Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Sells 1.1 Million Copies

Wowza! I mean I know this had nothing to do with Harry Potter or books, but I like Lady Gaga. I'm not a "little monster" or anything, but I think she's a great artist and has mind-blowing music. Her newest album Born This Way sold 1.1 million copies in its first week! Congrats!

Jamie Campbell Bower Cast As Jace In 'City of Bones'

It's official! Jamie Campbell Bower (Caius in Twilight Saga: New Moon, Grindelwald in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I) has been cast as the lead role, Jace Wayland, in the film adaption of City of Bones!!! Almost everyone thought that Alex Pettyfer (I Am Number Four, Beastly, Wild Child) would be playing Jace, but Screen Gems pulled a fastball and announced today that Bower, who is engaged to Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), will be playing the heartthrob.

New 'Deathly Hallows' Poster Featuring Snape

Warner Bros. has released the seventh poster from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II featuring Severus Snape.

You can view that here.

Donald Sutherland Cast As President Snow In 'The Hunger Games'

I was scrolling through Facebook, and I saw a post from the official page for The Hunger Games. Usually they post casting announcements, so I looked and, sure enough, Donald Sutherland was cast as President Snow in the film. PERFECTION, I love Donald Sutherland, and I love their choice for him as President Snow. I was extremely excited for this casting and now I can breathe. I think that we're pretty much clear on casting, there are some roles that may or may not even be in the film (i.e. Madge, Plutarch Heavensbee), but let's hope we get everyone we can!

This is Donald Sutherland:

New 'Deathly Hallows' Poster Featuring Draco

WB has released the 6th promotional poster from Deathly Hallows: Part II which features Draco Malfoy.

You can view that poster here.

Chapter Recaps | Sorcerer's Stone Chapters 1-5

Riley reviews the first five chapters of the first Harry Potter book.

http://ia600603.us.archive.org/33/items/PotterPeoplePodcast-ChapterRecapsSorcerersStone1-5/ChapterRecaps1-5.wav

Kimiko Gelman Cast as Venia, Nelson Ascencio as Flavius, In 'The Hunger Games'

Nelson Ascencio has been cast as Flavius, and Kimiko Gelman as Venia in the film adaption of The Hunger Games. The two are members of Katniss's prep-team.

New 'Deathly Hallows' Poster Featuring Voldemort

Warner Bros. released the fifth promotional poster this week from Deathly Hallows: Part II.

To view that, click here.

New 'Deathly Hallows' Poster Featuring Neville

Warner Bros. released the fourth promotional poster for Deathly Hallows: Part II featuring Neville Longbottom wielding the Sword of Godric Gryffindor.

To view it, click here

The link redirects you to MuggleNet.

'Clockwork Prince' Cover Revealed

Yesterday, the cover for Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare, the sequel to the New York Times-bestselling novel, Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, has been revealed. It depicts Jem holding a dragon-headed staff.

Amber Chaney Cast As Lavinia "Avox Girl" In 'The Hunger Games'

Earlier today, Lionsgate confirmed via Twitter that Amber Chaney will be playing the Avox Girl, Lavinia, in The Hunger Games.

Rupert Grint Interview For 'Empire Magazine'

Rupert Grint, the actor who plays our beloved Ron Weasley, performed an interview with Empire on the final HP film.

On filming the final battle, Rupert said:

"The way we filmed it was confusing, because we filmed both parts simultaneously. So some days we'd be doing a Part One scene, then a huge battle. It was quite hard to keep track of what was going on in Part Two, so I'll be quite interested to see how it's all been put together. But the battle sequences are great, I think. It was just so big and epic; there was one scene in the courtyard where it's one big, continuous shot and they have five cameras picking up everything, and there's giants and fire and big craters..."


To view the full interview with Rupert, click here

New 'Deathly Hallows' Poster Featuring Ron

Warner Bros. has released yet another promotional poster from the final Potter film. The photo portrays Ron Weasley. You can view that here.

New 'Deathly Hallows' Poster Featuring Hermione

Warner Bros. has released yet another promotional poster for the eighth and final Harry Potter film, showing Hermione Granger looking into the distance. In the background, we can see Dean, Seamus, and Cho. Cho and Dean have really stolen the show in all of these photos! Dean/Cho ship anyone...? No, no, no, Cho marries a Muggle.

