Harry Potter Takes New York wearing Designer Clothing

For anyone that thinks that Harry Potter is getting to be old news, the excitement at the New York premiere on Thursday night, July 9, proves that he's one wizard that is still beloved by fans, even after all these years. It was the premiere of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," the sixth film in the series based on J. K. Rowling's phenomenally successful novels, and the screaming devotees and star-studded red carpet showed the world that Harry's appeal has not waned one bit.

Of course, the three main "Harry Potter" stars, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, were on hand to celebrate. The trio began the series as children in 2001 with "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," and like their characters in the films they have grown up over the past nine years. Now poised adults aged 19, 20, and 19, the three have spent most of their lives working on the epic story of Harry and his magical destiny.

When asked earlier in the day at a press conference about the end of the franchise, with "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" coming in 2010, Emma Watson spoke for the group.

"I think we all feel as if Harry Potter is never really going to die. I think it's so big and so loved. We have a theme park coming out in 2010 and I think that kids are going to keep reading the books and new generations of the kids are going to keep watching the films and I don't really ever feel like it's going to really go away. I think it's got longevity," she said.

Other stars on hand for the film's premiere included Bonnie Wright, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Tom Felton, Warwick Davis and Freddie Stroma, as well as director David Yates.

If the celebrity fan turnout is any indication, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" will join its predecessors in raking in huge amounts of cash at the box office. Denis Leary, Diane Sawyer, Marcia Gay Harden, Ashanti, Lance Bass, Michelle Trachtenberg, Eric Mabius, Gina Gershon, and Vanessa Williams all came out to be among the first to see the latest thrilling installment in the battle between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort.

And as for the final chapter in the series, Daniel Radcliffe spoke for the group when he admitted, "I'm so excited about the seventh film. Seeing the sixth film again, we are doing something very, very different in the last one. We're not at Hogwarts. The difference that makes is extraordinary."

Source: FWD