The star of Harry Potter has been extremely busy since he left the franchise behind last year. He’s just finished his leading role in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway, and has been promoting his new film, The Woman in Black ever since.

The film which is released in the UK on Friday 10th February, will be shown at a special screening the day after in Leicester Square, with the lead actor dropping by to introduce it.

Based on The Woman In Black by Susan Hill, the book that spawned a chilling and successful stage production, Daniel plays Arthur Kipps, a recently widowed lawyer who leaves his son behind to deal with the affairs of the deceased owner of Eel Marsh House. While there he can feel a presence of a woman in the house with him.

If it is anything like the stage show, it is bound to be a suspense-filled ordeal for audiences. Jon Nutton, the Marketing Director of Empire Cinemas is pleased to welcome the actor:

“We’re very excited to have the star of such a hotly anticipated film coming to the cinema to talk to our audience about his latest success. Daniel Radcliffe is a big star on the UK Cinema scene so we are very proud to be playing host to him at our Leicester Square Cinema.”

What better way to kick off a special screening than to have the star introduce it?

The screening starts at 3pm Saturday 11th February. Members of the public can apply for tickets at: empirecinemas.co.uk or call 0871 4714 714

David Yates has been busy for the past few years, making the last four Harry Potter movies a roaring success, but it would seem he is still attached to the stars of the series.

Slated to be released some time in 2013, Your Voice In My Head is based on the memoir of journalist Emma Forrest. If Yates gets his way, Watson will play the central character Emma, who attempts suicide before she is saved by an optimistic and wise psychiatrist. Except he harbours troubles of his own.

The memoir has been adapted for the screen by Forrest herself.

If she signs, it will be Miss Watson’s third project since her ten year stint as Hermione Granger in the Potter films ended. Her first post Potter project was My Week With Marilyn, followed by this year’s flick The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

As of yet no one else is on board, although the studio behind the new film, Warner Brothers are hoping a big name star like Tom Hanks will be interested in the role of the psychiatrist.

In the meantime, David Yates has quite a few projects on the go. He’s still set to bring the Doctor Who film (whenever that ball starts rolling) onto the big screen, and is set to work on Sony Pictures A Reliable Wife after Your Voice In My Head is done.

You can buy the Harry Potter – The Complete 8-Film Collection DVD on Amazon now.

Thoroughly deserved and a long time coming! British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) made the announcement on the 27th January ahead of their awards ceremony next month.

And John himself seems overwhelmed by the honour. “I know that film means a great deal to me but I had no idea that I meant so much to film. I feel very honoured,” he said after the announcement.

The Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award was introduced in 1978 to honour the great producer (and grandfather to Daniel Day-Lewis) Sir Michael Balcon. Now Hurt, whose most recent film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is an awards contender, will join fellow recipients: Mike Leigh, Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jarman and Mary Selway.

Universally acclaimed for his acting talent, Hurt’s vast range of distinguished performances have shaped an impressive career spanning six decades.

He might be well known to younger audiences as the wand maker Mr Ollivander in the Harry Potter franchise, the series which coincidentally won the same prize last year. Hurt had a supporting role in three of the films.

Away from Harry Potter however, he is no stranger to the British Academy, having won three BAFTAs and gained a further four nominations. A notable example is his Best Actor award for his stellar performance in The Elephant Man in 1981.

And that is just the BAFTAs. Aside from his two Academy Award nominations, he has worked alongside industry icons like Orson Welles, Laurence Olivier and Steven Spielberg, and played intriguing characters like Winston Smith in Nineteen Eighty-Four and Sir Richard Rich in A Man of All Seasons.

Speaking about John Hurt, the Chairman of BAFTA, Tim Corrie said: “John Hurt is an actor who is both exciting and fascinating to watch. He is one-of-a-kind, an iconic figure, and BAFTA is delighted to take this opportunity to honour his outstanding contribution to cinema.”

The actor will receive the accolade on Sunday 12 February at the Orange British Academy Film Awards in the Royal Opera House in London.

This coming of age film follows the story of high school student, Charlie, who struggles to fit in. He’ll be played by Logan Lerman, who you might recognise from his performances in the title role of Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, back in 2010.

However, it is more than likely that all eyes will be on ex-Harry Potter actress Emma Watson, a school senior who becomes the object of Charlie’s affection and who introduces him to a world of sex and drugs. Although Watson had a supporting role in the recent British drama, My Week with Marilyn, her Wallflower performance could prove key if she wants to shake off the Hermione Granger character who she is best known for playing.

