After lots of waiting and speculation, author of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling finally gave fans an insight into what the heck is Pottermore.

Check out the video below -

After watching the clip (twice), I still wasn’t exactly sure what Pottermore was, I just knew it’s gonna be HUGE and exciting! With a little help from the-leaky-cauldron.org, we know that Pottermore will be -

• Pottermore is an interactive new web site and reading experience with more than 18,000 new words from J.K. Rowling: Much more to come.
• JKR behind the scenes filming the video picture.
• An online experience to read, interact with and share the Harry Potter stories. Exclusive writing from J.K. Rowling and more.
• Pottermore will feature infromation J.K. Rowling has been “hoarding” for years about Harry Potter.
• Pottermore will be the exclusive place to purchase the digital audio books and, at last, eBooks of the Harry Potter series.
• Pottermore was developed in association with the leading digital company, TH_NK
• Pottermore was also created in partnership with Sony
• One million fans will get access to a beta on July 31, Harry’s birthday. It will be open for all in October 2011.
• The launch of Pottermore will have more than 18,000 words from J.K. Rowling, but that is only a third of what she has written so far.
• J.K. Rowling said this morning that there is a lot more content to come for the Pottermore site, and she will develop it as it grows.

• You will follow the story, get sorted into a house and get a wand (one of 33,000 possible combinations) – all crafted by JKR.
• JKR is excited to include a long backstory on McGonagall – her childhood, ministry career, early heartbreak…
• JKR said if you’re not sorted into Gryffindor you get even more exclusive content about your house.
• Chamber of Secrets story to debut in 2012.
• There will be info on Minerva McGonagall’s long friendship with Dumbledore
• Also mentioned that Vernon and Petunia met at work, backstory also on Pottermore.

So so so exciting! You can head on over to www.pottermore.com to sign up to receive an email when registration opens for Pottermore on July 31. One million lucky fans will get to try the site out first while the rest of us will have to wait October.

the-leaky-cauldron.org are constantly updating their page as more news comes in, so head on over for all the latest.

When Hollywood is looking for the next big thing, they often turn to the world of literature for inspiration.

With so many of our favorite YA book titles leaving their prized places on our bookshelves for a stint on the silver screen, it can be hard to keep track of them all.

Here’s the latest news from Hollywood, from the big screen, to your screen.

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The Hunger Games

The big news the past few weeks has been centered around the adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games.

So far, the big three have been already been cast – Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta and Liam Hemsworth as Gale.

The newest castmates to be signed up are -

Lenny Kravitz as Cinna

Donald Sutherland as President Snow

Stanely Tucci as Caesar Flickerman

Just about every member including thr tributes have now been cast, for a full cast list check out the movie’s IMDB page here. The film has been given a release date for March 23 2012 for the U.S., U.K. and Canada so far. There’s been talk of the series being split into four movies rather than three (one for each book) but that’s currently unconfirmed.

Our first look at Jennifer as Katniss was revealed on the cover of the May issue of Entertainment Weekly, exciting!

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The Mortal Instruments

The other adaptation that seems to be picking up the pace is Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments with the much awaited announcement of Jamie Campbell Bower (Harry Potter, New Moon) as Jace Wayland.

Cassandra Clare spoke with MTV’s Hollywood Crush about the casting choice -

“He auditioned with Lily, and he and Lily had incredible chemistry that sort of blazed off the scene. I’m just sitting here watching this on my computer, and you know, he was not the only person they’ve ever sent me to look at. I’ve gotten lots of headshots and this and that, and I’m watching the audition and I literally started crying because that was my Jace and Clary on the screen. And it’s an incredible feeling to see that even as an audition. This is amazing. He was snarky funny where he needed to be snarky funny, and he was badass where he needed to be badass. And he and Lily were incredible together.”

To read more from that interview click here.

The search is now on to find the perfect Simon…

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Breaking Dawn

The first trailer for the newest addition to the Twilight franchise – The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 premiered at the MTV movie awards a few weeks ago and looks very exciting! Who doesn’t love a wedding? (Well, Jacob I guess)

If you haven’t already seen it, check it out here

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Early days….

- Saorise Ronan has been cast as Melanie/Wanda in Stephenie Meyer’s The Host
- The company in charge of the Vampire Academy movie is still in the process of finding a studio
- Evan Daugherty has been hired to write the screenplay for Veronica Roth’s Divergent

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That’s all the movie news for the moment!

So finally, a bunch of key players in The Hunger Games movie have been cast, as well as some minor characters. So far, we have:

Haymitch Abernathy – Woody Harrelson

Effie Trinkett – Elizabeth Banks

Prim Everdeen – Willow Shields

Mrs. Everdeen – Paula Malcomson

And our tributes include:

Glimmer – Leven Rambin

Thresh – Dayo Okeniyi

Clove – Isabelle Fuhrman

Cato – Alexander Ludwig

Any complete surprises? Do you think they’re going for talent over big names or appearance? Personally, I’m really happy with their choices so far. The casting director seems to be taking her job seriously and I’m really excited to see how everyone interprets their roles!