`Harry Potter' sweeps into theaters 2 days early

Harry Potter and his school chums are heading back to class a little sooner than expected.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" now is opening Wednesday, July 15, two days earlier than its previous release date, Warner Bros. head of distribution Dan Fellman said Tuesday.

That gives the movie a head-start on the weekend during what's shaping up as a highly competitive summer season for Hollywood, which has major franchise films opening virtually every week.

"Every day the kids are out of school in summer is just like an extra Saturday," Fellman said.

Warner Bros. also opened the franchise's most recent release, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," on a Wednesday in July 2007.

Fine with us. That shaves two days off the oh-so-long wait for this movie's theater debut.

Read on

Harry Potter Movie Actor Chris Rankin to Host Event at Chicago School of Wizardry

Beyond Boundaries Travel, creators of the award-winning HP Fan Trips™, is hosting a school of wizardry for Harry Potter fans that is “not your typical summer school”. Fans of the book and movie series have the opportunity to attend classes like Astronomy, Magical Creatures, Divination, Herbology, History of Witches, Potions, and much more. In addition, Chris Rankin, the actor that portrays Percy Weasley, will be the host at the trips’ Farewell Banquet. Award-winning storyteller, Amy Douglas and top-ranked guide, Heather Davies, will also be joining the expedition to Northern Illinois University to create a magical place for Harry Potter fans.

Participants will also enjoy storytellers transporting them to a magical place where hippogriffs and dragons rule, and where a poorly mixed potion can even get them thrown in the dungeon. Also included is a "Hogwarts-style" banquet and a field trip to Chicago to visit Harry Potter The Exhibition and to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince soon after its release.

Check this out!

Read on