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J.K. Rowling Writes Harry Potter Spinoff

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Family, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip,

J.K. RowlingDespite several press conferences and comments that she would like to branch out into writing new things, has completed the first spinoff. So much for the integrity of writing.

The book – an illustrated collection of fairy stories – is The Tales of Beedle the Bard, and only seven copies will be printed. One will be auctioned for charity, the others given away as gifts. Rowling drew the illustrations in the book herself and provided the handwriting for five of its stories. The book is mentioned in Rowling’s last Harry novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

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J.K. Rowling: ‘Dumbledore Is Gay’

DumbledoreAlthough author put the saga to rest this past July, she is still shocking devotees of the series with secrets to this day.  At a reading Friday night in New York’s Carnegie Hall, Rowling was asked if Albus Dumbledore finds true love.  She then revealed a juicy tidbit now ringing throughout the world:  “Dumbledore is gay”.

Those who have read between the lines may have suspected this all along.  Rowling equated Dumbledore’s affections for wizard Gellert Grindelwald as his ‘great tragedy’.  The Hogwarts Headmaster, devastated by Grindelwald’s attraction to the dark side, later went on to defeat his rival.

Confusion about Dumbledore’s sexuality preference almost became an issue in the upcoming big screen installment, .  Rowling made sure director David Yates remove a reference about Albus’ past loves from the adapted script.

Parents unfazed by the revealing news can bring their kids back to theaters in 2008 and 2010.

Read More | E! Online

Hogwarts Gets a New Home

Harry PotterOkay, so the books are set in Britain. But that didn’t stop India from battling author for the right to build a life-sized replica of the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry in their country. The Delhi High Court threw out Rowling’s claim that the building would be a copyright infringement, giving builders the go-ahead on the huge project. The building, being constructed out of papier mache and bamboo, will become part of the biggest Hindu religious celebration in eastern India this month. Hogwarts’ exterior will be completely replicated, even featuring an imitation marble staircase and stone floor in the entrance hall, which will be lit by flaming torches.

Read More | Yahoo News

Bestselling Novels Moving to the Big Screen

Bestsellers headed for the boxofficeWe’ve come to accept the following as fact - if we enjoy a book, sooner or later, Hollywood will ruin it for us.  Not even chick lit is safe anymore.  Don’t get me wrong, I will be there on opening night for The Jane Austen Book Club, even though that inner librarian impulse is puckering her lips and telling me to reject adaptations outright always.  And we’ll suck it up when we recommend the read to a friend and she says, “Oh, I saw that one!  It was great.” 

However, lately, we’ve been pleasantly surprised by adaptations like The Devil Wears Prada and the most recent Harry Potter film, which, rather than raping the material and leaving it for dead, actually did it justice, and were good films in the same go.  So, maybe Hollywood is shaping up, maybe Jane Austen will smile down on Friday’s theatrical release instead of completing the roll into the next grave that started when Mansfield Park opened.

Regardless, if you want to picture your own characters before their faces become replaced by Evan Rachel Wood and Zac Effron, you’d better get on the following titles, because they’ve been optioned:

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Rowling’s Latest Book Project

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Celebrity Gossip,

J.K. RowlingThe famous Harry Potter author has been spotted in Scottish cafes working on a new novel. This time, Rowling is writing crime fiction – a detective novel. J. K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter in similar cafes, back when she was still struggling to make ends meet and get the bills paid. Today, she’s richer than Queen Elizabeth. Harry Potter books have sold more than 335 million copies worldwide and spawned a slew of successful movies. Last month, Rowling re-affirmed her plans to leave the Harry Potter saga as is, and continue with new, different stories. Rowling’s literary agent has yet to confirm plans for her newest book.

Read More | Yahoo News

Box Office Breakdown:  It’s Super To Be Bad

Superbad

The Judd Apatow train is bound to hit a roadblock at some point—but for the time being, it’s full steam ahead.  Superbad opened impressively with over $30 million this weekend making it the third Apatow-related project in a row to accomplish this feat (the others being Talledega Nights and Knocked Up).  This is, of course, not taking into consideration the uber-sleeper hit The 40-Year-Old Virgin.

Meanwhile, there was nothing super about Nicole Kidman’s latest outing.  The Invasion, the latest version The Body Snatchers, scared up a dismal $5.9 million (and that’s despite Daniel Craig’s hunky presence).  But I predict a much stronger outing for these two later this year with The Golden Compass.

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Box Office Breakdown:  Audiences Not Yet Tuckered Out

Rush Hour 3

Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third, Pirates, Ocean’s, Bourne and now Rush Hour 3.  All six three-quels premiered directly at the top of the heap this summer.

Unfortunately, a six-year gap between the second and third Rush installments may have led to what some would consider slightly disappointing receipts.  On any other occasion, a $50 weekend would be something to brag about.  But considering it pales to the $67.4 million brought in by the 2001 predecessor, it’s only worth a pat on the back.

But really, the Disappointment of the Week honor should really fall on Cuba Gooding Jr.  When you’re accepting rejected scripts from the man who played Norbit, you have to wonder where it all went wrong (two words: Chill Factor).  Sadly, Daddy Day Camp was originally slated to be a straight-to-video release but somehow tested well enough to be released in theaters.  Who knows?  Maybe Gooding can pull a Halle and go straight-from-Oscar-to-Razzie.

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Box Office Breakdown:  Bourne Breaks Bank

Bourne

Matt Damon may still be vying for People magazine’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ title—but he has one thing that George Clooney and Brad Pitt don’t have:  the biggest debut for an August opening ever.

The Bourne Ultimatum‘s $70 million take improved upon the previous Bourne installments and gave Damon his largest weekend to date (and that’s including all three Ocean’s movies).

Meanwhile, Lindsay Lohan should be happy that she’s holed up in rehab again—though seeing her movie kicked out of the Top Ten would have probably sent her there anyway.  Apparently theatergoers can only handle one movie about Bratz at a time…

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Box Office Breakdown:  A Homerun For Homer

The Simpsons

Looks like Homer ain’t gonna be needing a deal on donuts anymore….

With a $74 million opening weekend, The Simpsons Movie debuted higher than most of the animated features released…ever.  Only the two Shrek sequels did better.  Quite a head-shaking number since we can still see the series for free on television.  But viewers from every single Springfield in the US—plus a thousand other cities out there—love the family so much, they were willing to pay for more.  Especially when it comes with nudity.

What theatergoers aren’t willing to pay for is more I Know Who Killed Me placed a dismal 9th, possibly due to lack of promotional work by the star.  How ironic that in the end it was Lindsay who was responsible for killing the movie and possibly her career.

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Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown:  Chuck and Larry Outmuscle Harry

ChuckandLarry

Lord Voldemort should be kicking himself.  Wizardry, schmizardry.  All he needed was a bag of outdated gay jokes to bring young Harry down.

Wedding planners everywhere had expected 7/7/07 to be the biggest wedding day of the year, but it was 7/20/07 that proved to be eventful for comedians Adam Sandler and Kevin James.  Their domestic partnership brought in enough guests to outdo Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, though they only gained $2 million more than the Potter juggernaut.  Fan support for Sandler movies has always been strong—which is why I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry is his ninth movie to open at #1.

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