So far, 5 of the 7 Harry Potter books have been made into huge, multi-million dollar budget films.  The films have been released over the past 7 years, starting in 2001, and with the sixth movie due out on November 21st, 2008.  The movie version of the first book gained the highest international gross of $976.5 million dollars.  While the lowest grossing movie was of book three, with a total of $795.5 million dollars.  The movies have also had 4 directors.  These four men being Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cauron, Mike Newll, and David Yates, who is signed on to direct the final two films.  To be an actor in the Potter films you must also be a native citizen of the U.K.  The Harry Potter film franchise is worth over $5 billion dollars.

     Daniel Radcliffe is by far the most recognized face of Harry Potter.  He landed the role of Harry when he was just 10 years old and his career has taken off from there.  His most recent works have been Harry, again, in the fifth movie installment, an American mid-40s drama film entitled "December

Boys," and the lead part in the International Broadway production hit of "Equus."  He is currently the 2nd wealthiest person living in England, first being, of course, J.K. Rowling.  He is worth over $145 million dollars and has signed on to play Harry in the last two Potter films.

     Emma Watson is the face of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films.  She was just 9 years old when she beat out thousands of other girls for the role.  Her most recent works include the fifth Harry Potter movie and a television film called "Ballet Shoes." where she plays an orphan with

extraordinary talent.  She also is the newest model for the top high fashion company, Chanel, and is set to star as Princess Pea in "The Tales of Despereaux," which is due out December 19th, 2008.  She is also signed on to do the last two Potter films.

      Rupert Grint plays the part of Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films.  Rupert was 11 years old when he landed the role of Ron.  His recent works

have been the fifth Harry Potter film, and a small independent film call "Driving Lessons."  He is signed on as Ron in the last two films.

     There are many other child actors and actresses in the Harry Potter films that play the fellow students.  Tom Felton plays the evil Draco Malfoy.  Breakthrough star, Evanna Lynch, plays Luna Lovegood.  The other Weasley siblings are played by Bonnie Wright, James Phelps, and Oliver Phelps.

Harry's love interest, Cho Chang is also played by Katie Leung.  Devon Murray plays Seamus Finnegan.  Seamus was also in the Academy Award nominated movie "Angela's Ashes."  All of these actors are signed on to play their parts in the final two movies.

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    The Harry Potter films have cast a few very sucessful actors and actresses to play the parts of teachers of teachers in the movies.  Albus Dumbledore has been played by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon.  Richard Harris is most famous for his roles is "Camelot," and "The Field."  Michael Gambon is most famous for his roles in "Gosford Park," and in Harry Potter.  Proffesor McGonagall is played by Maggie Smith, who is most famous for her roles

in "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," "California Suite", and "Gosford Park."  Alan Rickman plays Professor Snape,  Alan is most famous for his roles in "Robin Hood: Prince of Theives," "Sense and Sensibility," "Sweeney Todd," and of course the
Harry Potter films.  Lastly, we have Emma Thompson, who plays professor Trelawny.  Emma has been in a countless number of movies, but is most famous for her roles in "Sense and Sensibility," "The Remains of the Day," " Howard's End," and "Love Actually."