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J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Biz Booming with New Book Planned for Sale in 4 Editions

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J.K. Rowling is already a wizard at making money, but now she’s becoming a true star. In July, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” will open in London’s West End, followed by a movie to Broadway, and then the world. It’s the sequel to the Harry Potter books, featuring the children of the main characters on new adventures.

Today Rowling announced on her Pottermore website– which sells ebook downloads and loads of merchandise including expensive jewelry–that a new book will accompany the play. I mean, of course it will. That can’t be all. I imagine the merch tie-ins with that play to be a whole business unto itself.

The whole thing is quite a phenomenon. And ka ching, ka ching for J.K.

Here’s the whole statement from Pottermore, which does sell everything except Quidditch brooms.

Big things are coming this year from the Wizarding World, including the Special Rehearsal Edition of the script book of new stage play ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II’.

A host of new print and digital publishing has been announced from J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, including a Special Rehearsal Edition of the script book of new stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II.

Print and digital editions will publish simultaneously after the play’s world premiere this summer, and will comprise of the version of the play script at the time of the play’s preview performances.

Theatre previews allow the creative team the chance to rehearse and explore scenes further before a production’s official opening night. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opens for previews several weeks before its official first performance on Saturday 30 July and the Special Rehearsal Edition of the script book will later be replaced by a Definitive Collector’s Edition.

Pottermore will bring you further updates on the Definitive Collector’s Edition as we learn more.

Readers and moviegoers last saw Harry waving off his children at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts, in the epilogue to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child picks up after that moment and is staged in two parts, due to the ‘epic nature of the story’.

The play opens in London’s West End this summer, based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. It is officially the eighth story in Harry Potter canon and a new play by Jack Thorne.

Interest in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child from Wizarding World fandom has been massive, and now Potter fans across the globe will be able to join Harry, Ron and Hermione on the next stage of their journey.

Jamie Parker, who originated the role of Scripps in The History Boys, has been cast as Harry. He is joined by Olivier Award-winning actress Noma Dumezweni as Hermione and theatre, film and TV actor Paul Thornley as Ron.

For J.K. Rowling’s devoted readers 2017 is also a momentous year, as it marks the twentieth anniversary of the UK publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Next year will see the publication of four special editions of the first book in the UK, one for each of the four Hogwarts houses. There will also be a brand new edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in 2017, with new content by J.K. Rowling, as well as new formats and editions of the Hogwarts Library books – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Quidditch Through the Ages and The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

Pottermore doesn’t play favourites, but we’re especially looking forward to nabbing a copy of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets illustrated by Jim Kay. That’s coming a little sooner, in October 2016, and we’ll be prodding Jim for a look at his latest work soon because we’re nosy like that.

“Zoolander 2” Is a Bad Movie, But At Least Justin Bieber Is Killed in the First 10 Minutes

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SPOILER ALERT Justin Bieber is killed in the first few minutes of “Zoolander 2,” his body riddled with bullets. There was applause when this happened last night, at the premiere at Alice Tully Hall. Later in the movie, Will Ferrell mentions the killing of Bieber rhetorically and gets a good laugh.

Otherwise, the laughs are hard to find in “Zoolander 2,” as Ben Stiller said last night, “sequel to a movie that wasn’t a hit.” One “Zoolander” (2001) was more than enough. This one has no plot or story so Stiller and Justin Theroux et al. fill it up with celebrity cameos galore– so many that you lose count.

Bieber is only the beginning. Billy Zane from “Titanic” has a big part, Susan Sarandon is in there, Sting has a pretty sizeable part (and he’s funny), Benedict Cumberbatch also does (and he’s quite good as a zombie like transsexual), plus you’ll see Ariana Grande and a shrunken Fred Armisen and god knows who else (Katy Perry, Matt Lauer, a bunch of different TV correspondents).

Maybe that will be a selling point– like “Where’s Waldo?”– trying to spot all the celebs and quasi-celebs playing themselves. But what about the actual movie? How about finding the actual actors? Kristen Wiig is virtually unrecognizable. Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson and Will Ferrell are the only distinct people left over from the first movie. Penelope Cruz is so gorgeous that is doesn’t matter we have no idea what she’s doing.

Most of “Zoolander 2” is just mind-numbing as Owen Wilson’s Hansel negotiates orgies (funny bit with Kiefer Sutherland). Derek Zoolander, widowed, has had his fat 12 year old son taken away from him for some reason, and wants to get him back. Both Derek and Hansel are idiots, they know it, and we know it. They’ve learned nothing, and will learn nothing.

But instead of being a sly satire of fashion, “Zoolander 2” has been made into some of kind of “Avengers” movie– although I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be a parody or is straight on. Either way, there’s so much of it, heaped on more of it, with lots of special effects and filler, that there’s no way of knowing.

It doesn’t help that somehow Anna Wintour, the editor in real life of “Vogue,” shrewdly depicted in “The Devil Wears Prada,” actually has a speaking role as a fashion villain– along with Vogue advertisers Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Jacobs, Valentino, and so on. By the time they all show up, the movie is so inside and up its own derriere, that it doesn’t matter.

