Thanks to SnitchSeeker, we know that it has been announced by Warner Bros. and IMAX that the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them trilogy will be relelased in IMAX.

“We’ve had an incredible partnership with Warner Bros. for more than 10 years, which has helped IMAX filmgoers enjoy Warner movies around the world,” said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. “We’re excited and grateful to extend that partnership.”

“With this multi-picture deal, IMAX and Warner Bros. continue a lengthy and substantial partnership, which is invested in bringing the highest-quality entertainment to the most awe-inspiring cinematic experience,” said Greg Foster, Senior Executive Vice President, IMAX Corp. and CEO of IMAX Entertainment. “But at its core, this deal enriches and broadens IMAX’s relationship with key filmmakers, who have always been a top priority for Warner Bros. in bringing the most compelling cinema to audiences around the world.”

Collider also released an interview with producer David Heyman where he discussed the upcoming film.

Obviously, it’s very difficult to successfully adapt any book series, and you did that, above and beyond, with the Harry Potter films. What does it mean to you to have had a hand in that, and what are the biggest concerns for you, in continuing that legacy with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?

What does it mean? I don’t know. It’s just about doing the best you can, telling stories in a way that is making good films with characters that people of any age can relate to and that move an audience. It’s really exciting to be embarking upon Fantastic Beasts. I can’t wait. Jo [Rowling] has got such an incredible imagination, and it’s lovely to be in the wizarding world again.

How far along are you in the development process for Fantastic Beasts, and do you know when you’ll start shooting?

Jo is writing, and we don’t yet have a start date. We’re in the very early stages of pre-production and development.

There’s been talk about certain actors possibly getting involved. How excited are you to possibly have Eddie Redmayne as the star, and how soon do you think you’ll announce your lead actor?There are a few big parts. We’re early on in our casting process. There are some really exciting possibilities for the parts, but we’re still very early on in the journey.

Illustrated by Jim Kay, Kate Greenaway Medal winner, the front cover image shows Harry Potter beside the majestic Hogwarts Express.

Published globally on 6th October 2015 this will be the first fully illustrated edition of J.K. Rowling’s original Harry Potter novel. The hardback edition will include ribbon marker, head and tail bands, illustrated endpapers and colour artwork on every spread. The illustrated edition will be published in more than 21 languages around the world. All will be using Jim Kay’s artwork and will be joining the UK and the US in bringing this beautiful edition to life.

It is set to be the landmark publishing event of 2015. Fiona Noble of the The Bookseller said: “I’m willing to call this the most handsome and desirable gift book of the year. It is stunning…with full colour illustrations throughout from Greenaway Medal winner Kay, who breathes incredible life into these much-loved characters and locations, staying faithful to Rowling’s vision but revitalising the story for a new generation.”

The Harry Potter novels have now sold approximately 450 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 78 languages. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was voted the nation’s favourite children’s book in a 2013 poll by reading charity Booktrust.

This morning Bloomsbury sent over brand new artwork from the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: Illustrated Edition. Illustrated by Jim Kay, the image shows the front of Flourish & Blotts the bookshop on Diagon Alley where Harry buys his first set of school books. The image appears on the front of Bloomsbury Children’s Books New Titles catalogue (Jul-Dec 2015) and is part of a larger illustration of Diagon Alley that will appear in the finished book. You can pre-order the book at Waterstones.

Published globally on 6th October 2015 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: Illustrated Edition will be the first fully illustrated edition of J.K. Rowling’s original Harry Potter novel. The hardback edition will include ribbon marker, head and tail bands, illustrated endpapers and  artwork on every spread. Many of the original Harry Potter publishers around the globe will be joining the UK and the US in bringing this illustrated edition to life – and it is set to be the landmark publishing event of 2015.

