Emma Thompson Joins All-Star Cast Of “Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban”

(October 10, 2003 – Burbank, CA) – Academy Award-winning actress and screenwriter Emma Thompson (“Sense and Sensibility,” “Remains of the Day,” “Howards End,” “Wit”) has joined the esteemed ensemble cast of Warner Bros. Pictures’ highly anticipated film “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.” The multi-talented Thompson will play the ethereal and eccentric Professor of Divination, Sibyll Trelawney, renowned at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for her somewhat questionable predictions. Thompson joins the illustrious “Harry Potter” cast including young stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, who reprise their roles as Harry, Hermione, and Ron, as well as revered actors Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall), Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), Alan Rickman (Professor Snape), and “Prisoner of Azkaban” newcomers Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), David Thewlis (Professor Lupin), and Michael Gambon (Professor Dumbledore). “I am very excited to work with Emma,” says director Alfonso Cuarón. “She brings such life and spirit to the characters she portrays, it will be exciting to see her as Trelawney.” “Emma is a brilliant and constantly surprising actress,” adds producer David Heyman. “I can’t wait to see her bring Trelawney to life.” Producer Chris Columbus agrees. “We are all delighted to have such an accomplished and well respected actress join our incredibly talented cast.” “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” is the third feature film adaptation in author J.K. Rowling’s best selling Harry Potter series. The film is being directed by Academy Award nominee Alfonso Cuarón (“Y Tu Mama Tambien,” “Great Expectations,” “A Little Princess”). David Heyman, Chris Columbus, and Mark Radcliffe are producing, with Michael Barnathan (“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone*,” “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”) and Callum McDougall (“Die Another Day”) are serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by Steve Kloves (“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone*,” “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”). In “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” Harry Potter and his friends Ron and Hermione return as teenagers to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their third year of study, where they delve into the mystery surrounding escaped prisoner, Sirius Black, who poses a dangerous threat to the young wizard and other students at Hogwarts. “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” will be distributed worldwide in Summer 2004 by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is entitled “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” in Canada, the U.K. and some additional international territories. # # #