It’s not like I’m not a Ben Stiller fan– I loved “Tropic Thunder,” and I admire greatly his acting in Noach Baumbach’s movies “Greenberg” and “While We’re Young.” But his directing “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” was a disaster in the same way that “Zoolander 2” capsizes under its own weight. He needs a script editor, badly, because his really good jokes and pungent satirical moments get lost in a sea of too many ideas.

The scene at Lincoln Center was rather priceless, by the way. MC Hammer and Neil deGrasse Tyson (each in the movie– don’t ask) were there, and met in the lobby, as were Molly Shannon (with her kids), Broadway director Diane Paulus, and TV actor-comic-scandal magnet Andy Dick, among others. Dick headed off to dinner with Ben Stiller’s sister, Amy. Many were not invited to the after party thrown by Anna Wintour and Valentino across the street at the Lincoln restaurant. (Anna chose the list– and she doesn’t really like anyone. How she can see anyone from behind those dark glasses is anyone’s guess.)

But I did see one of those tall Jenner girls, who arrived with a team of stylists and assistants. She’s like a giraffe. Then came her mother, Kris, in a huge fur coat. It’s very instructive how Anna Wintour has embraced low culture as a way of selling Vogue in a time when magazines are just about dead. Her most famous predecessor, Diana Vreeland, would be completely horrified. But it’s just the way Donald Trump has skillfully cultivated rednecks and the working class, convincing them he’s their friend. Harvard should study how they’ve done this.

There were several children in the audience. This movie was not for them, so be warned. They didn’t like it.

Lionel Richie Plans Grammy Surprise with John Legend, Meghan Trainor, Demi Lovato, Luke Bryan… and Adele?

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The Grammys are planning a Lionel Richie surprise for Monday night, following Lionel’s big Saturday night MusiCares Person of the Year dinner.

They’ve drafted Meghan Trainer, Demi Lovato, Luke Bryan and John Legend from the MusiCares show to perform a tribute to Lionel on the Grammys. They say the quartet will do a mini history medley of Richie’s many hits from the Commodores right through his solo career. I wish they’d ask Kenny Rogers to sing “Lady,” but no one asked me.

Then the big news: Lionel will perform a “surprise version” of one of his hits. Knowing Ken Ehrlich’s penchant for putting together unusual duos, I’d wager that Lionel and Adele sing “Hello” to each other. That would stop the show and cause mayhem. Otherwise, it’s possible the big surprise is a “We Are the World” with all the artists on the show joining in.

Either way, it should be good TV.

“Twilight” Time? “Divergent” Part 4 Director Quits Amid Lions Gate Stock Collapse

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Lions Gate Films is already in enough trouble; their stock has been in a nosedive for months. Right now it’s at $18.79. Two weeks ago it was up around $29.

Lions Gate’s main problem is that they appear to have no plans and no big films to replace the “Twilight” and “Hunger Games” series. Their last serial is “Divergent,” the short of lowly cousin of the others.

Now the director of “Divergent” chapters 2 and 3, Robert Schwentke, has decided not to finish the series with number 4. (Neil Burger directed chapter 1.) Schwentke, they say, is exhausted from making two movies back to back.

The first “Divergent” made $150 million, not a huge amount for a Young Adult romance/slash/dystopian fantasy. The second one took in $130 million. The third one, coming March 18th, is a question mark. If it falls another $20 million, Lions Gate will be looking for something spectacular and new to attract viewers to a fourth film. They’ll have to hurry, too, to find a new director with a great vision. “Ascendant” is supposed to open on June 9th next year.

These serials are tricky. By the time you reach the last film, the original audience is four or five years older and has moved on to more interesting stuff. Witness the final “Hunger Games.” Teens had already read the last book and graduated the class. “Ascendant” may be “Decedent” by then.

Grammy Dilemma: Who Opens the Show? Taylor Swift or Broadway Hit “Hamilton”?

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There are days when you really want to be Ken Ehrlich and days when you think, so glad I’m not him.

Ehrlich, producer of the Grammy Awards, has a dilemma. He’s already announced that the Broadway mega hit “Hamilton,” would open the Grammys at 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern, live, on stage in New York, with their big opening number.

What a brilliant idea, right? “Hamilton” is nominated for best live show and it’s going to win the Tony Awards, which are also on CBS this June, so perfect.

Now hitsdailydouble.com is reporting that Taylor Swift will open the Grammy broadcast. She’s got a bunch of nominations and is likely to win Album of the Year at least. At least. Aside from Adele, Taylor’s “1989” was the huge success story of 2015.

They can’t both be opening the show unless Taylor is flying to New York and playing Alexander Hamilton’s cousin or something.

So what to do? Who will win this tug of war? After all, “Hamilton” starts at 8. They’re bringing in an invited audience for the evening. Are they going to hang around and not start their show– it’s long, by the way, at almost three hours–until the Grammys are ready? Hamilton and Aaron Burr won’t be dueling until midnight!

Everyone should have these problems! I’m rooting for Ken. Anyway, Taylor should be waited for a little bit, no?

