Warner Bros. has announced that filming of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will begin Feb 6, along with a ton of new casting: The company has confirmed that the strong-rumored Imelda Staunton will play Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, according to a press release; meanwhile Luna …read more!

Actor Matthew Lewis is due to attend a special opening of a library in Horsforth, England on Friday, February 3 at 6pm. According to Leeds Today, Matthew will be reading his favorite excerpts from the Harry Potter novels, and participate in a question and answer session as well. Matthew will be returning to his role …read more!

Emma Thompson has launched a virtual Chestnut Tree, an internet tool created by the Anne Frank Foundation to “foster exchanges between schoolchildren and fight racism.” The Chestnut Tree symbol is being used in honor of the chestnut tree that Anne Frank could see growing outside the Amsterdam house in which she was hidden for over …read more!

Newsround reports that another role has been cast for the upcoming Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix film. The article says that the ” role of Magorian, a centaur in the Forbidden Forest will be played by Michael Wildman, his agency revealed. ” It is unclear at this point if this role for …read more!

The BBC reports today that author J.K. Rowling is among the guests invited to a special celebration at Buckingham Palace in honor of the Queen’s 80th birthday to be held on June 25. This party in London, England will “feature a host of characters from Britain’s favourite children’s books” including such beloved creations like Paddington …read more!

The Hindu reports that the Harry Potter books are now available in Hindi. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released by publisher Manjul Books at the New Delhi World Book Fair yesterday, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is expected to be released by this June. Translator Sudhir Dixit worked diligently …read more!

WELCOME to the new and very much improved Leaky Cauldron! We have been absolutely dying to get this version released and out to you (yes, this is the project code named Fiddy Five). We don’t even know where to start telling you what’s new about it – but we think there are several things you’re …read more!

Yikes! There is a rather ominous new Wizard of the Month for February at JKRowling.com

Ralph Fiennes won the Best Actor award at yesterday’s Evening Standard Film British Awards, for his performance as Justin Quayle in The Constant Gardner. This is the first time he has won this award (he was nominated in 1995, for Schindler’s List). The Constant Gardener was also honored as Best Film. In this new interview, …read more!

Previously ,we told you that actor Alan Rickman (Severus Snape) had been nominated for two awards at the What’sOnStage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Awards. The winners are being announced today in London, and Alan Rickman has won for “Best Director” and “Best New Play” for the production of My Name is Rachel Corrie. Congratulations Alan!