The Movies > Stone: The World Premiere

Author J.K. Rowling came to the Stone premiere with her current love, Dr. Neil Murray. The red poppy pins are for Remembrance Day, 11 November, which is similar to the U.S. Veterans' Day. Photo by Richard Lewis/Associated Press

HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE:
THE WORLD PREMIERE

Yep, this page is listed under the British title, because the Warner Bros. adaptation of J.K. Rowling's first book debuted in London 4 November 2001 under the original name. It became Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone with the U.S. premiere on 11 November 2001.

Most of the principal cast members, as well as celebritites from both sides of the Atlantic, headed for the Odeon Leicester Square theater in London. The movie house's facade had been converted to resemble Hogwarts Castle. Screaming kid fans and their parents were seated on bleachers. "Potter-heads" also snapped photos, angled for autographs and listened as entertainment reporters interviewed the stars.

Warner Bros. featured a live Webcast with a female reporter who couldn't say Rowling's name: she kept pronouncing it to rhyme with "growling," as opposed to "rolling." She also called the writer "J.K." during her interview, instead of "Jo" or "Ms. Rowling."

Among the non-Stone people in attendance were pop singer-actress Cher; former Spice Girl Emma Bunton; Sarah Ferguson, Dutchess of York, with her two daughters; actor-director Ben Stiller; and actor-director Kenneth Branagh, who will be Gilderoy Lockhart in The Chamber of Secrets movie; Virgin Records owner Richard Branson; British actor Stephen Fry, who did audio versions of the HP books for the UK market; pop singer Sting and his daughter; Australian actress Cate Blanchett; and English actor Richard E. Grant -- who is rumored for the Lucius Malfoy role.

Cast members included Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Harris, Robbie Coltrane, Julie Walters, John Hurt, Fiona Shaw, Zoe Wanamaker, Tom Felton James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, and Jamie Waylett. Director Chris Columbus also was in attendance.

Radcliffe was not wearing eyeglasses. In real life, he needs specs, but often does not wear them because he has said he breaks them too much.

Rowling attended the premiere, escorted by her boyfriend, Neil Murray, a Scottish doctor. She gave a brief interview and posed with the three juvenile leads.

Below are more photos of the stars, author and director before entering the theater. (Photos below by Dan Chung/Reuters.)

Daniel Radcliffe	Emma Watson	Rupert Grint
Richard Harris	Zoe Wanamaker	Tom Felton

James and Oliver Phelps

Chris Columbus

J.K. Rowling with Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson