It's Harry Potter Weekend! Enjoy your release parties tonight. (We expect pictures!) Have fun reading your copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Then come back here and see how much of a bang we can create to send out our boy wizard.

Much Love,

The Phoenix Prophecy Staff

JK Rowling has made the 13th spot in the Guardian's list of the 50 most influential people in the UK.

"You can't sell 375m books and not influence someone. Especially when those books lead to a multi-film movie franchise and all the concomitant gewgaws and plastic toys. But perhaps the most important contribution she's made is the way that she and Harry Potter have reached millions of children who'd previously not exhibited any enthusiasm for reading, leading not just to an enthusiasm for more reading but also to the creation of millions of words of fan-fiction and perhaps a revitalised generation of creative readers and writers."

Jo was one of only four women on the list, placed ahead of Judy Finnigan (one half of Richard and Judy) at 27, and behind Kate Moss, placed 9th, and of course, Her Majesty, who made the 4th spot.

The second Order of the Phoenix trailer will be released this Sunday in the UK, according to AOL., after airing on Channel 4. However, it will only be viewable online by people in the UK (only until a computer savvy HP fan puts it up on video sharing sites, that is).

It will also be released on the 21st of April in Japan, and on the 24th in the US.

Warner Brothers has announced that the final 20 minutes of the Order of the Phoenix - the Ministry of Magic battle scene - will be digitally coverted to 3D for IMAX theatres.

"The Harry Potter films are an enormous draw all over the world, and this film should prove to be no different," said Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President of Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures International. "The last 20 minutes in IMAX 3D will add a new element of excitement to the Harry Potter experience, making this a must-see for fans of all ages. We're looking forward to a long and very successful run."

With the Order of the Phoenix set to be another goldmine for the studio, Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. had this to say: "This is the Studio's biggest franchise to date, and we expect this highly-anticipated fifth film to play phenomenally well in all theatres throughout the summer."

When the Goblet of Fire was released in IMAX theatres around the world, it grossed over $US20 million, breaking IMAX records. However, it was only in a 2D format.

You can also see IMAX's promotional poster for the Order of the Phoenix over at the gallery.

Scholastic has kicked off its "There Will Be 7" promotional campaign for the Deathly Hallows, with ads in magazines, an updated Harry Potter homepage, a poll banking on characters' deaths, and even a youtube account.

Warner Brothers will also be updating their Harry Potter page by the end of the week to Phoenixify it.

Drogheda Independent recently conducted an exclusive interview with Evanna Lynch, the lucky young actress who portrays Luna Lovegood in the Order of the Phoenix.

In a lengthy question and answer session, Evanna discusses her expectations of filming (which ended up being "brilliant and perfect"), and the similarities she has with her character.

"Our taste in clothes is very similar. I proudly and happily wore her clothes and I think she would wear mine too. I believe that almost anything is possible if you see the possibilities rather than the obstacles...I think the main difference between us is that I am a lot more ambitious and that makes me serious. Luna is so free and seems to drift along with life, dealing with everything as it comes to her. I have more goals so I've more worries. I think that's why I love Luna so much."

Asked about if she had any theories for the Deathly Hallows, Evanna says that "I think Harry will have to go through the veil for some Horcrux-hunt related reason and he’ll have to get to understand death more and he may meet Dumbledore because apparently JKR told Dan that DD was giving her ‘trouble’. Also JKR is always emphasising that there are worse things than death and I think it would be very like her to trick us like that, so that Harry is ‘dead’ but we’re still with him, death isn’t the end. Most people think that he either lives or dies but I like the idea that it’s an in-between."

A new interview with Imelda Staunton, who portrays Dolores Umbridge in the Order of the Phoenix, reveals why she took the role of the evil new professor.

A year before Staunton got the role, a friend suggested she would be perfect for it. "I read the book, and Umbridge is described as a short, ugly, toadlike woman," Staunton says. "I thought, 'Oh, thanks very much'."

Jason Isaacs also mentions how every great British actor has either featured in the Harry Potter films, or is desperate to have go. "You either know somebody, or you know somebody who slept with them," Isaacs says.

JK's site has been updated with a new Wizard of the Month:

Magenta Comstock

1895-1991
Experimental artist whose portraits' eyes not only follow the viewer around the room, but also follow them home.

In September last year, Entertainment Weekley was on the set for the filming of the Order of the Phoenix. The lengthy feature is now online, with articles, new photos, quizzes and interviews with the actors and director.

- Cover: 1, 2
- Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Warner Brothers has released new character portraits and images from the film. See them all below:

- Lucius (1, 2)
- Cho
- Ginny
- Harry
- Hermione
- Luna
- Ron
- Sirius
- Umbridge
- Harry and Sirius
- Harry on trial
- Harry, Ron and Hermione in the forest
- Ron, Luna, Neville, Hermione, Harry and Ginny