Newell to Direct Fourth Potter Movie

Mike Newell (the upcoming MONA LISA SMILE and FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL) will direct HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, the fourth movie in the blockbuster fantasy series based on the phenomenal best sellers by J.K. Rowling, and the first to be helmed by a Brit, according to a Warner Bros. Pictures announcement. Production is scheduled to begin in England in April, 2004 for a holiday 2005 release, with David Heyman producing and Steve Kloves scripting. Alfonso Cuarón, who is directing the third film, HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, for release late next year, is unavailable to direct GOBLET OF FIRE because of the overlap. Considered by many readers to be the best book in the series, director Chris Columbus initially thought it would be best to split this one up into two movies before bowing out because it covers so much material, but the studio said this has not been discussed.