J.K. Rowling's 'Pottermore' Announcement Comes Tomorrow; New Leaks Say it's an Online Gaming Site
by Richard Sharp
"Harry Potter" book series author J.K. Rowling has been teasing frothy-mouthed Potter fans eager for the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" with a mysterious new site called Pottermore for the better part of a week with a YouTube page counting down the time until the site is revealed, saying only that "The owls are gathering...Find out why soon..." Vague much J.K.?
If a leaked memo from Rowling's PR company reported today in the London Times is to be believed, we may now know what the site is all about.
According to the Times, the memo "suggests that [Pottermore.com] is a sophisticated online game that contains clues to prizes that are hidden in the real world. These are an unstated number of magic wands secreted in Britain and America, and possibly other countries." They acknowledge though, that it is "not clear whether the treasure hunt is Pottermore itself, or merely a marketing drive for another product."
As we reported earlier this week, the only information past that comes from the trademark for Pottermore, which was obtained by Warner Bros. in 2009. According to ABC.com, the trademark describes it as an "interactive site" with forums and chat.
While an online game seems pretty standard promotional fare, the idea that there may be some magical Harry Potter wands floating around the U.S. and U.K. waiting for hordes of unruly Potter fiends to claim sounds positively Willy Wonkaesque to us. We've seen what finding a golden ticket can do for you. Just think what a magic wand might bring.
For we are the music makers...and we are the dreamers of...Deathly Hallows?
In case you're not excited for the final installation, make sure and watch the final trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" here.