LONDON - A veteran Academy Award nominee and a 14-year-old unknown will join the cast of J.K. Rowling's epic Harry Potter series as filming begins next week on the latest movie, producers said Thursday.
Millions of fans across the world are eagerly awaiting the adaptation of Rowling's fifth book — "Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix" — which sees the return of young actor Daniel Radcliffe in the title role.
Filming will begin Monday in Hertfordshire, a county in southern England. The movie is not slated for release until next year.
The plot centers on the arrival of Dolores Umbridge, an unpopular new professor at wizard academy Hogwarts. She will be played by actress Imelda Staunton, nominated for a 2005 Oscar for her performance in the bleak period drama "Vera Drake."
Potter also wrestles with his attraction to new character Luna Lovegood, a role taken by 14-year-old newcomer Evanna Lynch.
Lynch beat out 15,000 young rivals in an open casting for the part in Britain.
The last film in the series, an adaptation of the fourth book, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," was 2005's top earner at British cinemas.
It recorded box office figures of 47.6 million pounds (US$84.1 million or €69.4 million).
Luna: 14-year-old Evanna Lynch from Ireland, who attended the open casting call for the role three weeks ago, will start filming at Leavesden Studios later this month. This article from 2003 most likely describes the same Evanna Lynch; she's from Termonfeckin in Co. Louth.
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
Umbridge: She has been rumored to play the part for months now (saying it herself on GMTV), and WB has now officially confirmed that Imelda Staunton will play the nasty DADA teacher.
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
02-02-2006 06:06 PM
They are going to start filming soon, aren't they?
Get to reading. That is the darkest book of the series. It is a good read. 
Hell, even my mother-in-law has read the book. 