Click here to see the new photo

Lenny Kravitz Cast as Cinna, Toby Jones as Claudius Templesmith(!!!)

Lenny Kravitz has been cast as Cinna in The Hunger Games! Okay, I'm trying to make this positive. I was talking to a few teachers at my school that run the book-club I am in, and they all like Lenny as Cinna, but to be honest, I'm gonna need some adjusting. I'm sure he'll do great, but I always pictured Cinna as tall, skinny, tan, with sleek brown hair.
ALSO: Toby Jones, who voices Dobby in Harry Potter (Chamber and Hallows: Part I), will be playing Claudius Templesmith, the announcer for the Hunger Games, in the film! A Harry Potter actor is IN The Hunger Games! When I first read the news, I was like "Toby Jones...isn't that...? No! It can't be!" and rushed home and found that he is, indeed, Dobby!
Amazing day, for I also received a signed ARC from Jennifer Brown herself of Bitter End! Thanks, Jennifer!

Acciomora! | Help the Hurting (Joplin)

As part of our newest charity campaign, Acciomora (an amalgamation of Accio and Alohomora), we are opening up Help the Hurting (Joplin), wherein we collect anything from canned foods, books, movies, money, clothes, etc. to Joplin citizens affected by the storms that occurred this past weekend. We live in Kansas City, MO, which is just about 2.5-3 hours from Joplin, so transporting the goods to the city will be no hardship. Contact us at potterpeoplepodcast@yahoo.com to volunteer or donate. You can also comment here to inform us about donations.

New 'Deathly Hallows' Poster

A new promotional poster for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II was recently released, which you can view here.

The link redirects you to Entertainment Weekly.

New 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II' Still Released

So I was scrolling through Tumblr last night and came across the newly-released photo from DH2 wherein we see McGonagall standing alongside the Weasley parents, Fred, Bill, Fleur, and in the background: Kingsley, Cho, Percy, Dean, and Seamus. Possibly Luna or Lavender standing next to Percy: the hair color is like Lavender's, but it could also be the sun reflecting upon Luna's hair, because the top half of the face looks like a very tired Luna.

Sorry I'm a bit delayed on getting this up, I fell asleep a little after I saw it on Tumblr and have to do it now, in Study Hall.

The link redirects you to MuggleNet.

Octavia and Portia Cast In 'The Hunger Games'

Thanks to two new Tweets from the official Lionsgate Twitter, we can now disclose that Latarsha Rose will be playing Peeta Mellark's beautician, Portia, and Brooke Bundy will be playing Octavia, a member of Katniss's makeup team.

Horrible casting, and I'm worried Cinna may look like Portia, and if you want to know what I mean, go take a look at Miss Rose and you'll see. It just won't fit in my brain! AND OCTAVIA SHOULD BE FAT!

The Mellark Bakery in North Carolina

The set for Peeta Mellark's family's bakery is built and there is a picture of it, which you can view.

Picture courtesy of The Hob.

Jennifer Lawrence In Character As Katniss Everdeen

Earlier today, Entertainment Weekly released its upcoming magazine cover which features Jennifer Lawrence in character as Katniss Everdeen. You can view that here. As you can see, Jennifer sports the Mockingjay pin on her jumpsuit. I think she looks perfect!

Jo's Favorite Character Is Herm...Harry?

mI doubt it's a huge surprise that Jo released information that Harry was, indeed, her favorite character. I am just utterly confused, because I was under the impression that Hermione was her favorite character due to information received earlier in the year saying that once screenwriter Steve Kloves said Hermione was his favorite, Jo trusted him with the story.
To read more, visit Bloomsbury's page on favorite Potter characters.

