Harry Potter

Hard-core Harry Potter fans who devoured the books, camped out for the movies and trekked through the theme park now have a new way to relive the boy wizard's adventures. PHOTOS: Making of Harry Potter studio tour Debuting Saturday, the Making of Harry Potter behind-the-scenes tour at theWarner Bros.studios in England will let wizards, mudbloods and muggles pull back the curtain on the movie-making secrets of the most successful film series of all time. Located 20 miles outside of London, the three-hour self-guided tour will take visitors past sets, props, costumes, models and special effects exhibits from the eight "Harry Potter" movies.

Having cast a spell in Orlando and planted his flag in Los Angeles, Harry Potter is now taking his theme park magic across the Pacific. Universal Studios Japan on Thursday will unveil plans to build the first international version of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the blockbuster attraction that has drawn millions of fans to Universal's Orlando resort and is expected to do the same at a planned Hollywood location. The Osaka destination, which will begin construction in the next few weeks with a planned opening in late 2014, is the latest in a series of expansions underway at major parks around the world that has followed an uptick in attendance, particularly in Asia.

A roundup of entertainment headlines for Thursday. Movie review: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2" ends the series in storybook fashion as one of its best films. ( Los Angeles Times ) Here's a look back in pictures of Daniel Radcliffe's 10 years as wizard Harry Potter. ( Los Angeles Times ) Emmy nominations are revealed, with HBO scoring big. ( Los Angeles Times ) Lea Michele, Chris Colfer and Cory Monteith are apparently graduating from "Glee.

Hard-core Harry Potter fans who devoured the books, camped out for the movies and trekked through the theme park now have a new way to relive the boy wizard's adventures. PHOTOS: Making of Harry Potter studio tour Debuting Saturday, the Making of Harry Potter behind-the-scenes tour at theWarner Bros.studios in England will let wizards, mudbloods and muggles pull back the curtain on the movie-making secrets of the most successful film series of all time. Located 20 miles outside of London, the three-hour self-guided tour will take visitors past sets, props, costumes, models and special effects exhibits from the eight "Harry Potter" movies.

Thousands of fans braved rain and battled security restrictions in London's Trafalgar Square on Thursday to say farewell to the boy wizard Harry Potter at the world premiere of the final movie in the record-breaking series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2. " Those lucky enough to make it into the packed square — some in full regalia from the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry — screamed out the names of...

With frosty mugs of Butterbeer raised in a toast, Universal Studios Hollywood officials announced plans Tuesday to bring the wildly popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter to the California theme park. Details were limited but officials did say the California park would see a Hogwarts Castle and visitors would ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, the marquee attraction at the Florida park. Wizarding World will be built within the existing California theme park, but it was unclear if the new land might be located at least partially on the studio's back lot. > Photos: Top 10 Wizarding World of Harry Potter rides and attractions Wizarding World proved an instant hit when it opened in June 2010 at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure theme park.

Recruits on the new Transformers ride opening at Universal Studios Hollywood in spring 2012 will join the heroic Autobots in an intergalactic battle against the villainous Decepticons. The five-minute Transformers motion simulator dark ride with high-definition 3-D images, special effects and animatronics will feature an original storyline starring the shape-shifting robots capable of changing into cars, trucks and planes. > Photos: Transformers ride at Universal Studios Hollywood Hyperbolic Universal officials are already calling the new Transformers attraction "the greatest ride in theme park history.

ABC has acquired the television rights to "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and its first sequel from Warner Bros., in a deal estimated to be worth nearly $140million--an amount that could establish a new record, according to the companies and sources close to the deal. The Walt Disney Co.

Sarah Palin's documentary was defeated this weekend - by a kid wizard in glasses. In fairness to Palin and the hagiographical film titled “The Undefeated,” it was an uphill climb for any movie this weekend, as the final chapter of the Harry Potter saga smashed all comers on its way to a weekend box office record. (Winnie the Pooh had the honey-glazed stuffing beaten out of him, for example.) The Palin film, which chronicles her political rise in Alaska, opened in 10 markets this weekend (including a screening in Orange County that was attended by empty seats )

After seven previous films over a 10-year span, $2 billion in domestic box office and still more treasure overseas, Warner Bros. has unwrapped the Harry Potter advertising line it hoped it would never have to use: "It all ends. " In a classic storybook finish, however, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2" turns out to be more than the last of its kind. Almost magically, it ends up being one of the best of the series as well. The Harry Potter films, like the boy wizard himself, have had their creative ups and downs, so it's especially satisfying that this final film, ungainly title and all, has been worth the wait.

