Leaky’s 2009 Year In Review: Part Three

Dec 31, 2009

Posted by: EdwardTLC

Leaky

Closing out Leaky’s 2009 Year in Review is the third part of our look back at the year in Harry Potter news. Parts One and Two are online below. Enjoy!
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September The long rumored Scottish Book project by J. K. Rowling was back in the news this month, thanks to an interview from Ian Rankin who spoke about what he believes on which Ms Rowing is currently working. An attorney for J.K. Rowling said that the Harry Potter encyclopedia would be completed “sometime in the future” but there is not yet an expected timetable for release. Reports emerged of “Deathly Hallows” filming of the Seven Potters scenes, along with Brendan Gleeson’s last days filming as Moody. Actor Jamie Campbell Bower then offered his thoughts on Grindelwald, while WB confirmed the “Half-Blood Prince” DVD release date as December 8th. Bluewater Productions announced J.K. Rowling would be the next Female Force comic book subject. September also saw a fan site event for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter park, during which more info was revealed about the many parts of the attraction. Updates for the Ultimate editions came soon after, as did a trailer. This was soon followed by the launch 1,000 balloons for a chance to visit the set of “Deathly Hallows.” September closed with the news that author J. K. Rowling now had her own Twitter account, created in order to discourage fake profiles from coming online.
October
Exciting Jo news gets us going once again in October, when the author says she is “working on something, but it’s not Harry Potter.” J.K. Rowling was then awarded the first Hans Christian Anderson Literature Prize, which she will receive next year in Odense, Denmark. With actor Ralph Fiennes back on set as Voldemort, “Deathly Hallows” filming continued with 43 principal cast members on one particular day. The next leg of the touring Harry Potter exhibit opened in Boston, and actor Matt Lewis assisted in the opening festivities. This month also gave us our first preview of the J.K. Rowling Female Force comic book, and video of the special Hogwarts cake crafted for the Half-Blood Prince film premiere. October also brought word that the first looks at “Deathly Hallows” would come via the “Half-Blood Prince” DVD.
November
As we inched closer to the opening of the Harry Potter theme park, we received new videos and images in November, showing the construction on the park. November also brought the first of many best-of-the-decade lists, as well as a revamp for the official HBP website. The Hogwarts Express then rolled into the Harry Potter theme park, and the Harry Potter iPhone Spells app was released. An update then came on the aforementioned MS Society Scotland news, with rumors that J.K. Rowling may return to the organization after a vote by the company’s board. A PBS documentary revealed a “secret life” of scientist Joe DeGeorge, the younger breather of wizard rock pioneers Harry and the Potters. Severus Snape was the subject of the first “Half-Blood Prince” deleted scene released by WB. Special features from the HBP DVD bounded online, including one featuring J.K. Rowling, as the Road to Hogwarts contest brought its release closer. The month of November topped off with a look at Xeno Lovegood, Epilogue filming talk, and Leaky’s launch of Jingle Spells 3, our annual holiday wizard rock compilation for charity.
December
The first photos from the “Deathly Hallows” film kicked off December, along with a set visit video, a sneak preview of the film, and more on possible aging techniques for Epilogue filming. Then, Grammy nominations brought a nod to “Half-Blood Prince” composer Nicolas Hooper. Later in the month, Dan Radcliffe participated in a BD Live community screening, answering many questions about both the sixth and seventh films via an online Blu-Ray viewing. Additional “best of” lists made the news, as the “Half-Blood Prince” DVDs set records in the UK and US. J.K. Rowling and her creations appeared on many end-of-year and end-of-decade lists, while previews of the LEGO Harry Potter game, the next location for the Harry Potter Exhibition, and a look at the economy of the Harry Potter franchise closed out the year. Finally, 2009 wrapped up with the revelation that no matter how bad your wizarding hood, Hermione Granger will fight for you.
See you in 2010!





The Leaky Cauldron is not associated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., or any of the individuals or companies associated with producing and publishing Harry Potter books and films.