Parents across the country, brace yourselves. Get your wallets ready and the tickets booked.

Harry Potter is (once again) coming to town. Lest anyone doubt the momentum of the juggernaut that is J. K. Rowling’s imagination, the star pupils of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry assembled in London yesterday to prime audiences for the next cinematic instalment.

The nation’s favourite schoolboy wizard is nothing if not hard-working. Not content with his name providing the two of the most lucrative words in literature, his movie career continues apace, the series having already become the biggest-grossing film franchise.

This time in Order of the Phoenix we see Harry struggling with his adolescent identity and fighting his dark side. It receives its European premiere on July 3 before its nationwide release on July 12.

BACKGROUND

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• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Sunday Times review

• The fifth element

• Actresses are 'insane', says Daniel Radcliffe

• Potter magic at premiere turns out to be illusion

BACKGROUND

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

First review of fifth instalment: fails to cause stir of earlier films and feels like a chore

Related Internet Links

• Watch Screen Online - Harry Potter special

• Visit Times Online's Harry Potter topic page

• Order Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows online

So, after the first four films took $3.5 billion (£1.75bn) worldwide, the question remains: how good is the fifth?

Early previews suggest the adventures of Harry Potter and friends are far from running out of steam. According to Aintitcool.com, the cult film website seen as a barometer of audience reaction, the latest outing is nothing short of epic. “The cinematography was phenomenal,” a sneak preview reports. “Very classy old-school approach that really takes advantage of widescreen. Think Dr Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, etc. Very epic feel.”

David Yates, a first-time director, begins the action with the fast-paced pursuit of Harry and his fat cousin by the Dementors, while the latest recruits to the vintage British cast, Imelda Staunton and Helena Bonham Carter, clearly relish their villainous roles as Dolores Umbridge and Bellatrix Lestrange.

Sitting at a table laden with gnarled broomsticks in the marble-lined debating chamber at London County Hall, Daniel Radcliffe, 17, recalled his West End debut in Equus, which included a full-frontal nude scene. He joked that his first onscreen kiss was “a doddle” compared with stripping naked onstage.

He has a love scene under the mistletoe with his fellow Hogwarts pupil Cho Chang, played by Katie Leung, in the new film. He said: “Once you’ ve been onstage naked in front of 1,000 people you really feel you can do most anything without inhibition.

“Being naked was possibly not as complicated as kissing – although belt buckles can give everybody a bit of trouble at times – but kissing Katie was a very comfortable experience, especially when compared to being naked onstage.”

Leung, 19, revealed she was nervous about the kiss – in case her parents will not approve: “Hopefully they will find it really sweet as well.” The kissing scene took 30 takes to get right.

Radcliffe paid tribute to the support he had received from his family and friends.

It has been seven years since he was picked to play the be-spectacled hero, whose adventures have sold 350 million books worldwide, and have broken every fiction record.

He said: “All my friends are completely honest with you all the time. They stop you from becoming arrogant.”

Radcliffe added that he had long been determined to avoid the Lindsay Lohan school of childhood stardom, where 325m actors are pictured on the town more often than onscreen.

He said: “We’ve all been pretty set on the idea of not giving them [the press] that.”

Asked about the downside of being a celebrity, he said: “Our culture is very much centred around the ‘celebrity thing’ . . . parties and the glamorous-type stuff. They’re fine and fun, but the thing I love doing is the acting. I don’t see myself as a celebrity.”

Emma Watson, 16, his co-star who plays Hermione Granger, said that they have all been careful about having their first cigarette and their first alcoholic drink in a “safe environment”: “If you live low-key, normal lives, the press don’t get a chance to find out about it.”

Each of the three young actors – Radcliffe, Watson and Rupert Grint, 18, who plays Ron Weasely – are committed to another two years to shoot the final two films.

The seventh and final novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, will be published on July 21. Fans have been warned that their hero may meet his maker. Until then, expect to see a lot more of Harry.

Open audition

— On July 1 and 8, the studio is holding open casting days for two key roles in the next film, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

— The producers are looking for someone aged 15-18 to play Lavender, who is in the same year as Harry, Ron and Hermione at Hogwarts. A pretty and lively girl who loves to be the centre of attention, she is determined to make Ron her boyfriend. When she gets him, she turns out to be very possessive

— They also need a boy of the same age to play Tom Riddle, who grows up to be Voldemort. He is not a warm person but is very charismatic. Both staff and pupils are probably a bit scared of him

— Last time they held open auditions, some 15,000 hopefuls turned up. They expect similar numbers this time. No acting experience is necessary

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