They’ll also be joined by Ezra Miller, who we last saw in the role of sinister teen, Kevin Katchadourian, in last year’s film adaptation of We Need To Talk About Kevin. This time around he’ll be playing Patrick, Watson’s gay step-brother. Other familiar faces include Paul Rudd (I Love You, Man and Dinner for Schmucks) and Mae Whitman (Arrested Development, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World).

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower is based on a epistolary novel of the same name by Stephen Chbosky, who has also penned the screenplay adaptation and taken on the role of director for this upcoming film. Expect The Catcher in the Rye comparisons, along with a nostalgic soundtrack.

The film is set to have its US release later this year, but no word on a UK release date yet. Take a look at more of the newly released stills below!

Yates might be best known for directing the last four Harry Potter films, but since the franchise has come to an end, he’s quickly become attached to a number of other film projects. For some time he was rumoured to be directing a trilogy based on Stephen King’s post-apocalyptic horror novel, The Stand, as well as a biopic Al Capone, starring Tom Hardy. He was also reported to have turned down directing an adaptation of Vertigo Comics’ graphic novel series, Fables, whilst also being linked to the much anticipated possibility of a feature-length Doctor Who film.

However, now it appears that his next project could be directing the memoirs of journalist and screenwriter, Emma Forrest, titled Your Voice in My Head. The book follows Forrest’s struggles as a young British writer living in New York, suffering from episodes of mania and broken-hearted after the breakdown of a high-profile relationship – she famously dated actor Colin Farrell back in 2008.

The film will be a Ruby Films production, and funded by the BFI and Warner Bros. Forrest has penned the screenplay adaptation herself, while Alison Owen, who has previously worked on films such as Elizabeth, The Other Boleyn Girl and Brick Lane (as well as being Lily Allen’s mum!), is also on board to produce.

While the film is currently some way from being given an official release date, the paperback version of Your Voice In My Head is being published on 19th January 2012. We’ll keep you posted!

The actor who plays the most multi-layered and unpredictable character in the entire franchise,  Professor Severus Snape, has been there since the series began in 2001.

He was tricky to figure out from the off, what with his unexplained hatred for Harry and contradictory actions. Therefore any member of the audience who hadn’t read the books would have been surprised by the character’s final revelation in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two, one that was performed beautifully by Alan Rickman who helped create an emotional and pivotal scene.

Daniel Radcliffe is complimentary of his co-star:

“I don’t think there is going to be another performance from an actor in a supporting role that is so powerful,” Radcliffe said, “where the actor had the challenge of realising a scene that’s been realised millions of times the world over in the imaginations of readers.”

Ten years and eight films built up to this moment. It must have been a tough challenge for him, and Radcliffe is keen to give credit where credit is due.

“That scene – those revelations about Snape’s past – represented maybe the most anticipated part … [of a] movie in the last 10 years,” Daniel added. “I think Alan does amazing, amazing work.”

We have to agree. And not just in the Harry Potter films. Few can forget his scene-stealing turn as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves or his performance in the original Die Hard, not to mention Truly, Madly, Deeply or Galaxy Quest. In terms of Potter, he (and of course JK Rowling) kept us guessing the whole time who’s side he was on until the very end.

Fans are wholeheartedly in agreement with Daniel’s sentiment. After its release during the summer, the words ‘All of the awards!’ were repeated and reblogged all over the Harry Potter Tumblr and Twitter fandoms.

He’s become something of a national treasure. It’s shame that he will no doubt be snubbed come January.

Do you agree that Alan deserves an Oscar for his role as Severus Snape? Let us know.

We reported last month that the Doctor’s adventures in the Tardis are to be made into a film with Harry Potter director David Yates at the helm. Yates was quoted as saying the film would stand alone from the TV series, and that he would work alongside LA-based BBC Worldwide to find a writer for the screenplay. It will be noted that LA is a long way from the warehouse in Cardiff where the hit Sci-Fi series is brought to life.

“Russell T. Davies and then Steven Moffat have done their own transformations, which were fantastic, but we have to put that aside and start from scratch,” David Yates said.

This understandably led to a mass panic among devoted ‘Whovians’ who are concerned the film which is set to be a big Hollywood production will be Americanised and not do justice to the iconic British series.

Head of Doctor Who Steven Moffat however took to Twitter on Friday to calm fans down.

“To clarify: any Doctor Who movie would be made by the BBC team, star the current TV Doctor and certainly NOT be a Hollywood reboot,” he wrote. And in relation to David Yates’ comments regarding the subject added:

“David Yates, great director, was speaking off the cuff, on a red carpet. You’ve seen the rubbish I talk when I’m cornered.”

Phew! Fellow Whovian’s can breath easy now our devoted leader has asserted his authority. It is yet to be seen if the current Doctor, Matt Smith will star in the film or if he and his companion Amy (Karen Gillan) will have moved on by then. Who knows maybe even Steven Moffat won’t be the Head anymore once the big screen adaptation comes to fruition.

