood Prince Released Pushed to July 2009

Warner Brothers announced today that the release date for the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince film has been pushed back from November 21, 2008 to July 17, 2009.

Concerning the release date change, Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, said:

Our reasons for shifting 'Half-Blood Prince' to summer are twofold: we know the summer season is an ideal window for a family tent pole release, as proven by the success of our last Harry Potter film, which is the second-highest grossing film in the franchise, behind only the first installment. Additionally, like every other studio, we are still feeling the repercussions of the writers' strike, which impacted the readiness of scripts for other films--changing the competitive landscape for 2009 and offering new windows of opportunity that we wanted to take advantage of. We agreed the best strategy was to move 'Half-Blood Prince' to July, where it perfectly fills the gap for a major tent pole release for mid-summer.

Jeff Robinov, President of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, confirmed:

The release date change does not alter the production schedule for this or future Harry Potter films. Post-production on 'Half-Blood Prince' was completed on time, and the studio's release plans for the two-part 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' will not be affected by this change. We know Harry Potter fans are eagerly anticipating seeing the final chapters unfold onscreen. In fact, the good news for them is that the gap will now be shortened between 'Half-Blood Prince' and the first part of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

David Heyman, the producer of all the Harry Potter films, added:

When Jeff Robinov explained the rationale behind moving the release date of 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' to July 2009, it was immediately apparent that this offered us the potential to reach the widest possible audience. I am extremely proud of this latest film and of the work of David Yates and our incomparable cast; I believe we have developed and pushed the series further still. We are all looking forward to sharing it with Harry Potter fans around the world, even if we have to wait just a bit longer.

David Yates, the director:

It has been a joy to work on 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.' Dan, Rupert and Emma and all our returning young cast continue to blossom, and our new cast members bring fresh color and life to Hogwarts. Even as we put the finishing touches on this latest film, we are already beginning preparations on the final two films--we start filming in February--and I am excited to bring this remarkable series to the exciting and moving conclusion its loyal fans deserve.

HBP Game to be Designed With Wii In Mind; New Trailer

IGN has more news concerning the Half-Blood Prince video game today. The first big news is that the game is being developed with Wii controls in mind first, and then ported to other systems. The preview goes on to discuss the Wii controls, in more detail than we've seen previously. You can read the full article here.

In addition, the preview include a new trailer for the video game, which you can watch (scroll down).

IGN Previews HBP for Nintendo DS

IGN has another new review of the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince video game. This review focuses on the Nintendo DS version of the game.

Since Potions Class is a major part of the storyline for the game, players will have to attend class and learn to make various concoctions. Unlike the Wii version, players can use the potions they make, usually in the Wizarding Duel portions of the game. The potions class is a pretty straightforward design. There's a cauldron and some ingredients, and players follow the on screen instructions. Grab an ingredient with the stylus, pour the specified amount into the cauldron. Stir. Pour some more. Fan the flames. It's all stylus controlled and measures players on accuracy and speed. There seemed to be a large amount of available potions to make, from pretty mundane health potions to more interesting things like shrinking potions.

The full and lengthy review can be viewed here.

Watson Recognized for Fashion and Style

Emma Watson's official is reporting that Emma Watson has been featured in Harper's Bazaar magazine. Scans can be viewed here

The website also reports that the Hermione Granger actress was listed as one of Vogue's best dressed celebrities, at number 8, for the outfit she wore at to the Cartier International Polo Tournament in Windsor a few weeks back.

Lily Potter Actress to Finish Series

Geraldine Somerville, in an interview with Manchester Evening News, confirmed that she will reprise her role as Lily Potter in the final Potter films: “I’ll just come in and do my little, ‘I am Lily Potter,’ and go quietly.”

When asked if she ever gets recognized by fans, she replied, "Occasionally a bit, I suppose. I’m not surprised when it happens – I am in it!”

New HP Candy

MTV has a new article online that discusses some of the new and upcoming food products we can expect in the coming months. Among the listed candies, MTV tried Acid Pops, Crystallized Pineapple, Cockroach Clusters, Cinnamon Pixies, Every Flavor Chocolates, Sugar Quills, Peppermint toads, Dementor Kisses, Unicorn Droppings, Coconut Ice, Floo Poder, and Chocolate wands.

Several of these new candies have been released and can be purchased through Whimsic Alley.

Happy Birthday, Ginny Weasley

J.K. Rowling's official website has been updated to wish Ginny Weasley a happy birthday.

Trailer Reaction and Terminus

The staff has been spread out since the release of the Half-Blood Prince teaser trailer reaction, and, as such, we have been unable to record our collective reactions. I'll be in Chicago for Terminus this week; I'll be at the airport at 5 in the morning tomorrow. Once in Chicago I'll attempt to record an mini-OwlCast, along with video interviews with conference attendees.

Until then, you guys can watch my youtube reaction to the trailer below:

New HBP Set Report from ACED Magazine

DR.com's ACED Magazine has a published a new set report from the set of Half-Blood Prince, which includes a new picture of Daniel Radcliffe on set.

Whether touring around the Great Hall, flopping on the chair in Dumbledore's office, or tinkering about in the Weasleys' kitchen -- there is always something to feast your eyes and fingers upon. If that's not enough, there are giant spiders and creepy-crawly hairy things awaiting you in the creature shack out back. Lets just say, they look real enough to freak any unsuspecting passer by to death past twilight.

After viewing some of the photography mounted on the press walls, I can definitely say Daniel Radcliffe (Harry) walks through fire in this upcoming installment of Harry lore. And after chatting with him, one definitely gets the notion that this release will make its predecessor look like a whisper in the wind by comparison.

New HBP Promos on Merchandise Covers

A couple new promo shots of some of the actors from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince have appeared on calendar, poster book, and sticker book covers. You can view these new images here, here, andhere.

Beedle of the Bard to Include Intro by Dumbledore

Scholastic, the US Harry Potter publishers, has updated their website with information concerning the content that will be included in the Tales of the Beedle of the Bard, mainly an introduction by Dumbledore:

Professor Dumbledore’s commentary—apparently written some eighteen months before his death—reveals not just his vast knowledge of Wizarding lore, but also more of his personal qualities: his sense of humor, his courage, his pride in his abilities, and his hard-won wisdom. Names familiar from the Harry Potter novels sprinkle the pages, including Aberforth Dumbledore, Lucius Malfoy and his forebears, and Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington (or “Nearly Headless Nick”), as well as other professors at Hogwarts and the past owners of the Elder Wand. Dumbledore tells us of incidents unique to the Wizarding world, like hilariously troubled theatrical productions at Hogwarts or the dangers of having a “hairy heart.” But he also reveals aspects of the Wizarding world that his Muggle readers might find all too familiar, like censorship, intolerance, and questions about the deepest mysteries in life.

Also, you can view the US cover art, illustrated by Mary Grandpre, here, and the UK cover art here.

All proceeds from the book will go to the Children's High Level Group (Jo's Charity). You can pre-order your copy of the standard ($7.59) or collector's ($100) edition of the book at Amazon.