'The Throne of Fire' Book Review

Throne of Fire
Rick Riordan
452 pg., U.S. Hardcover
Disney | Hyperion
3/5 Stars



I am immensely disappointed in this book. After reading The Red Pyramid, I wasn't exactly ecstatic to read this book, but as the hype around it increased, I became excited. When I got my hands on the book, I thoroughly enjoyed the first 100 pages. Then, things got a bit confusing, dull, and out of hand. The novel was a poor sequel, but Riordan seems to produce horrid sequels. Sea of Monsters is crap compared to The Lightning Thief, and I worry that The Son of Neptune will be worse than The Lost Hero, if Riordan continues this pattern of bad seconds...with his book, I wouldn't like second helpings.
The only thing that I think was good about this was the character progression. Carter and Sadie were sort of annoying in the first book, and they still sort of are, but they have loosened up. I just feel that Rick Riordan is not in touch with teenage dialogue. He likes to use "crap" a lot, which is tremendously unrealistic for a fourteen-year-old boy...trust me. I dislike Sadie's dialogue, especially. Sadie is from England (I have no clue why he had to put her in the UK...) and Riordan definitely overuses the term "bloody". Not even Ron Weasley, who is seen using the word multiple times, uses it nearly as much as this thirteen-year-old snooty little brat.
I suppose I like the gods, and their portrayal, but I think that the sequence between Sadie and her friends, and Nekhbet and Babi. It was over the course of about twenty pages, and I think that action scenes should be short and sweet, unless it is a climactic battle like in Harry Potter.

Happy Birthday Pomona Sprout

Jo Rowling made a small update to her website where it states that Professor Pomona Sprout's birthday is May 15th! Happy birthday to everyone's favorite Herbology professor!...Until Neville comes along...

'White Cat' Book Review

White Cat
Holly Black
310 pg., U.S. Hardcover
SimonTeen
4/5 Stars


One Star for Character Development
One Star for Plot
One Star for Conflict and Resolution
One Star for Ending

i. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
The main  character in this book is Cassel Sharpe, a boy descended from a line of criminals called workers. Cassel killed his best friend Lila when he was fourteen and has never learned to live with himself. As secrets are uncovered, so is Cassel's character.
Another main character that we learn more and more about is, indeed, Lila. *SPOILER ALERT* Towards the end of the novel, Lila (who was in the form of a cat, not actually murdered by Cassel) appears in human form. She has a quite mysterious aspect to her, and we learn more about her family in the book. She defies her expectations, and goes against the mobster/worker Anton, who planned on assassinating Mr. Zacharov, Lila's father.
Lila and Cassel seem to develop a romantic relationship in the novel, but *SPOILER* at the end of the novel, we discover that is not the case (See 'iv. ENDING')

ii. PLOT

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers — people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail — he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

--Summary from Goodreads

The plot of the book is immensely interesting, and takes place in a universe that is both similar to, and different from, our own. Curse workers are rebels in the society, and looked at as a taboo. Anton, a worker, has planned to persuade Cassel to kill Lila's father since Cassel is a transformation worker: he can transform things with his touch. Cassel also must deal with his emotional conflict of the loss of his best friend, Lila.

iii. CONFLICT AND RESOLUTION

The main conflicts in this book are as follows:

-Cassel has a fading memory

-Cassel is a worker

-Cassel killed his friend, Lila

-Cassel has been "hired" to kill Zacharov

The conflicts are described quite well. Cassel "killing" Lila is expressed through a series of memories about his friendship with the young girl, and how spontaneous his actions were. 

Cassel defies Anton's orders of turning Zacharov's heart to stone by keeping his gloves on. Gloves are a defense mechanism in this book that protect a worker's powers from others. Cassel whispers to Mr. Zacharov that we is to pretend to die, and Zacharov does so. In the wake of this battle, Anton is killed.

As for the resolution of Cassel and Lila, Cassel has been given visions and messages from a white cat living with him (he assumes it is Lila) to chop off its head. When Cassel receives a sword, he realizes that there is some sort of containment of Lila's human body, and she is transformed back into a human as Cassel blacks out.

iv. ENDING

The ending of the book is stated above: Cassel's deception of Anton. I think that the ending is a lot similar to that of Mockingjay; the main character is to kill one person, but ends up killing the other. Black did a great job of portraying the whole 'devil's advocate' of each character.

The ending I definitely liked was at the exact end: Cassel's mother reveals that she worked Lila's mind to love Cassel. Cassel becomes furious with his mom. I think that this is such a plot-twisting point and definitely came out of nowhere. I really was not expecting this.

