Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth fantasy adventure film in the popular Harry Potter film series, based on the novel by J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The director is David Yates. The screenwriter is Michael Goldenberg, who replaced Steve Kloves, writer of the first four films. Warner Bros., the distributor of the film, has scheduled a UK release date of July 12, 2007, and a US release date of July 11, 2007, both in conventional theatres and IMAX theatres. Live action filming finished around the end of November or beginning of December 2006, and post-production on the film is now complete as well.
Rowling wrote on her web site on December 19, 2006 that she was given a 20-minute preview of the film, which "looks fantastic". Unlike some authors, Rowling has consistently offered her praise for the film adaptations of her works.
David Yates was chosen to direct the film after Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire director Mike Newell turned it down. Mira Nair was offered the project, but also turned it down. Yates thinks he was approached because of his previous film, Sex Traffic, and because the studio saw him fit to handle an "edgy and emotional" film with a "political backstory". Steve Kloves, the screenwriter of the first four Potter films, had other commitments, and thus Michael Goldenberg wrote the script for the film; however, Kloves will return for the next film, Half-Blood Prince.
Rehearsals for Order of the Phoenix began on 27 January 2006. Filming began on 6 February, and finished around November or December 2006. The film's budget is reportedly between GB£75 and 100 million (US$150 and 200 million).
Nicholas Hooper was the composer for the soundtrack of the film, following John Williams, who scored the first three films, and Patrick Doyle, who did the fourth. In the new score, Hooper has incorporated variations on "Hedwig's Theme", the series' theme originally written by Williams for the first film and heard in all subsequent ones. In March and April of 2007, Hooper and the London Chamber Orchestra recorded nearly two hours of music at Abbey Road Studios in London. The score, like the film and book, is said to be darker than previous installments in the series. To emphasize this, the two new main themes reflect the sinister new character Dolores Umbridge, and Lord Voldemort's invasion of Harry's mind. A great Japanese Taiko drum was used for a deeper sound in the percussion. The soundtrack is set to be released 10 July 2007, the day before the film.
Mark Day is the film editor, Sławomir Idziak is the cinematographer, Jany Temime is the costume designer, John Richardson is the special effects supervisor, Tim Burke is the visual effects supervisor, and Nick Dudman is the creatures special effects supervisor. A new character in the film, Grawp, Hagrid's giant half-brother, will come to life by a new technology called 'Soul Capturing,' developed by Image Metrics.
Choreographer Paul Harris, who has also worked with David Yates several times, was brought in to create a physical language for wand combat and to choreograph the wand fighting scenes. Wikipedia