So, who do you think is telling the truth? Yates or Moffat?

Kill You Darlings, which was also co-written by Krokidas, is expected to detail the formation of the Beat Generation in mid-1940s New York. The story is likely to include the events surrounding Lucien Carr’s 1944 murder of his stalker, David Kammerer. According to Ginsberg “Lou [Carr] was the glue” that brought the beats together, but ended up in prison for the murder shortly after his introductions.

Originally, it was The Social Network‘s Jesse Eisenberg who was said to be attached to the role of Ginsberg, with Chris Evans and Ben Whishaw as Kerouac and Carr, respectively. However, with Whishaw recently being confirmed for the role of Q in the latest Bond film, Skyfall, and Evans taking over from James Franco in serial-killer drama, The Iceman, it is thought that these castings are also likely to change.

In fact, it was Franco who we last saw take on the role of Ginsberg, in the 2010 biopic, Howl. Several Beat legends, including Kerouac and Ginsberg, also appeared in footage which was recently compiled for Alison Ellwood and Alex Gibney’s documentary film, Magic Trip.

All eyes will no doubt be on Radcliffe over the coming year or two, to see which direction the 22-year-old actor will go in, now that his Harry Potter days have finally come to an end. Filming for Kill Your Darlings is thought to begin after Radcliffe finishes his Broadway stint, where he is currently appearing in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Filming of Kill Your Darlings will begin at the end of January. In the meantime, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is out on DVD tomorrow, and you can catch Dan in The Woman in Black in UK cinemas February 2012.

We’ll keep you posted!

After pursuing the rights to Colin Clark’s two books (The Prince, The Showgirl and Me and My Week with Marilyn) for several years, it’s good to hear Curtis is pleased with the results, “I don’t think I could be happier actually.”

Naturally, there will be more than a few people who are keen to find out how much truth there is in this fascinating tale. While only Clark, and perhaps Monroe, could say how accurate Clark’s books are, Curtis is keen to confirm that My Week with Marilyn certainly sticks closely to Clark’s account.

“I thought that was sort of the point, in a way. There are so many different versions of what you could do here: you could have the Olivier version or the Arthur Miller version… What we were doing was telling Colin Clark’s version of Marilyn at a particular moment in her life, which was in England in 1956. Also, we weren’t just doing the well-known cliché of Marilyn, we were trying to investigate her in a deeper, more serious way.”

The film certainly portrays the screen legend in a way that many audiences will not have seen before. The question of who would take on the responsibility of playing Monroe herself was one which hung over My Week with Marilyn from the early stages of production. Despite much public speculation that actress Scarlett Johansson was the frontrunner for the part – something which Curtis dismisses as “a lot of internet chatter” – it was Michelle Williams who was eventually cast in the much coveted role.

“As soon as Michelle read it and I met her, I was just desperate for her to do it, and I had total confidence in her from that moment on…I just loved her.”

Indeed, Williams gives what is perhaps her most impressive performance to date, capturing the something of the essence of Monroe not purely in her appearance, but her character as a whole. Yet Curtis reveals that he wasn’t aware of the full extent of her talents until after she had been cast.

“To tell the truth, I just knew she was a phenomenal actress, I didn’t know she was also a phenomenal singer and dancer as well, that came later.”

Despite revealing that he has, in the past, experienced issues similar to those Olivier put up with working with Monroe, Curtis is keen assure me that it was not the case in working on this film. Watching My Week with Marilyn, it’s not hard to imagine that the seemingly effortless on-screen dynamics between the cast are grounded in a solid working relationship behind the cameras. While The Prince and The Showgirl may not have been quite the artistic collaboration that both Monroe and Olivier were hoping for, My Week with Marilyn is far more likely to have positive repercussions for all those in involved.

Read more of our interview with Simon Curtis here.

The film stormed the box office charts, pulling in $139.5m on its opening weekend – cancelling out its $110m production budget and putting it firmly in the clear. Although it is really a build-up film, with the second half due to deliver a lot of action and the story’s conclusion (similar to the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows), but that’s of no matter to those who are keen to see the saga on screen in full.

What’s really crazy is the global total – currently standing at $283m on opening weekend. Not too long ago, Avatar‘s numbers seemed like science fiction, but it’s not that surprising these days with adaptations of young adult fiction sagas breaking box office records left and right.

If you’ve not seen it yet (I will soon, don’t you worry), then you should go and check it out. Those who have read the books will enjoy it more, as the films are an odd mish-mash of highlight moments and important story beats transposed onto the big screen, but those without the Twi-cred should take a peek nonetheless.