Harry Potter and the contracted stars

Rumours have been swirling recently about Emma Watson feeling like the Hermione Granger role is a serious straightjacket and looking to ditch the Potter franchise.

However, despite comments by fellow star Rupert “Ron” Grint that she’d “grown apart” from them and the movies, all whispers have been trumped by a new announcement that all three actors are now committed to the final pair of movies – The Half-Blood Prince and The Deathly Hallows.

So unless Grint’s comments were part of a clever scheme to help Watson secure a raise, he’s likely being beaten up by a girl right now.

Still, we knew that Radcliffe would be coming back, since he’d already signed on when not thrusting his giblets about the stage in Equus. “Through the years, and in each of the 'Harry Potter' films, we have watched them grow into extraordinary young adults as well as remarkable actors," Warners president of production Jeff Robinov yammered to The Hollywood Reporter. "It would be inconceivable to imagine anyone else in the roles with which they have become so identified, so we are thrilled and proud that Daniel, Rupert and Emma have chosen to complete the arc of their characters in the final two films."

He didn’t add that he has all three young thesps’ souls locked up in a dark chamber and that he controls their actions through the use of magical potions. Well, it could be true.

The latest film, Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix arrives in cinemas on July 13.

The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine.