Bloomsbury have sent over some exciting news this morning. Award-winning artist Jonny Duddle has redesigned the covers of all seven books to reinvent the children’s hardback and paperback editions of Harry Potter. You can see a photo of the new Philosopher’s Stone cover in the gallery. According to the press release:

Along with the brand new artwork and an updated author biography, the editions will also be reset to create a child-friendly reading experience for a new generation of readers. The titles will also contain highlights from Pottermore, the digital platform for Harry Potter. All seven titles will be published on 1st September 2014.

Together with J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury selected Jonny to create front, back and spine artwork for each book. On the honor, Jonny said:

‘I’m hugely excited to work my way through the wonderful books. I couldn’t have asked for more enjoyable subject matter. It’s exciting, daunting and I feel the weight of responsibility, and I’m just hoping that my illustrations faithfully reflect the characters and world created by J.K.Rowling’

Jonny Duddle is best known for his award-winning picture books, including The Pirate Cruncher and The Pirates Next Door (winner of the Waterstones Children’s Prize and shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize). He has a background in the computer games industry and is highly skilled at character development. His work has appeared in Aardman films and Terry Pratchett novels.

Pottermore will publish the eBook editions of all seven books with the Jonny Duddle jackets at the same time. Bloomsbury has also collaborated with Pottermore to highlight how readers can discover more about the world of Harry Potter on Pottermore.com from J.K. Rowling. This information will feature in the back of the new children’s editions.

And, as we posted back in December, Jim Kay’s fully illustrated colour edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will still be published by Bloomsbury (and Pottermore) in Autumn 2015. It will be available in hardback and eBook and the remaining six books will be published annually after that.

They also tease that even more exciting Harry Potter plans will be announced at the London Book Fair in April.

Universal Orlando have shared two new advertisements for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley expansion, opening this Summer. The first ad is titled ‘There’s Something Brewing in Orlando…’ and shows some new clips.

The second is called ‘Who Says Lightning Never Strikes Twice?’

The Murder in the First Facebook page has been updated with the first trailer for the show, starring Tom Felton. The series will premiere on Monday, June 9 at 10/9c only on TNT! Tom plays the character of Erich Blunt, the young, arrogant, extremely wealthy CEO of Applicon.

Thanks to Feltbeats for the tip!

The Big Issue has posted a new interview with Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe. They talk about the fame that Harry Potter has given them as well as swapping their costumes for the streets and selling The Big Issue.

“Going out and selling The Big Issue would undoubtedly be a challenge, especially for me and Rupert,” explains Radcliffe, winner of Best Actor in a Play for Broadway-bound The Cripple of Inishmaan. “But it would be a positive and edifying experience and I’d be happy to support The Big Issue in any way.

“I’d love to try selling The Big Issue, absolutely,” added West End debutant Grint, winner of the same London Newcomer of the Year for Mojo that Radcliffe scooped in 2008. “I can’t imagine how difficult a job it is for these guys out on the street. I was terrified about how I would handle the play before it started but I gave it my best and I’d certainly give this a go too.”

On fame, Daniel said:

“We’ve lived our lives in a certain bubble, which has changed the way people relate and talk to you,” Radcliffe said of himself and fellow Hogwarts alumnus Rupert Grint. “As actors we are afforded a certain attitude towards us, and this is a very privileged way to walk through the world. To swap that and get a taste for how a huge amount of people are treated in the world would be a rewarding experience.”

In addition to the press release and photos we posted early this morning, Universal has released a new sneak peek video at the Hogwarts Express. The Hogwarts Express will feature two different experiences whether you’re traveling from London to Hogsmeade or vice versa.  In the video we get to see Warwick Davis in his Griphook costume talking about the ride. as well as Universal’s Alan Gilmore, Mark Woodbury. Even Rupert Grint, James and Oliver Phelps join in!

A new mini-site and interactive site are also online showing a map of the two sections connected. The interactive site lets you explore Diagon Alley with an introduction from Hagrid.

For the first time ever, you will be able to take a ride aboard the iconic Hogwarts^™ Express* between London’s King’s Cross Station and Hogsmeade^™ Station. Encounter different characters and creatures from the Harry Potter^™ films each way as you travel through the British countryside.

If you have a Park-to-Park Ticket or Annual Pass, you can pass through platform 9 ¾™ and board the Hogwarts™ Express* from King’s Cross Station in London, located inside Universal Studios Florida® theme park, and travel to Hogsmeade™ Station, located inside Universal’s Islands of Adventure® theme park (right next door to Universal Studios®). Or you can ride the train in the other direction—it’s a different experience each way!

In a new press release from this morning, Pottermore reveals that J.K. Rowling wrote the “History of the Quidditch World Cup” and the first part has been released on Pottermore already.  She wrote the information after asking fans to use the hashtag #Wizards4ScotlandRugbyTeam on Twitter.

Rowling’s 2,400-word history of the thrilling game played by witches and wizards on flying broomsticks is featured in the popular Harry Potter series of books. “History of the Quidditch World Cup” is one of Rowling’s longest pieces of original content ever posted on Pottermore, which launched April 2012.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to publish such an imaginative and engaging story from J.K. Rowling about the history of the Wizarding world’s most exciting sport,” said Susan L. Jurevics, Chief Executive Officer, Pottermore. “We’re committed to being the only digital destination where fans can discover new original content about the world of Harry Potter from J.K. Rowling. ‘History of the Quidditch World Cup’ helps us not only fulfill that mission, but it also serves to entertain and delight our community.”

“History of the Quidditch World Cup” will be available in two sections over the next week on Pottermore.com. Part one, which was posted today, provides historical background about the tournament, information about how the tournament works, and examples of controversial tournaments, including the infamous 1877 match played in Kazakhstan’s Ryn Desert now known as the Tournament that Nobody Remembers.

Part two of J.K. Rowling’s “History of the Quidditch World Cup” will be published Friday, March 21. It will feature amusing recaps of some notable recent matches that have been held every four years since 1990.

“History of Quidditch World Cup” is characterized by Rowling’s humor and wry observations about the sport. In one section about Quidditch regulations, she writes: “The rulebook concerning both on- and off-pitch magic is alleged to stretch to nineteen volumes and to include such rules as ‘no dragon is to be introduced into the stadium for any purpose including, but not limited to, team mascot, coach or cup warmer’ and ‘modification of any part of the referee’s body, whether or not he or she has requested such modifications, will lead to a lifetime ban from the tournament and possibly imprisonment.’”