Contest provides walk-on role for Harry Potter fans in U.K.
Last Updated: Sunday, November 25, 2007 | 3:12 PM ET
CBC News
Harry Potter fans living in the United Kingdom will be able to try to win a walk-on part in the next film version of J.K. Rowling's bestselling novels.
Starting this weekend, fans in the U.K. over the age of 12 will be able to enter on the MSN U.K. website by answering a series of multiple-choice questions each week about Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth book in the seven-book series.
The winner of a U.K. contest will get a walk-on role in the sixth movie adaptation of the Harry Potter franchise: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
(Canadian Press)
The competition closes on Dec. 20, at which point those with the highest scores will be entered into a random draw. The winner will get a part in the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which is the sixth film based on the series and is due out November 2008.
Actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint will reprise their roles as Harry, Hermoine and Ron, respectively.
"It is an indication of how important digital has become in the marketing mix," Josh Berger, the president of Warner Brothers UK, told the Guardian newspaper. "The level of engagement online is huge."
MSN has created a Harry Potter hub online through its MSN.co.uk site that will house information, clips and film trailers.
"This deal proves that digital has come of age," said Chris Ward of Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions.
The first book in Rowling's series was published 10 years ago. The series has sold 325 million copies worldwide and been translated into 64 languages.
The final instalment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,was released in July.
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