Wizardry takes dark turn in new ‘Potter’ film

The Harry Potter books have been translated into 65 languages and sold more than 325 million copies since the first volume, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” was published in 1997. The frenzy that now attends each new book launch is reaching a climax with the publication of the seventh and final book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” on July 21.

Radcliffe and co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, who play Harry’s friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, have been at the center of the Harry Potter storm for almost half their lives. They seem remarkably levelheaded — a quality they attribute to the support of their families, and of the Harry Potter filmmaking family.

Asked about the greatest extravagance their wealth has let them indulge in, Watson says an Apple computer, while Radcliffe expresses an interest in collecting art.

“I’ve never really been into cars, so I’m not going to splash out on a classic-car collection, which I think people expect me to,” Radcliffe said.

Grint, at least, has bought the vehicle of his dreams.

“I’ve recently got an ice-cream van,” he said.

All three stars have signed up for the final two Potter films, the first of which — “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” — starts shooting in September.

Until “Deathly Hallows” is published, the actors have no more idea than ordinary Muggles about how the series will end, and whether the prophecy Harry discovers in “Order of the Phoenix” — that neither he nor Voldemort can survive while the other one lives — means the young wizard will die.

“A couple of years ago I said I would like Harry to die because it’s a conclusive ending,” Radcliffe said. “The next day the headlines were ‘Radcliffe Wants Harry Dead.’

“I think he might (die),” he added, “but that’s based on absolutely nothing.”

All three young stars have begun to look toward life after Harry Potter. Watson wants to attend university and would like to appear in a costume drama. Grint, too, wants to carry on acting — “and if it doesn’t work out, I’ve still got the ice cream van.”

Radcliffe has already begun to branch out, appearing in the Australian film “December Boys” — due for release later this year — and making his stage debut in “Equus.”

Radcliffe says he knows some people will always see him as Harry. But he is determined not to be typecast.

“I know it’s naive to think that if I do one thing that’s different, people will suddenly think, ‘Oh, he’s not just Harry Potter, he’s an actor,’ ” he said. “It’s going to take a hell of a long time. But I will work as hard as I possibly can.”

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