And more about the Hogwarts Express fire on Entertainment Weekly’s website. The article notes that “t’s not clear what started the fire, though investigators speculate that sparks from the train’s smokestack or its wheels on the track may have been to blame.”

This article in the Scotsman details how a fire sparked from the Hogwarts Express used in PoA destroyed ‘up to 50 acres of heather moorland and tress in a Highland hillside.” Filming has been delayed for a short while. Looks like no one was hurt. (Thanks Scott.)

Alright! We’ve got it! Check it out. Nothing new – same exact thing ComingSoon posted, but at least now we’ve got it in our hands. It looks like the PR hit the wires a second early. Click here for a Hi-Res of the first officially released PoA pic Click here for pictures of Michael Gambon …read more!

Happy birthday to Alan Rickman, who turns 57 today!

Thank you to everyone who sent us the link to this article from the BBC on how Alnwick Castle and Durham Cathedral will not be used as shooting locations for PoA. It also mentions, about halfway down, the rumour that “Chris [Columbus] is returning for the fourth instalment.”

Also in the earlier Newsround production/casting article, they list Fast Show star Paul Whitehouse as Sir Cadogan. He’s quite the character actor so it should be interesting as well as a good laugh. I wonder if they’re leaving out Prof. Trelawney – if so, then I wonder when the trio will MEET Cadogan.

The Whistler Question reports that the Harry Potter books are among the most challenged in Canada in recent years. The Richmond News has a similar story. Both the Whistler Public Library and Richmond’s Brighouse Library will mark Freedom to Read Week (Feb. 23 to March 1) displays of books which have been challenged and/or banned …read more!

Newsround reports on the supposed-to-be-released-soon cast list for PoA, including Michael Gambon as Dumbledore, Gary Oldman as Sirius Black, David Thewlis as Remus Lupin and Pam Ferris as Aunt Marge.

Comingsoon.net reiterates that PoA has started production, but does it with a great picture of Cuaron and Radcliffe outside the Knight Bus, and some words from Cuaron! Enjoy! (And thanks Jenny!) This article also reports Michael Gambon as Dumbledore, and though we’re told something is coming out of an official place sometime soon, there’s no …read more!

Thanks Michele, for pointing out that “basilisk” was was the winning word in a spelling bee in Yuma.