Due to their popularity, Warner Bros. Studios Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter have announced that the animal actors will be returning to the studio tour next month, from February 14-24, 2014.

This February, by popular demand, animal actors from the Harry Potter film series will return to the Studio Tour. A selection of animals, trained by Head Animal Trainer Julie Tottman, will revisit the incredible sets they frequented when working on the films.

• Visitors to the Gryffindor common room set will find it occupied by a cat that played stealthy Mrs Norris, the toad that played Neville Longbottom’s pet Trevor and a number of rats – trained using the same process as those who played Ron Weasley’s pet Scabbers.
• The ginger cat that played Hermione Granger’s bandy-legged feline Crookshanks will be seen on Diagon Alley.
• A Neapolitan Mastiff, trained like those that played Hagrid’s loyal dog Fang, will be stationed outside the half-giant’s hut.
• Visitors will also be able to pose for a picture with a Snowy Owl who played Harry Potter’s letter-delivering owl Hedwig.

In addition to watching live training demonstrations, visitors will discover how animals learnt to ‘act’ by taking a look at the equipment and tricks that were used on set by some of the talented training teams that helped to create the performances of 250+ live animals throughout all eight films.

The nominations for the 2014 BAFTA awards have been released and some familiar names are in the running.

Film | Leading Actress in 2014

• Amy Adams – American Hustle
• Emma Thompson – Saving Mr. Banks
• Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine
• Sandra Bullock – Gravity
• Judi Dench – Philomena

Film | Original Screenplay in 2014

• American Hustle: Eric Warren Singer, David O. Russell
• Inside Llewyn Davis: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
• Gravity: Alfonso Cuarón, Jonás Cuarón
• Blue Jasmine: Woody Allen
• Nebraska: Bob Nelson

Film | Director in 2014

• Paul Greengrass – Captain Phillips
• David O. Russell – American Hustle
• Steve McQueen – 12 Years A Slave
• Martin Scorsese – The Wolf Of Wall Street
• Alfonso Cuarón – Gravity

Film | Film in 2014

• 12 Years A Slave – Anthony Katagas, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Steve McQueen
• American Hustle – Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, Megan Ellison, Jonathan Gordon
• Captain Phillips – Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca
• Philomena – Gabrielle Tana, Steve Coogan, Tracey Seaward
• Gravity – Alfonso Cuarón, David Heyman

A video from the First Day Issue Ceremony for the Harry Potter USPS stamps has been posted by LinnsStampNews. In the video you can see Evanna Lynch as well as the Frog Choir and more!

You can also vote for the Harry Potter stamp series as your favorite of 2013 by clicking on the heart next to the “Harry Potter” category on this website. You can also view more information about the stamps by clicking the arrow on the right side.

Thanks Mugglenet for the tip!

In a new interview with Herald.ie, Evanna Lynch talked about her newest role as a mother and wife of a drug dealer in the thriller Dynamite: A Cautionary Tale.

“I have to play a mother, which is weird, and wife to a drug dealer,” she said. “It is a small indie movie called Dynamite: A Cautionary Tale and hopefully it will premiere in the summer.”

[Ian] Harding plays a family man and drug dealer who is working within the underground porn industry in 1960s New York City, while trying to keep his nearest and dearest in the dark. Lynch takes on the role of his pregnant wife.

She also talked about her holiday and spending time at home:

Lynch, who is based in LA, was back at home in her native Termonfeckin to spend a quiet Christmas with her family. She helped out her local community when she took part in the annual Goal Mile run.

“It was really great to be home and relax for a few days,” she said.

Lynch had returned to Ireland last October for another sizzling role in spell-binding play Houdini at the Gaiety Theatre.

Speaking recently to the Herald, Lynch said that she misses home, especially her parents and brother while abroad with work.

Amazon and Warner Bros. are releasing a Harry Potter Hogwarts Collection DVD/BluRay set this coming February 25, 2014.  This seems to be a more light-weight version of the Harry Potter Wizard’s Collection set released last year. It is priced at $174.99 and contains all eight Harry Potter movies on Blu-ray, DVD and UltraViolet and more than 37 hours of special features including the Creating the World of Harry Potter documentary series. All the features are as follows:

Creating the World of Harry Potter documentary:

• Part 1: The Magic Begins – Explore the early decisions that impacted the entire series, and follow the search for the young leads.
• Part 2: Characters – Learn about the casting process and how the actors brought J.K. Rowling’s beloved characters to life.
• Part 3: Creatures – Meet a new group of wizards: the artists who created the monsters and marvels in Harry’s world.
• Part 4: Sound & Music – Hear how the composers and sound experts used their craft to magnify the series’ emotional journey.
• Part 5: Evolution – Join the filmmakers as they discuss how the creative vision for the films evolved throughout the series.
• Part 6: Magical Effects – Watch how technical wizards conjured up an amazing alternate reality using CGI and practical effects.
• Part 7: Story – Listen in as J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves discuss how the books were adapted for the screen.
• Part 8: Growing Up – See how the young stars’ ideas of acting, fame and themselves have changed over ten years.

PLUS A BONUS DISC with over 3 hours of features including:

• “The Harry Potters You Never Met” – Meet the stunt doubles for Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as they demonstrate how they balanced major stunt work with seamlessly mimicking the actors they represented and share their favorite moments.
• “Designing the World of Harry Potter” – Explore how production designer Stuart Craig and his creative team brought J.K. Rowling’s imagination to life on the screen.
• “When Harry Left Hogwarts” (Extended Version) – Hear candid and emotional stories about the final days on set in this extended behind-the-scenes look.
• “50 Greatest Harry Potter Moments” (Definitive Version) – Take a look back with cast members who share their on and off-screen memories.
•  “Secrets Revealed! Quidditch” – At last, the secrets behind the special effects required for the breathtaking Quidditch scenes are revealed!
• “Secrets Revealed! Hagrid”- See the camera tricks, towering stand-in and voluminous body suits behind the beloved Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts.

Universal Orlando has released a second teaser trailer for the Diagon Alley expansion, opening Summer 2014.  The first trailer didn’t show any of the park or clues to the rides but can be viewed here.