Video Download: Dan on Conan O'Brien
posted by Jas, 08/26/08
masterofmystery has captured Dan's appearance on Conan O'Brien promoting Equus, download here, file is in .flv format download this flash player if you don't have one. Update: The episode is now up for viewing at NBC (US residents only), will try to grab it and if it's better quality will replace the file later.

More Times Talks reports
posted by Jas, 08/21/08
Another report on Dan's interview at The Times Talks from People magazine. DR.com has a fan's report here.

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe says taking the stage in Equus "has given me a little more confidence" – and his nude scene is no big deal. "It's only seven minutes at the end of the play," Radcliffe, 19, told the audience at an Aug. 19 talk held by the New York Times. The actor is in New York rehearsing for his Broadway debut in Equus, which begins previews Sept. 5, after starring in the play in London last year. Performing live "was amazing," Radcliffe said. "As long as it goes well, you can't stop smiling."

Radcliffe also said he had some brief hesitations about continuing his role as Harry Potter (the sixth movie in the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is due out next summer). "It would have been really hard to see someone else [play Harry Potter]. Especially if he was very good – that would kill me!"

Radcliffe discussed his role models (his mother and father, and actors Gary Oldman and Stephen Fry) and and his favorite bands (the Sex Pistols, the Libertines.) He also said that he doesn’t read reviews or look at fan Web sites. "It would be stroking my ego," Radcliffe said. Asked about how he would celebrate the end of the Potter film series, Radcliffe joked, "We’ll go out and all the actors [will] do the [stuff] their insurance haven't covered."

Dan on Conan O'Brien
posted by Jas, 08/21/08
Dan will appear on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on August. 25 to talk about Equus. Please check local listings for time and confirmation.

Dan starts rehearsals for Equus
posted by Jas, 08/20/08
Dan talks Equus and rehearsals.

"It's a whole new set of challenges," said Radcliffe, who started rehearsals last week for the play that opens in limited engagement September 5. "The Harry Potter thing is useful because there will be a lot of people who've never been to the theater before. And if we can [bring them to the theater], that's amazing."

In "Equus," Radcliffe plays the disturbed Alan Strang, a seemingly normal 17-year-old who is fascinated by horses but inexplicably blinds six of them. The play tries to understand why. American audiences expect more accuracy, though, so the actor spent time at a stable last week learning how to groom horses and saddle up. "They were show horses, and they were such beautiful creatures," he said. "So powerful. I personally think blinding so many horses is impossible because if you blind one ... it'll kick you in the head, and you're out."

Radcliffe's research didn't extend to the psychological aspects of the play, which is based on a true story. "There are more people in therapy in this country [than England], so you get it," he teased. "Whereas in England, we don't talk about that. 'You're depressed? Walk it off!' " Instead, if he had questions, he'd consult with either playwright Peter Shaffer or his co-star Richard Griffiths, who also plays Harry's Uncle Vernon in the Potter films. "He has the most brilliant encyclopedic knowledge that anyone could ever possess, and he never imposes it on you," Radcliffe said of Griffiths. "He only shares it."

They've also modified the play somewhat, changing a few scenes regarding his character's mother and father. "So instead of his dad [being] a communist and such, we leave it at 'They had a great marriage,' " Radcliffe said, explaining that the omission makes it harder to blame Strang's behavior on someone else. "The play asks a question: Why? And it's a question for which no one has the answer." To get deeper into the character's head, Radcliffe has been drawing from "A Clockwork Orange." "His default setting is that he's got this Malcolm McDowell rage, so when you show his human side, he's more interesting. It's about that stripping-away of who he is, of what makes his personality, the dehumanizing of him to make him acceptable in society, so he can be 'normal.' "

"If you saw us in rehearsal, you might think it was a comedy," Radcliffe joked. Why the character might blind horses wasn't the only difficult aspect of the play — Alan's (and thereby Radcliffe's) nudity while doing so caused quite a stir when he first performed the play in London. "Offended mothers were calling up and saying I shouldn't be doing this, that they weren't going to go see it," he said. "OK, don't see it. They're treating it like it's pornography, and it's not. It's only seven minutes at the end of the play when I'm naked, and I'm 19 now."

About that scene — the Broadway production may have a few surprises in its new staging. Though the choreography was highly praised, "Don't get too attached to that!" Radcliffe warned. "You're in there, and there are these hooves flying around, and I'm naked by that point. It's terrifying. That scene is one of the most shocking pieces of theater, and I deserve very little credit for that. Those 'horses' are amazing."

Griffiths wasn't Radcliffe's only Potter co-star to give him advice about acting onstage. Before the young actor did his first show in London, he sought advice from Michael Gambon, who plays Dumbledore. "I asked him, 'How do you memorize all those lines?' " he recalled. "And he told me to just learn them in rehearsal. So I did, about a month before. By the time opening night came, I knew everyone else's lines too." Including — and especially — his co-star Griffiths'. "We built up a chemistry," Radcliffe said. "And it would be really hard to do this without him. We're both onstage the entire length of the play — we're there for each other's scenes as spectators. So we developed a kind of kinship."