The illustration may be seen in the gallery with a preview above.  The description from the book that inspired the artwork is as follows:

“They bought Harry’s school books in a shop called Flourish & Blotts where the shelves were stacked to the ceiling with books as large as paving stones bound in leather; books the size of postage stamps in covers of silk; books full of peculiar symbols and a few books with nothing in them at all. Even Dudley, who never read anything, would have been wild to get his hands on some of these.” Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Bloomsbury also sent over a Q&A with the illustrator:

How did you feel when you found out you would be illustrating the Harry Potter novels?
Scientists say the Big Bang is to be followed by the Big Crunch, I feel I have firsthand experience of this theory, for hearing the news that I’d got the commission was an explosion of delight, followed instantly by an implosion of brain-freezing terror. From my point of view it is, without doubt, the best commission you can be given – I’m a bit of a control freak, so to be given the opportunity to design the characters, the costume, the architecture and landscapes to possibly the most expansive fantasy world in children’s literature, well lets just say I’m extremely excited about it. However, I am also mindful of the huge responsibility this represents, I just want to make sure I do the best job I possibly can.

Is there a particular character or scene that you are looking forward to illustrating?
It’s like trying to choose the shiniest object in Aladdin’s Cave; you pick up one treasure, and another gem catches your eye. I couldn’t even pick a favourite creature at the moment (maybe a Thestral, or a Bowtruckle, but then the Goblins are wonderful characters, mind you there are Trolls too – you see my problem!). It’s been lovely thinking about casting the characters, but at the moment my favourite task is creating Hogwarts – it’s the first time I’ve thought about building something supported by magic – it’s harder than you’d think.

How do you as an artist approach such a large job? Where do you begin with such a wide range of possibilities?
It sounds obvious but you start with the text. The story is everything, and so I want to bring what I can to really show the depth of Rowling’s stories, to their best. Then it’s a case of research, and lots of it. The books have made me look at people differently, I’m always scanning crowds for interesting faces. For an illustrator there’s no such thing as an ugly or odd looking person – they are all interesting. Luckily for me, Kettering is home to some very interesting people indeed. Museums and Libraries are my favourite places for inspiration. You might see something, it could be a medieval shoe, an old clock, or a stuffed monkey, and immediately it gives you ideas about the characters in the story, the things they would do, the way they walk. The tricky thing I’ve found is my annoying habit of reigning in the more fantastical elements of my sketches when working them up, it’s taken a while for it to sink in that for this commission I can go a little bit crazy. Above my desk, the words ‘It’s Fantasy, Stupid” are now a daily reminder to have a bit of fun.

Are you a Harry Potter fan? If so, what are your first memories of reading the books?
I AM a Harry Potter fan, although true to form, I arrived a little late to the party. I actually heard Steven Fry’s wonderful audio book of Philosopher’s Stone before reading it, initially because I’d sat on a tube train full of school children who were chatting about Potter with great excitement. It was actually the recollections of starting a new school that really connected with me (we moved house when I was young, and I had to start at a big school where I didn’t know anybody). As an adult I’d forgotten how hard school actually was, and it all came flooding back – particularly when reading The Order of the Phoenix – the dread of exams! It’s amazing to think, all of Potter’s world, the streets, the shops, the creatures, the characters, all of these wonderful things come from the brain of one person. To me, that’s magic, some grey matter in someones head inspires others to read, play, and create ideas of their own. It’s like a spell that jumps from person to person, recasting itself as it goes. I want to keep that spell going, perhaps adding my own little twist, if possible. I hope over the years we will see lots of different illustrators having a go, in the way that Alice in Wonderland has inspired artists for over a century.

Who is your favourite character from the Harry Potter universe?
This is like trying to choose your favourite record, it changes all the time. I have a soft spot for Neville, particularly because of his awkwardness, but you have to admire Hermione, because she puts the hours in at the Library, she’s the cement really that holds it all together, well it would be a different story. I want to know more about Severus, there’s so much depth there. Visually, though, it has to be Hagrid; he’s got a wonderful heart, clothed in an enormous, shabby body. Hagrid’s Hut is, for me, like an extension of his physique: it makes him a part of Hogwarts, but keeps him at a distance too.

What were your favourite books as a child?
I remember sitting up in bed, with a copy of one of Willard Price’s “Adventure” series in my hands, and on my lap a colossal book of facts such as ‘The Encyclopaedia of Natural History’. You see, Willard’s books were ripping yarns about two brothers who got into all sorts of scrapes searching for rare and exotic animals in far-flung places. So I’d read about their adventures, then swot up on the animals they found. Those fact books were so heavy, I couldn’t feel my feet after a few chapters, but I was in nerd-heaven, nonetheless.