Baby What a Big Surprise: Peter Cetera Won’t Join Chicago for Rock Hall Induction

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Peter Cetera will not be joining former Chicago bandmates for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He’s posted on his blog that it’s all too much for him. Well, you know what, he doesn’t really know what time it is, does he? It’s way past time for this kind of petty crap. So good night and good luck.

PS Chicago was better when we didn’t know who he was, back when the horn arrangements were the big deal. The albums from the 80s, which he touts on Wikipedia, are dreadful. So he’s better off staying home frankly, and reliving his halcyon days with Amy Grant.

Here’s his statement. “Hard to say I’m sorry” indeed:

February 8, 2016

I just sent this to the RnR hall of fame people. This is the the short high road nice version of what I really wanted to say. I’ll post that response at the appropriate time. Ciao,

Hello Alex and Joel!
Unfortunately, this scenario doesn’t work for me. I know we all did our best to make it happen, but I guess it’s just not meant to be.
Personally, I’m frustrated and tired of dealing with this and it’s time to move on. I have a life with two beautiful daughters and a solo career and its time to get back and give them all the full attention they deserve.
Thanks for all your help and consideration! Have a great show and please send any individual award I receive to the contact you have for me.
All the best, Peter Cetera

Here’s the real Chicago:

Terrence Malick’s “Knight of Cups” Screens In Santa Barbara to Scathing Reviews, Indifference, Sleep

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Terrence Malick was once a genius. “Days of Heaven” and “Badlands” were works of art. He was indulged, however, by people with money who thought backing him would be cool.

The result is “Knight of Cups,” the latest in a series of sleep inducing farces, Emperor’s new clothes scenarios. This started with Tree of Life, then To the Wonder. They are films with almost no dialogue, no plot or story, beautiful pictures, movie stars who’ve been convinced their participation will make them arty. In t his one it’s Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Brian Dennehy, Freida Pinto, and so on.

On Twitter there are several messages of sleep and boredom. To wit:

Ain’t it Cool News wrote: “This film is garbage. I’d say it is pretentious garbage, but I don’t even think it rises to that level. People are calling it “experimental,” but let’s get real. It is not really an experiment when you do the same thing over and over. This movie is just Christian Bale walking around in random scenes, instead of Ben Affleck. You didn’t have a script when you made it. You didn’t even tell Christian Bale what the movie was about. That’s just asshole behavior right there — to think you are so good that you don’t need to make your movie about anything.”

Malick, of course, didn’t go to the Santa Barbara screening. No one other than his inner circle and the actors have seen him in years. We used to care about this. Now, not so much. I can’t see “Knight of Cups” unless I am ready for bed, by the way. I slept through To the Wonder twice.

“Knight of Cups” has already opened and closed in several countries. It opens in the US March 4th. I’d go see it right away before it’s put on planes to help insomniac passengers.

The “Training Day” TV Series Will Be Opposite of Movie: Denzel Washington Character Is Now White

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All the 40 to 55 year old black actors who thought they might get a chance to play Denzel Washington’s Oscar winning character from “Training Day” on TV: put your guns down. The TV series will be the opposite of the movie.

The scene chewing older cop with his own set of rules is now white. Get ready for any number of white actors to polish up their Emmy speeches.

In the new version, Frank Rourke is the “wolf, a rogue cop, and a man who lives by the law of the jungle.” His protege is Kyle Craig, a young naive black trainee who will try and take Frank down. That would be the Ethan Hawke part from the movie.

Speaking of Hawke, he may play his own role from the movie as a recurring character. Right now, that character– Jake Hoyt– is deputy chief of police 15 years after the “Training Day” movie (2001). But it’s unclear if Hawke would play that part.

I’m surprised they reversed the leads for the TV series, especially since Antoine Fuqua is directing again. Frank would have been one of the few– maybe the only– juicy lead role for a black adult actor on TV. Another opportunity lost. Blair Underwood, it coulda been you.

Super Bowl Bounce Sends Coldplay Records Soaring into iTunes Top 20, Despite Online Snarking

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Ha ha. I get such a kick out of Twitter snarks. Mashable is one among sites today writing nasty stuff about Coldplay’s performance on the Super Bowl.

Well, Chris Martin and co. are getting the last laugh. The Super Bowl performance has sent three of their single into the iTunes top 10, several more scattered throughout. Also, all of their albums are in resurgence, with the latest hitting number 2 this morning.

I guess no one liked them. LOL. Coldplay got the biggest bounce of all the acts on last’s night show. Nothing has happened for Beyonce since “Formation” isn’t actually available. It may be on Tidal, but her free giveaway didn’t really materialize. (Tidal has trouble fulfilling orders.)

“Uptown Funk,” which Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson performed, is back to number 13. It was number 1 months ago.

Listen to Elton John’s Great New Rocker “England and America”

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My favorite track on the new Elton John album is called “England and America.” It’s a totally original melody, the rocking drives straight forward, and Elton’s vocal is especially good. His new album “Wonderful Crazy Night” is just out. The label is pushing a couple of other tracks, but this is the best one, I think. I also like the title track and “Looking Up.” But this is a single. If only there were a radio station to play it on.