Occasionally, we like to take a peek inside the red envelope to see what DVDs are being rented by the rich and famous... today's celebrity spotlight falls on Harry Potter.
We caught up with the Boy Wizard last night while he was in Los Angeles promoting his latest film and book, due out this coming Saturday. He was quite candid during our brief interview, which took place at his favorite table at The Magic Castle in Hollywood.
Over a light meal of porridge, toast and tea, Master Potter took a few moments to talk about the movies he likes to rent, how he manages his Netflix queue and, surprisingly, about how the saga bearing his name ends.
The complete interview, as well as a look at Harry's Netflix queue, follows after the jump.
DVD Dossier: So, Harry, you're at the top of your game... you're an international sensation in the publishing world, in film, in marketing and merchandising... why stop now?
Harry Potter: Well, after the first five years, you get pretty tired of it all, don't you? The incantations, the spells, the whole fulfilling my destiny thing. It's no longer any fun.
And how many times do you think you can catch a snitch? It looks easy, but it isn't. Just ask that American fellow, Patrick Fitzgerald.
DVD: Will there be more films?
HP: Just two more... to finish out my contract with Warner. Beyond that, who knows? With a bigger piece of the back end, I may be willing to polish the old wand one more time, if you know what I'm saying.
What I really want to do is direct.
DVD: There's a rumor floating around that you're dead... that you die in the last book.
HP: Yes, I've heard that, too. But as you can see, I'm very much
alive and ready to tackle new projects. I'm on the coast meeting with
some studio heads about a new Saturday morning show, "H. R. Hufflepuff"... I've just signed a seven figure
endorsement deal with the folks at O-Cedar... and I'm opening a new chain of
casual dining restaurants,"Snape and Shake," with one of my old
teachers at Hogwarts. And, of course, I'm doing the chat show circuit.
DVD: You'll be doing "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" tonight?
HP: Yes, I'm really hoping to meet that intern they call Ross. He's lost a lot of weight, you know. He looks fabulous!
DVD: And what about He Who Must Not Be Named?
HP: Letterman?
I'm flying to New York tonight and will be on the show tomorrow.
DVD: We read in the Daily Prophet that you may have also met with a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills.
HP: Oh my, for once the Prophet got something right! It's true. I'm up for the remake of "When Harry Met Sally" and my agent felt that maybe a little "transfiguration" on my forehead might broaden my appeal.
DVD: We understand you're a big movie fan.
HP: Oh, God, yes. There's nothing I like more than to sit down with Hedwig in front of the telly with a box of Bertie Bott's and watch a film or two.
DVD: Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans? We love those! Tell us, what's your favorite flavor?
HP: Well, the fact is there' 's just three flavors that are any good. The rest are rubbish. The problem is the three flavors are different for every person. I only really menton Bertie Bott's because they were nice enough to send me a free case.
DVD: A perk of being a celebrity, I imagine. Do you pay for Netflix?
HP: Yes, of course, I mean after the two week free trial.
DVD: What do you like about Netflix?
HP: Same things as everybody, I suspect... you know, the convenient delivery by owl, no late fees, large selection of films. The things you Muggles dream up! I enjoy Netflix, but when I'm at home in Britain, of course, I use Love Film.
DVD: We noticed that your Netflix queue doesn't include your own films.
HP: Well, I lived it, didn't I? No need to rehash all that.
DVD: Tell us how you manage your queue.
HP: The order of my Netflix queue?
Well, there's no sorcery involved; I just do what everyone else does, I suppose. I keep the new movies up top and send films back on a Friday or Saturday, so they're received on Monday.
That gives me a better chance of getting the new releases I want in the post on Tuesday. At one point they tried to throttle me, but I cast a spell and that was that.
And then we asked young Master Potter the question that everyone wants answered: Blu-ray or HD DVD?
HP: As you know, I'm with Warner, so my films will be released in both formats... I would never take sides in an ongoing format war.
But I'll be happy to tell you how Book Seven ends. When Jo first explained it to us, I thought it was brilliant straightaway.
Hermione and I are sitting around a table at Hogwarts eating onion rings. We're expecting Ron to join us, but he's outside, having trouble finding a place for his broom.
Hey, hold on... I'm really not supposed to talk about this. I signed a non-disclosure agreement. You're trying to trick me into revealing the ending to my book, like that reporter from the Daily Prophet!
And with that, he was off. But he did leave behind a copy of his Netflix queue, which we're delighted to share with you.
Harry Potter's Netflix Queue
Magic
Men With Brooms
Bewitched
How to Be a Wizard
The Boy Who Could Fly
Farewell to Harry
The Plot Against Harry
Witchcraft Through the Ages
Practical Magic
Birth of the Wizard
Night Owl
Every Teen Has Challenges
Ethics in School
Ghosts & Witches of Olde England
Trainspotting
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Magic with Everyday Objects
Sex and the Teenage Mind
(We checked... all of Harry's titles are indeed actual DVDs that can be rented through Netflix .)
[Previously: Sanjaya Malakar's Netflix Queue]
[Previously: George W. Bush's Netflix Queue]
Very amusing! But what, no "The Trouble With Harry"?
Posted by: Claudia | Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at 03:42 PM