Who are your favourite illustrators (either classic or modern)?
Crumbs, so many, Eric Ravilious for his paintings, Edmund Dulac for his exquisite colour, I think Alexis Deacon is an astonishing draughtsman, possibly the most gifted illustrator around, and I love the work of Ian Miller too, who produces wonderful illustrations of castles, knights, goblins and orcs. I’d love to see his version of Harry Potter; it would take a brave child to enter Miller’s Hogwarts I reckon.

How would you describe your own art style?
I tend to change my style to fit the story, which makes life very difficult, but it’s good to keep pushing yourself. If something’s not a little bit frightening, then it’s probably not worth doing. I’m still learning about illustration, and I still feel pretty new to this (this will be my third book), and I hope I never stop learning, because there are so many things I want to try – I feel I haven’t scratched the surface yet.

What tips would you offer to young people who are keen to become artists/illustrators?
I’ve met a lot of children who say they can’t draw or paint very well, and believe that a life as an artist or a designer is therefore closed to them. It’s tragic because the ideas they have are often incredible, and I think ideas are the most valuable possession of anyone in a creative industry. Drawing and painting is a bit like playing the guitar; if you practise enough you will get better with time, so don’t worry about that side of it, just concentrate on getting your ideas down, because that’s what makes you different from everybody else. And don’t forget, if you have a great idea, it will shine through the crudest of drawings, in the same way a great song might only need three chords on a guitar to bring it to life.

Do you have a daily routine when it comes to illustrating?
Well, it’s remarkably unremarkable: Get up, walk the dog, draw all day and all night, throw all of the days work in the bin, and go to bed hoping tomorrow is one of those days where something stays out of the bin. At the moment the bin is winning 3-0, I’m hoping tomorrow I’ll score a couple of away goals.

Today Bloomsbury has released a J.K. Rowling Bibliography chronicalling the years of her career from 1997 – 2013. Fans in the US can pre-order the book on Amazon. Philip Errington, Director for Children’s Books within the Department of Printed Books and Manuscripts at Sotheby’s, wrote the book over 5 years. Always J.K. Rowling have interviewed Philip and chatted about the process of creating the book.

Has J.K. Rowling seen your bibliography? If so, what was her reaction?

I have kept J.K. Rowling and Neil Blair, her agent, fully informed of progress over the five years it has taken to write the bibliography. They have seen various drafts at several important moments. J.K. Rowling described the book as “slavishly thorough and somewhat mind-boggling”. That’s possibly the highest praise for which a bibliographer could wish.

Did you work closely with J.K. Rowling’s agents and publishers?

Yes, I had the delight of trawling through many archive boxes at Bloomsbury. When someone packs material in a box and sends it off to storage it’s frequently an exercise in reclaiming desk space. They don’t imagine future researchers will sit in a corner sifting through the piles of paper. That was tremendously rewarding. But also the opportunity to ask others to access information has been invaluable. The staff at The Blair Partnership have been exceptionally helpful in trying to uncover precise facts.

What drew you to compile a bibliography of J.K. Rowling’s work?

I work within the book department at Sotheby’s and regularly sell collectable editions of Rowling’s work. One day a well-respected book dealer complained to me of the lack of a Rowling bibliography. Gossip was being claimed as fact and there was no reliable point of reference. As my academic background is in bibliography and I had worked with J.K. Rowling on a major project previously, I thought researching her bibliography would be an interesting project. I was rather amazed at how receptive everyone was to the proposal.

What do you find most interesting about J.K. Rowling’s work?

That’s a tricky one. Personally I find the plots staggeringly well-constructed. Each Harry Potter story works as a separate book, but there’s also the entirely consistent plotting across all seven books. It’s little wonder that the author has now turned to detective fiction for the ability to construct, take apart and analyse a plot is, I think, a crucial part of her writing.

Can you tell us one surprising or little known fact about the publishing history of Harry Potter?