Something happens onstage, he said, that strengthens the bond between actors in a way film never can. "We're never in situations in films where we have to save each other," he said, "or to stop each other from making public embarrassments of ourselves. You know when an actor pauses whether it's for dramatic effect or it's a forgotten line. You can see the panic behind the eyes." Not to tempt fate, but Radcliffe kind of enjoys the screw-ups because he says the exhilaration of getting the play back on track is unlike anything he's ever experienced.

"It only happened once, but my horseman Will Kemp had me on his shoulders, and he was supposed to run and jump off a block," Radcliffe recalled. "But he missed his footing, and instead of hitting here, he hit there, and the blocks slid across the stage. The whole audience went, 'Whoa!' and I was just laughing out of pure terror. But he managed to keep me on his shoulders." Those moments, he said, are what make the theater experience so much more alive than film — there's always the possibility of seeing something that's never happened before. "It's the same reason to go see live music — for those little moments," he said. "But film — it's the same every time." Not that "Equus" will be some "ramshackle" production with lots of mistakes, he assured the crowd. "It will be good," he laughed. "And if I'm going to screw up, I couldn't screw up in front of better people."

In an interview with Mercury News Richard Griffiths mentions Dan.

"It's not a whodunit. It's a why-dunnit," says Griffiths. Written by Shaffer more than 30 years ago, the revival had a sold-out run in London's West End last year, in no large part due to the prospect of seeing Harry Potter in the buff. "I know a lot of tickets are sold in order to have a look at Daniel's body," Griffiths says. "He's completely cool about it." And, adds Griffiths, who affectionately calls Radcliffe "cunning," the young actor has spent the past two years working on his physique. He's watched with mild amusement as his co-star Radcliffe's profile has soared. "He's the polar opposite of my experience: He's 19 and a multimillionaire. What's not to want about that?"

Dan at The Times Talks reports
posted by Jas, 08/20/08
Reports on Dan at The Times Talks from various sources.

From MTV

Dan Radcliffe says “Half-Blood Prince” is worth the wait, because this film is “so different in tone.” “It’s like what the Arctic Monkeys said about their second album: In the places when it’s dark, it’s even darker, and in the places when it’s light, it’s even lighter,” Radcliffe told a crowd during Tuesday night’s TimesTalks. “The dark parts are with Dumbledore and Voldemort and his influence on things, and the light parts are very, very fun stuff with Ron and Hermione. Jesse Cave, who plays Lavender, is just brilliant. We had a lot of fun.”

When Rupert Grint had his first kissing scene with Jesse, Radcliffe said he wanted to make him break character, so he stood in the back and made faces at him. “For years, we’ve been making each other laugh on set,” Radcliffe said, “and now it was time for me to get my revenge.” Radcliffe hopes to get more “revenge” while shooting “Deathly Hallows” in February — but the scene he most looks forward to shooting is more of a solemn one: Harry’s final walk through the forest as he prepares for his death. “It’s more emotional and intense than the actual fight,” he said.

Radcliffe also hopes Gary Oldman, who played Harry’s godfather Sirius Black, is there for that long walk (as his character is in the book). After all, it was Oldman who taught Radcliffe how to act “bereaved” in the first place, since he had no idea how to put himself in Harry’s place when he’d lost someone he loved.

“It’s kind of hard to find that level when you’re 15,” Radcliffe said. “But he came up to me and said, ‘Do you mind if we get a bit intense?’ And then he came towards me. I thought he was going to hold me, but he shook me and screamed at me! So hard that when he let me go, I almost fell. I wanted to go crawl up in a fetal position. And then he said, ‘Throw your head back and scream.’ And it worked.” Will Radcliffe need that kind of help on “Hallows”? He hopes not, but he’d like to see Oldman on set anyway. “I miss working with him,” he said. “I hope to work with him again one day.”

From OK Magazine

On what his parents think about his acting:
" 'No, absolutely not,' is what they said when I was younger, but they’re pleased now. I got where I am by dumb luck. You only deserve what you have if you work hard. I know most actors hoped for a job, and then found themselves between jobs. For me, it was a great job at 11."

Why he chose to do theater:
"In the eyes of lots of people in the acting world, theater legitimizes you. Also I wanted to prove it to myself that I could do it. My parents said, 'You have to really love to do it, it’s a lot of work.' I trained for 18 months in London. I worked with my vocal coach in London."

Broadway vs London theater:
"I just went to the Tonys and it was amazing and lovely. There’s a genuine sense of excitement. It’s great to work with actors – I’ve never worked with American actors – I worked with Kim Cattrall – and I get a sense of history with Broadway. My mom and dad are actors, so I’ve grown up with show tunes playing the whole time on car rides."