The book was a roller coaster of excitement and drama, and I was immensely glad it was not overtaken by romance, especially since it was told from the perspective of a male. I love the whole aspect of magic that is portrayed in this novel, and how it is something frowned upon. I look forward to Red Glove, the sequel, which is out now.

'Beyonders: A World Without Heroes' Book Review

A World Without Heroes
Brandon Mull
464 pg., U.S. Hardcover Edition
Aladdin
3/5 Stars


One Star for Flow
One Star for Conflict and Resolution
One Star for Ending

I won't delve into the review of this book.
I honestly thought this was a poorly developed and written fantasy novel. The characters lacked the personality I expected from Mull.
The book is about a young boy who enters a magical world through an experience at a zoo (Harry Potter, much?), and embarks on a journey to unveil a magic word (SuperWhy...?) that unlocks a key to returning to Earth. He meets Rachel, another Earth being, a "Beyonder", and they search for the word.
As expected, and predicted, they find the word and Jason, the main character, returns to Earth. I don't recommend this book for anyone looking for a great fantasy, for it is not.
I loved the first three Fablehaven books, but I'm afraid Mull's writing has gone downhill. I highly doubt that I will read the sequel when it is released next year.

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II' TV Spot #1

Warner Bros. has released the high resolution version of the first Hallows: Part II TV Spot. There are no new scenes AT ALL. That sucks.

To view the TV Spot, click here.

Mara Dyer

Cato and Clove Cast in 'The Hunger Games'

Finally! Cato and Clove, the Tributes from District 2, have been cast in the film adaption of Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games. Isabelle Fuhrman (The Orphan) and Alexander Ludwig (Race to Witch Mountain) have been cast as the violent teenagers.
I personally LOVE the casting and I think Alexander will look perfect with his hair colored black like Isabelle's.

--Riley

Casting Has Begun For Simon Lewis In 'City of Bones'...Lily Collins Weighs In

MTV Hollywood Crush released an interview with Cassandra Clare, author of the New York Times-bestselling series The Mortal Instruments, which includes City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels and the upcoming City of Lost Souls and City of Heavenly Fire.
It's no surprise that casting has been heated for the film, and that Lily Collins has been cast as Clary, which we posted about a long time ago. The casting for Jace is also under way, with Alex Pettyfer as the major fan favorite pulling the reigns.
But Cassandra Clare said that the casting for Clary's best friend, Simon Lewis, is also in the works.

"They started looking around for people for Simon. But everything kind of...rotates around Jace and Clary. Once you cast Jace and Clary, they have to have chemistry with each other. Then all of the other characters have to have chemistry with them..."

Later, Hollywood Crush sat down with Lily Collins, where they discussed Clary's relationship with Simon:

"Well, Simon's very much kind of like the boy next door, and he grows into a young man (obviously grows into somewhat of a creature, as well), but he's very intellectual, very smart, edgy, he's more of the alternative guy. ... That makes his journey all that much more interesting...it's going to be interesting to see how they can play between the two characters as well as contrasting them enough."

Woody Harrelson Cast As Haymitch Abernathy 'The Hunger Games'

Woody Harrelson has been cast as Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games! I actually like this one! As much as I wanted someone who looks like Johnny Depp (I wanted Johnny Depp so baaaad), he actually looks really good for Haymitch and I can already see him in the role!

Rupert Grint In New 'Make Mine Milk' Campaign

In this new photo, the Rupes promotes a new milk campaign, Make Mine Milk.

I just thought it was a fun little tidbit.

Interview Magazine Interviews Leven Rambin

Interview Magazine has interviewed The Hunger Games star, Leven Rambin (Glimmer). They discuss the new film within the interview. A snippet as to when they talk about THG:

SYMONDS: I'm really looking forward to seeing you play that role. So, you've read the books, I assume.

RAMBIN: I am such a big fan. I tried to get every one of my friends to read it. A lot of my friends had already read it, and that's why I picked it up, because they were all talking about it. Once I picked it up, I couldn't stop. I was constantly reading it: on airplanes, at dinner, I was reading it under the table. Just in love. I was always like, "Did you hear what happened this week in Hunger Games?" Like it was like a soap opera that only I would enjoy.

