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Source: Reuters -
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Here we go again. Potter-mania is about to sweep the world again as the media machine begins cranking ahead of this month's release.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One will hit cinemas worldwide on November 17 (except here, where it will be the 18th as we're a day ahead of the world).
Sessions are already filling up as people pre-book their seats to be the first to see the penultimate chapter in the series.
The international media junket is set to take place in London next week, followed by the world premiere in Leicester Square on November 11.
The stars have their sound bites ready - Daniel cried when they called wrap; Emma felt sick about her multi-millions - and, of course, someone's stirred up some limp controversy with a tenuous connection to the franchise.
This time, it's the illegal owl trade in India, which is apparently experiencing a boom caused by Harry and Hedwig.
It's par for the course with any big release, but in this case, completely unnecessary.
Harry Potter became the global phenomenon it is through word of mouth. The media only picked up on it after millions of parents and children had. And then, of course, Hollywood came knocking.
Today, the books have sold more than 400 million copies. Millions more have read the books.
If one in every four of those readers went to the movies to see the Deathly Hallows, the film could attract an audience of more than 100 million people.
One hundred million people, each spending $15 on a ticket... That's $1.5 billion. And that's before you add the DVD sales, action figures and assorted paraphernalia.
That's an obscene amount of money. The type of money, other film companies can only dream of.
But what makes the films really unusual is why people go and see them.
Some films are epic - they have to be seen to be believed. Others have star power - drawing a diehard fan base of dedicated followers. And some offer mind-altering experiences - driven by unique and unprecedented ideas.
The Harry Potter films, to be blunt, do none of these things. The first film was made on a moderate budget with a cast of unknowns, who acted out a well worn story of good vs. evil (and not particularly well at that).
As time's gone on, the budgets have become bigger and the cast are now stars.
But that's not why millions of people will flood cinemas later this month.
The film could be the worst piece of cinematic bile ever produced and the takings wouldn't falter.
Because the audiences aren't there to see a film.
They're there to see Harry - the boy they've been on magical adventures with. The boy they've grown up with. And the boy they love.
Read more of Joanna Hunkin's articles.
