The war against Voldemort is not going well; even Muggle governments are noticing.. Ron scans the obituary pages of the Daily Prophet, looking for familiar names.. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses..
And yet…

As in all wars, life goes on.. Sixth - year students learn to Apparate - and lose a few eyebrows in the process.. The Weasley twins expand their business.. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love.. Classes are never straightforward, though Harry receives some extraordinary help from the mysterious Half - Blood Prince..

So it’s the home front that takes center stage in the multilayered sixth installment of the story of Harry Potter.. Here at Hogwarts, Harry will search for the full and complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort - and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability..

From Warner Bros. we have the first photo for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.. David Yates, who directed this year’s summer blockbuster Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, returns to direct Harry Potter and the Half - Blood Prince.. David Heyman, the producer of all of the Harry Potter films, is producing the film, together with David Barron.. Screenwriter Steve Kloves, who scripted the first four installments of the film franchise, is adapting the screenplay based on the book by J.K. Rowling..

Granted there’s not a lot of action here, but considering the only other glimpse we’ve gotten of Half - Blood Prince was Harry just standing around, I guess anything else is a step up..

In the new photo, we see the heroic trio engaged in some fanciful reading, with Harry holding what may be the Prince’s potions book while Hermione reads over a newspaper with the apparent headline of ” More Disappearances At Ministry Of Magic..”

David Heyman said..

” I am really excited that David Yates and all our cast are back for the sixth film and welcome some wonderful new additions to our ensemble.. We all share a commitment to Jo Rowling and to Harry Potter fans around the world to keep making these films the best they can be and, as we head into the final installments, I can promise that this level of commitment will not waver..”

Once again heading the cast, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are reprising their roles as young wizards Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, who are facing new challenges and dangers in the wake of Lord Voldemort’s return.. They will be reunited with returning Harry Potter cast members, including Helena Bonham Carter, David Bradley, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Natalia Tena, Julie Walters and David Thewlis, as well as Evanna Lynch, Matthew Lewis and Bonnie Wright..

Two award - winning actors are joining the film’s all - star cast in their first Harry Potter film.. Academy Award winner Jim Broadbent ( Iris, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe ) has been set to play Potions Professor Horace Slughorn, who gives Harry an old Potions textbook that had once belonged to the Half - Blood Prince, which proves invaluable to the young wizard.. Award - winning actress Helen McCrory ( Becoming Jane, The Queen ) will play Narcissa Malfoy, mother to Draco Malfoy and sister to the evil Bellatrix Lestrange..

Additionally, several young newcomers will be making their feature film debuts in Harry Potter and the Half - Blood Prince.. Jessie Cave has won the role of Lavender Brown, who has eyes for Ron Weasley.. Nine - year - old Hero Fiennes Tiffin is playing the role of the young Tom Riddle at age 11, while 16 - year - old Frank Dillane is playing the teenage Riddle, who is already on the path to becoming the evil Lord Voldemort..

In Harry Potter and the Half - Blood Prince, Lord Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and Wizard worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was.. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching..

Two - time Oscar nominee Bruno Delbonnel ( A Very Long Engagement, Amelie ) will serve as the director of photography, marking his first Harry Potter film.. He will be joined by returning Harry Potter veterans, including production designer Stuart Craig, editor Mark Day, costume designer Jany Temime, creature & make - up effects designer Nick Dudman, special effects supervisor John Richardson, visual effects supervisor Tim Burke and composer Nicholas Hooper..

Harry Potter and the Half - Blood Prince will be released on the 21st November 2008..

Discuss: Are we ever going to be sick of Harry Potter?