Teenage stars return for fifth Harry Potter saga

LONDON - The three teenage stars of the Harry Potter movies are to reunite for the fifth film in the wizard saga.

Warner Bros announced on Thursday that filming will begin next week of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint reprising their roles as teenage wizards.

David Yates is making his debut as a Potter director and among the new faces in the cast will be "Vera Drake" star Imelda Staunton as the new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher Dolores Umbridge, an unpopular new professor at wizard academy Hogwarts.

Potter also wrestles with his attraction to new character Luna Lovegood, a role taken by 14-year-old newcomer Evanna Lynch. Lynch beat out 15,000 young rivals in an open casting for the part in Britain.

The film is expected to be released next year.

- REUTERS