It was so vivid in my mind, and the descriptions of every character and every scenario are so descriptive. You really do have this ideal in your mind of who these people are and what they're going through. Suzanne Collins is so talented that she just fills everyone out. That's why people are so passionate about the casting, because she is so specific in the books, and she is so descriptive. You really become attached to that figment that you have in your mind about the character. I'm really happy that the fans seem to accept me as Glimmer. I'm really excited that they are supportive of me.

Check out the full interview here

The District Ten Tributes

The District 10 Tributes from The Hunger Games have been cast. Dakota Hood as the Female Tribute, and Jeremy Marinas as the Male Tribute.

Stanley Tucci Cast as Caesar Flickerman in 'The Hunger Games'

Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones, Burlesque, the Devil Wears Prada)has been cast as Caesar Flickerman in The Hunger Games. Flickerman is the host and interviewer for the Games.

I didn't really have a "yay" or "nay" feeling for this one. I think I've just come to terms with the fact that casting has pretty much been unpleasing, and my reactions will only be extreme to REALLY good choices or REALLY bad choices.

--Riley

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II' Video Game Cover Art Released

EA has released the official cover art for the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II video game, via Facebook.

Besides the Trio and Hogwarts in the foreground, we see Molly Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, and Seamus Finnegan on the cover of the video game!

--Riley

PotterCon 2012

The newest Harry Potter conference has been announced! PotterCon 2012 is a completely online event where fans can participate in a new form of interactive Potter. The official description from PotterCon 2012's Facebook page states:

"PotterCon 2012 - an entirely-online Livestream-based Harry Potter weekend, full of courses both academic and in-character, live wizard rock and live screenings of fandom productions such as The Final Battle, The Warlock’s Hairy Heart and Starkid’s Potter Musicals."


I asked PotterCon about programming and they said that programming proposals will be available later on in the year. "Like" PotterCon 2012 on Facebook!

--Riley

District 9 Tributes Cast in 'The Hunger Games'

Annie Thurman has been cast as the Female Tribute from District 9, and Imanol Yepez-Frias as the Male Tribute.

--Riley

Chapter Recaps | Sorcerer's Stone Chapters 1-5

I discuss the first five chapters of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

http://ia600603.us.archive.org/33/items/PotterPeoplePodcast-ChapterRecapsSorcerersStone1-5/ChapterRecaps1-5.wav

Saoirse Ronan Cast as Melanie in 'The Host'

Are you a fan of The Host? I'm NOT! But besides that, we'll keep you posted on the filming for The Host. Saoirse Ronan from The Lovely Bones and Hanna has been cast as Melanie Stryder in the film adaption of Stephenie Meyer's New York Times-bestselling novel.

--Riley

John C. Reilly Will NOT Be Haymitch in 'The Hunger Games'

YYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY! The world can now rest! John C. Reilly will not portray Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games thanks to a source that told E!

WOOT WOOT.

--Riley

Wes Bentley Cast as Seneca Crane in 'The Hunger Games'

Ghost Rider actor Wes Bentley has been cast as Seneca Crane, the Head Gamemaker, in the film adaption of The Hunger Games.

This is definitely my favorite of all of the male casting! I'm looking forward to seeing him in the film!

--Riley

Meet the District Eight Tributes

Mackenzie Lintz has been cast as the Female Tribute from District 8, and Samuel Tan as the Male.

Congrats!

--Riley

'Deathly Hallows: Part I' Earns Six Nods at the MTVMAs.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I received six nominations at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards:

-Best Movie
-Best Female Performance (Emma Watson)
-Best Male Performance (Daniel Radcliffe)
-Best Villain (Tom Felton)
-Best Kiss (Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson)
-Best Fight (The Trio vs. Death Eaters)

District 7 Tributes Cast in 'The Hunger Games'

Leigha Hancock has been cast as the female Tribute and Sam Ly as the male Tribute in the film adaption of The Hunger Games.

--Riley

District 6 Tributes Cast in 'The Hunger Games'

We have our Tributes from District 6! Kara Petersen has been cast as the female Tribute, and Ashton Moio as the male Tribute. Now half of the Districts have been cast!

--Riley