GOBLET OF FIRE MOVIES NEWS

The title above says "movies," because this book may be made into two films for 2004, 2005 or beyond.

30 MAY 2002

CEDRIC SEARCH: A young man from a British TV soap opera may be on the short list for the heroic and tragic Cedric Diggory.

According to Cinema Confidential: "News of the World is reporting that casting decisions are being made for Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, the fourth book in the series. The news service reports that Jack Ryder, who is the UK TV show EastEnders, is up for the role of Cedric Diggory, who appears in the other books but has more prominence in the fourth Harry Potter book by J.K. Rowling."

Jack Siegfried Ryder was born 21 September 1981 in Woolwich (southeast London) and now lives in Tonbridge, County of Kent, England. He plays Jamie Mitchell on The Eastenders on the BBC. He enjoys rock music and has a passion for soccer, at one time considering a career on a professional team.

Ryder was invited to audition for the Mitchell role after being spotted at a theater workshop. He is now engaged to Kym Marsh, former member of British pop group Hear'Say.

Ryder's father, Jack Hues, was co-eader of the 1980s pop rock group Wang Chung ("Dance Hall Days," "Everybody Have Fun Tonight").

JANUARY 2002

ROUGH DRAFTS COMMISSIONED? The London (UK) Sunday Mirror reported that Harry Potter movie director Chris Columbus has ordered two draft scripts for movies #4 and #5, drawn from the massive Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

According to the Mirror's Sunday People, Warner Bros. signed a contract with J.K. Rowling for movie rights to the book. The article further claims that the Goblet movies will be released in 2005.

What is also interesting is the claim that Chris Columbus ordered the scripts. Does this mean he's in it for the long haul and will become known as the Harry Potter director, as opposed to the Home Alone one? Or is he ordering the scripts because he currently is the director and has some powers bestowed on him by Warner?