JK Rowling’s Official Website has been given a totally new design and tells visitors that:

J.K. Rowling is to publish a new novel for adults.
Further details will be announced later in the year.
J.K. Rowling’s official website is currently being refreshed and redesigned, and will be relaunched later this Spring.

You can sign up for email updates and announcements. Additionally, The Blair Partnership has released a Press Release with some more information on the book’s release that quotes JKR as saying:

“Although I’ve enjoyed writing it every bit as much, my next book will be very different to the Harry Potter series, which has been published so brilliantly by Bloomsbury and my other publishers around the world. The freedom to explore new territory is a gift that Harry’s success has brought me, and with that new territory it seemed a logical progression to have a new publisher. I am delighted to have a second publishing home in Little, Brown, and a publishing team that will be a great partner in this new phase of my writing life”

The book rights were bought by Little, Brown and Company in the UK and US and will be released in print and electronic form simultaneously.
Finally, The Associated Press has a new report online with some more information.

Rowling’s agent, Neil Blair, would not disclose financial details of the deal but said Thursday there had been no auction.

“As her new book is for a different audience, and marks a new literary direction for her, it made sense to separate the two and for her new book to be launched by a different publisher,” said Blair.

In a statement, Bloomsbury said its 15-year relationship with Rowling “remains stronger than ever” — and new editions of the seven Potter novels were on the way.

MTV has posted a new PSA for The Trevor Project featuring Daniel Radcliffe that you can watch below. The Trevor Project is a nonprofit organization that offers support to sexual minority youth, particularly those experiencing emotional difficulty dealing with their sexuality who need someone to talk to. The Trevor Project also endeavors to foster safe and inclusive environments in homes and schools.

“I’m Daniel Radcliffe, and I believe that reaching out for help is the bravest thing a person can do,” Radcliffe says in the PSA. “If you are struggling and need support, call the Trevor Lifeline at 1-866-488-7386. It’s free and confidential, and trained counselors are there to listen 24/7 without judgment.”

The 22-year-old said in a statement that his work with the Trevor Project has taught him the importance of being a straight ally and offering his support. “When we let someone know that we accept them for who they are and that we are safe to talk to, we can help save lives,” he said. “It’s as simple as that.”

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II took home an award at the Costume Designers Guild Awards which took place last night.  Jany Temime, the costume designer for Potter since Prisoner of Azkaban, won for Excellence in Fantasy Film and beat

• “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” – Penny Rose
• “Red Riding Hood” – Cindy Evans
• “Thor” – Alexandra Byrne
• “X-Men: First Class” – Sammy Sheldon

Studio Daily had the chance to interview Harry Potter VFX Supervisor Tim Burke and he discussed working on the films for the past 10 years. More specifically he goes into using a digital set for Hogwarts instead of minatures as well as changing Voldemort’s Death scene after a few screenings.

Which shots in the film are your favorites?

Funnily enough, I think the sequence of the shield forming and the destruction of the shield. Even though they weren’t perhaps the most complicated, they were some of the most beautiful. As Voldemort arrived with his army on the hillside, the teachers went into the areas of the courtyard and created a magical shield that enveloped and protected the school. We art-directed the shots at Double Negative and they are elegant.

It took a long time to create the magical shield. Then Voldemort bombarded the school and destroyed the shield. We wanted to give that an epic scale. We referenced the Hindenburg airship disaster, when it went up in flames, to get the scale of the flames and burning materials. That was the reference for pieces of cloth-like fire that dropped down onto the school. It was magical – not in a Harry Potter sense. It was beautiful and shocking at the same time. Those shots were completely CG and had a big design aspect, which is rewarding.

Of course, all the fighting action sequences were great fun. Getting the giants to work by using live-action actors and changing their faces with CG helped us not to have to create full CG characters. We used scaling and oversized people. MPC changed their faces so they didn’t look human.

And I’m not forgetting the dragon that D-Neg created. We had to emphasize and feel sorry for this 60-foot dragon through pure performance. We found reference from badly treated real animals and translated that body language into our character. He was trapped. Unable to fly. Partially blind. And he had been down there his whole life. It was important to emphasize that so you wanted him to escape and when he did, he flew with majesty and pride. That was a lovely story to roll into the character of the dragon.

Today we have a special treat for Jason Isaacs fans, a full episode preview of his upcoming show, Awake, as well as a few clips. “Awake” is an intriguing drama about a detective (Jason Isaacs, “Harry Potter,” “Brotherhood”) who finds he is leading an arduous double life that defies reality. Jason Isaacs will appear on the Today Show on March 1. Fans are encouraged to show up on the plaza to support him! Enjoy all this Awake goodness and be remember to tune-in March 1 at 10/9c on NBC for the premiere! (We will be posting some still from the show soon, so stay tuned)

Following a tragic car accident, detective Michael Britten finds himself awake in two separate realities: one where his teen son, Rex (Dylan Minnette, “Saving Grace”), died in the crash and his wife, Hannah (Laura Allen, “Terriers”), survived and another where Hannah has perished, leaving Michael and Rex to pick up the pieces. In order to keep both of his loved ones alive, Michael begins living in two dueling realities, churning up confusion.

Special Full Episode Preview – In the aftermath of a fatal car accident, Detective Michael Britten struggles with dueling realities in parallel worlds.

This Is Not a Dream – Is Michael Britten’s happiness all in the blink of an eye?

Good cop, bad cop? – Wilmer Valderrama and Steve Harris explain who’s who, and who’s tweeting about it. Series Premiere March 1st Thursdays 10/9c

Mark Williams, who we all know as the loveably Mr Weasley, will be guest staring on Season 7 of Doctor Who.  Doctor Who TV is reporting that he has been seen on set of the series and there is a rumor he is playing Rory’s dad. A photo of him with a young girl on set may be seen here (this is not a behind the scenes shot, it is a girl who worked on the set.)

This is all speculation as it has not been confirmed.