The "Harry Potter" series, which has conquered mediums from hardcover books to movies, is finally available in e-book format. The books by J.K. Rowling can be purchased on Pottermore.com for $7.99 for the first three books, $9.99 for the last four installments, or $57.54 for the series. "Today is a great day for 'Harry Potter' fans and e-book readers alike," said Charlie Redmayne, chief executive of Pottermore. "Not only is this phenomenally popular series available in e-book form for the first time, but across an extensive range of devices and platforms, thanks to unique collaborations with leading online retailers.

"Awake,"whose first hour has been available online since mid-February, finally makes its television premiere Thursday on NBC. I have been waiting for this moment since last summer, since the pilot first went out to the press. Notwithstanding a certain stylistic chilliness and my sense of it having been pitched on the back of"Inception," it promised to be one of the year's best and most interesting new series. Having seen four episodes now, I'd say the promise has been largely kept. Jason Isaacs, a soulfully aging actor whom hundreds of millions know as Lucius Malfoy in the "Harry Potter" movies but whom I tend to think of as the star of Showtime's excellent and insufficiently celebrated "Brotherhood," plays Michael Britten, a police detective who has survived a car crash that has and has not killed his wife, Hannah (Laura Allen)

Not even the biggest television event of the year could shake 2012's winning streak at the box office, as ticket sales were up for the fifth consecutive weekend this year. Despite the pull of the Super Bowl, three new films held their own at the multiplex on what is traditionally one of the slowest weekends of the year for the movie industry. "Chronicle," a found-footage adventure about teenagers with superpowers, took the No. 1 spot with $22 million in domestic receipts, according to an estimate from distributor 20th Century Fox. The horror film "The Woman in Black," the first movie from "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe outside of the popular franchise, wasn't far behind with $21 million.

Universal Orlando will debut the "Cinematic Spectacular" nighttime water show this spring as part of a new entertainment lineup at the Florida theme park that includes an upgrade to one ride, a re-theme of another attraction and the addition of a nightly parade. PHOTOS: New attractions coming to Universal Orlando this spring and summer "Cinematic Spectacular" will celebrate a century of Universal Studios movie memories with a nighttime water show that features film clips projected on 30-foot-by-30-foot waterfall screens and colorful fountains that rocket 100 feet into the air along with laser lights and pyrotechnic displays on the Orlando theme park's central lagoon.

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth" Jeff Kinney Did you ever think that middle school could be so bad? If so, read this book. It is about a boy and his best friend. Their friendship ends because of a lie. You will never know whether they become friends again, unless you read this book. Reviewed by Gary, 9 R. D. White Elementary Glendale "Two Princesses of Bamarre" Gail Carson Levine Princess Meryl and Princess Adelina are sisters. Meryl is adventurous and brave.

A roundup of entertainment headlines for Thursday "Harry Potter," Emma Stone and Katy Perry take multiple trophies at the People's Choice Awards.  ( Los Angeles Times ) In case you missed the telecast, here's the best and worst of the People's Choice Awards. ( Los Angeles Times ) Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift and the Foo Fighters are slated to play the Grammy Awards. ( MTV ) Meanwhile, rumors are swirling that Adele might join the Grammy lineup too. ( Los Angeles Times )

For someone so famous for inspiring the imaginations of her readers, J.K. Rowling now seems determined to cut them off at the pass. In the introductory video for her new interactive website, Pottermore, she makes the announcement that the site will contain "additional information that I've been hoarding for years about the world of Harry Potter. " One of the major draws of the site, still in testing stage, is the opportunity for Rowling fans to learn character histories and trivia about the boy wizard's magical world.

If you serendipitously end up in an elevator with Steven Spielberg, make an impression. British actor David Thewlis did, though it may not have been quite the one he wanted. In 1994, Thewlis was leaving an award ceremony in New York after accepting a prize for his lead role in Mike Leigh's working-class dramedy "Naked. " He found himself riding down with Spielberg, who had just received an award for "Schindler's List," and the two had a brief, unremarkable exchange. But a few months later, Spielberg called him with an odd request: The director wanted Thewlis to play a man who turned into a dog. "Is it something about my character in 'Naked' that makes you think I'd be good in that?"