How Equus has changed his life:
"Actors see me differently now. They think I’m taken more seriously now. The perception is that theater people are taken seriously. Also, it’s given me a lot of confidence. I’m scared of failing because I have an image of myself that 'I can do this,' but opening night, I was extremely negative. After the London play, everyone stood up – here, everyone stands up, even several nights ago at Gypsy. In England, we stick to our national stereotype of being more reserved. I could not stop smiling. It was fantastic."

What's next:
"Harry Potter 7 goes ahead as planned – those release dates are not affected. I’m going to do another play – I’m not going to just do it to say I did it. After 7, I might take a few days off."

What we should know about Daniel as a person:
"I’m a person who got lucky very young. I was brought up with a work ethic – show up on time, work hard and do your lines. I love literature massively. I have an interest in film, and I’m incredibly lucky to be doing it."

The one part he'd never play:
"God."

Dan talk Wizard Rock
posted by Jas, 08/20/08
Dan talks about Wizard Rock and the bands he wants on his wish list.

If wizard rock is a new concept to you, don’t let that dissuade you — it’s new to Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, too. At his New York Times TimesTalk event on Tuesday (August 19), the actor was asked if he were planning to attend a local wizard-rock fest while he’s in New York for the limited-engagement Broadway run of “Equus.” “I’ve heard of wizard rock — Harry and the Potters, right? — but I haven’t actually heard it yet.” The audience member — from Harry Potter meet-up club the Group That Shall Not Be Named — then handed Radcliffe a DVD of Megan and Mallory Schuyler’s “The Wizard Rockumentary” film.

“That’s awesome,” he laughed. “Thank you very much. I’ve just been made aware of it.” As for Muggle music, Daniel was asked if he could book a concert of his own choosing, which five bands would play. (We already know he’s a fan of the Arctic Monkeys and Giant Drag — but who else is on his wish list?) This is what he came up with in the spur of the moment:

1. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (”Has anyone heard of them over here?” he asked, to which a few people cheered.)
2. The Libertines
3. The Pixies
4. The Sex Pistols (”Can they be dead?” Radcliffe asked. “Wait, no, I love Sid [Vicious], but it would have to be with Glen Matlock.)
5. Joanna Newsome (”As a stark contrast,” he said.)

Photos: Dan at at The Times Talks
posted by Jas, 08/20/08
Some photos of Dan during a photocall for his Times Talks event at the New York Times Building on August 19, 2008 in New York City. Read fan's report from Snitchsneeker.

Photos: Dan at "A Chorus Line" Broadway closing night
posted by Jas, 08/17/08
Some photos of Dan backstage with the cast after the closing night performance of 'A Chorus Line' at The Schoenfeld Theater on August 17, 2008 in New York City. Thanks to Alejandro for the tip.

Interview with the trio on Entertainment Weekly
posted by Jas, 08/15/08
Entertainment Weekly has a feature on Half Blood Prince and an interview with Dan, Rupert and Emma.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Moves to Summer 2009
posted by Jas, 08/15/08
Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that it has moved back the release date of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” to Summer 2009.

Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that it has moved back the release date of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” to Summer 2009. The sixth installment of the blockbuster Harry Potter franchise will now open day-and-date domestically and in the major international markets on July 17, 2009. The announcement was made by Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros.

In making the announcement, Mr. Horn stated, “Our reasons for shifting ‘Half-Blood Prince’ to summer are twofold: we know the summer season is an ideal window for a family tent pole release, as proven by the success of our last Harry Potter film, which is the second-highest grossing film in the franchise, behind only the first installment. Additionally, like every other studio, we are still feeling the repercussions of the writers’ strike, which impacted the readiness of scripts for other films—changing the competitive landscape for 2009 and offering new windows of opportunity that we wanted to take advantage of. We agreed the best strategy was to move ‘Half-Blood Prince’ to July, where it perfectly fills the gap for a major tent pole release for mid-summer.”

Jeff Robinov, President of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, confirmed, “The release date change does not alter the production schedule for this or future Harry Potter films. Post-production on ‘Half-Blood Prince’ was completed on time, and the studio’s release plans for the two-part ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ will not be affected by this change. We know Harry Potter fans are eagerly anticipating seeing the final chapters unfold onscreen. In fact, the good news for them is that the gap will now be shortened between ‘Half-Blood Prince’ and the first part of ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.’”

Commenting on the release date change for “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” David Heyman, the producer of all the Harry Potter films, offered, “When Jeff Robinov explained the rationale behind moving the release date of ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ to July 2009, it was immediately apparent that this offered us the potential to reach the widest possible audience. I am extremely proud of this latest film and of the work of David Yates and our incomparable cast; I believe we have developed and pushed the series further still. We are all looking forward to sharing it with Harry Potter fans around the world, even if we have to wait just a bit longer.”

David Yates, the director of both “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” and who will also helm “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” added, “It has been a joy to work on ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.’ Dan, Rupert and Emma and all our returning young cast continue to blossom, and our new cast members bring fresh color and life to Hogwarts. Even as we put the finishing touches on this latest film, we are already beginning preparations on the final two films—we start filming in February—and I am excited to bring this remarkable series to the exciting and moving conclusion its loyal fans deserve.”

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