One of the big facts is the number of hardback and paperback copies printed of the first edition of the first book. Both were published on the same day with 500 hardbacks and 5150 paperbacks. In the past there have been stories of a total of 500 hardbacks and paperbacks. I’m also delighted to describe what appears to be the first appearance in print of any Harry Potter. Most people would assume this would be the proof printing, but no. Bloomsbury published a volume of forthcoming highlights in early 1997. The complete fourth chapter of Philosopher’s Stone was included.

What is the most interesting item associated with J.K. Rowling that you have had in your hands?

That’s a very easy one. I’ll take off my bibliographer’s hat and wear my Sotheby’s one. In December 2007 Sotheby’s was approached to sell a handwritten copy of J.K. Rowling’s The Tales of Beedle the Bard. I was responsible for the cataloguing and later accompanied the book to the United States for exhibition. The text was unpublished at that stage and every page was in the author’s distinctive handwriting; it was quite an object. When the hammer came down after a fierce bidding war, the result of £1.95million was a world record for a children’s book and also a modern literary manuscript. But more important it was to benefit a wonderful charity – now called Lumos. I had handled an exceptional piece but also played a small role in helping the charity.

What do you think will most interest Harry Potter fans in your bibliography?

The basic facts. There will also be those who want to work out if they have a rare edition. All the information to tell is in the bibliography. A bibliography is, of course, a guide to an author. But who knew that there are four issues of The Daily Prophet which were published by Bloomsbury for the Harry Potter fan club and each of these was written by J.K. Rowling. There’s also a section in the bibliography entitled ‘Books and Pamphlets with contributions by J.K. Rowling’ as it’s worth remembering that the author has published other material outside her own books. Indeed, this section has twenty entries. Where would you need to look to find a letter written by Jo (aged 45) to her 16 year-old self? Or, perhaps, telling us about great books to read aloud? Of course, the bibliography doesn’t include these texts – but the book does identify the canon.

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, quite a few among us look to the great romances of film, TV and books for help when it comes to Valentine’s Day. A survey undertaken for Ladbrokes Bingo asked 2,000 people for their thoughts about favourite characters in fiction and their search for love.

To celebrate a long, complicated relationship between romance and fiction, we have created some fun Valentine’s cards based on some of the most iconic examples of love. Drawing inspiration from film favourites and TV megahits, we hope that these cards will help to make Valentine’s Day one to remember!

One of them is based on Harry Potter and has the phrase “Muggle Snuggle” along with Harry’s glasses and a scar within a heart. You can view all the Valentine’s on their website.

Along with the images, they have come up with some Harry Potter love statistics.

• 18% of 18-24 year olds voted Ron and Hermione as their favourite couple from TV and film.
• Maybe J.K Rowling should have played the fictional romances out a little differently as a whopping 20% of the nation believe that Harry and Hermione should have ended up together as opposed to only 12% who voted Ron and Hermione as their favourite TV/Film coupling.
• Apart from the Friends “we were on a break” fiasco, Ron dumping a very disgruntled Lavender in the hospital was named the second worst breakup of screen history. (18%)
• 14% of 18-24 year olds said Dobby’s death was the most heart-breaking moment in film history.
• The nation also voted Dobby’s death as more heart-breaking than The Notebook, My Sister’s Keeper, ET and My Girl!
• It seems the films were slightly more popular than the books; of those who had both read the books and seen the films, the majority (37%) said they preferred the films. Although by a very small amount as 35% said they preferred the books and 28% said they liked them equally.

Oyster, a streaming subscription service for ebooks, has added the complete Harry Potter series, including the seven main Harry Potter ebooks and three Hogwarts Library eBooks, to it’s quality library in a partnership with Pottermore. Oyster is the first and only place you can read every Harry Potter ebook–including the seven main books and the three Hogwarts Library books–in one place through your subscription.

To celebrate the partnership, Oyster has created an ebook reading experience that offers an unprecedented way to enjoy Harry Potter. Oyster’s Reader Themes will be replaced by “House Themes,” with designs inspired by Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, and readers can tap the Sorting Hat icon to have one chosen at random.

Oyster is also sending one lucky reader and a guest on a trip to Universal Orlando Resort to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Readers can find about more about entering the sweepstakes at oysterbooks.com/harrypotter