Welcome to Buzz Worthy News where the stories are awesome and not at all well-written. Need your YA industry news? Never fear, Kate is here to give it all to you. Just, ya know, not in any kinda sophisticated sense or nothing.
In this week’s Buzz Worthy News: Eddie Redmayne confirmed to play Newt in new Harry Potter movie, New 50 Shades of Grey book already a best seller, Little Mermaid director quits and much, much more.
Buzz Worthy News is Cuddlebuggery’s weekly news post bringing you all the best information about the book and blogging world, particularly for the venn diagram of people who overlap between the two. For new releases and cover reveals of all the best Young Adult fiction, check out our Tuesday post: Hot New Titles.
Eddie Redmayne Confirmed As Newt
Well, this is certainly good news! Things are rolling right along in the land of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them.
Warner Bros. has confirmed that Eddie Redmayne will star in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Redmayne has become well-known for his roles in other literary adaptations such as The Theory of Everything and Les Misérables.
For this project, the Academy Award-winning actor will portray “the Wizarding World’s preeminent magizoologist” Newt Scamander. Fans of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter book series will recognize that character as the author of a textbook studied by students at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Director David Yates gave this statement in the press release: “Eddie is a fearless actor, brimming with invention, wit and humanity. I couldn’t be more excited about the prospect of working with him as we start this new adventure in J.K. Rowling’s wonderful world, and I know she feels the same way.”
She does indeed, as she tweeted herself:
Thrilled that Eddie Redmayne will be starring in Fantastic Beasts. He'll be a perfect Newt Scamander!
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 3, 2015
The Little Mermaid Director Snafu
It looks like the live action version of The Little Mermaid has his its first major snag. Its first pick for director has fallen through:
Sofia Coppola, who in March aligned herself to direct the live-action Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale The Little Mermaid, has just dropped out of theUniversal Pictures and Working Title film. The all-encompassing “creative differences” is being cited.
Universal and Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner are pressing ahead, with a Caroline Thompson rewrite on the story of the mermaid willing to make a Faustian bargain to live on land after she falls in love. Previous drafts were done by Fifty Shades Of Grey scribe Kelly Marcel and Shame scribe Abi Morgan, and Joe Wright was at one time eyeing this to direct.
WHAT IN THE HECK?? A FSOG writer was on this? Good Lord. It is a shame about Coppola, but I hope this doesn’t forebode anything in terms of the final product.
Harry Potter Opens Next Year In Cali
I’ve never been so glad to live in California since I heard the rumors about Harry Potter coming to Universal Studios. And now we’ve got details!
“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” is heading to La-la Land. Universal Studios Hollywood announced on Tuesday that it is set to bring the adventures of Harry Potter to life in the spring of 2016. The biggest attraction will undoubtedly be its signature ride, “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey,” an immersive theme-park 3-D HD spectacular where passengers sport Quidditich-inspired goggles and race through scenes from the films, including a Quidditch match, a run-in with a dragon, and a close encounter with the notorious Whomping Willow.
The new park will also feature the “Flight of the Hippogriff” roller-coaster, as well as authentic recreations of Hogwarts Castle and Hogsmeade Village.
I soooooo wish it was going to be this fall, when we’re taking the kids to Disneyland. We could have hopped over there for a day. Ah well.
Another Edition of “Do Not Read”
Jimmy Fallon hilariously reviews books that you WILL NOT BELIEVE actually exist. My particular fave was the book Jimmy discovers that journals his career. Watch it here:
Jacqueline Woodson Is New Young People’s Poet Laureate
It couldn’t have happened to a more talented lady. Jacqueline Woodson has received the very high (and only awarded every 2 years) honor of being named The Poetry Foundation’s Young People’s Poet Laureate title.
The $25,000 laureate title is given to a living writer in recognition of a career devoted to writing exceptional poetry for young readers. The laureate advises the Poetry Foundation on matters relating to young people’s literature and may engage in a variety of projects to help instill a lifelong love of poetry among the nation’s developing readers. This laureateship aims to promote poetry to children and their families, teachers, and librarians over the course of its two-year tenure.
“Jacqueline Woodson is an elegant, daring, and restlessly innovative writer,” said Poetry Foundation president Robert Polito. “So many writers settle on a style and a repertoire of gestures and subjects, but Woodson, like her characters, is always in motion and always discovering something fresh. As she once told an interviewer, ‘If you have no road map, you have to create your own.’ Her gifts, adventurousness and generosity, suggest she will be a terrific young people’s poet laureate.”
Go HERE to find out more about the award and Woodson’s life and career.
FSOG Continues To Torture Me
When I can write Buzz Worthy News and not have to report on Fifty Shades of Grey, I will be a happy woman. Instead, I get stuck reporting this: the newest book in the series, the story written from Christian Grey’s POV has already hit #1 spot on the best seller list on Amazon.
The book, which comes out on June 18th, leads in all book sales on Amazon and also is the bestselling book on the Kindle bestsellers list. The title is also No. 1 in Romantic, Contemporary Women and Women’s Fiction.
The new book will tells the sordid tale from Christian Grey’s point of view. The author revealed the news on Instagram ear lie this week. “Hello all. For those of you who have asked, Christian’s POV of #FSOG is published on 18th June for his birthday. It’s called GREY… I hope you enjoy it.#FiftyShades #Grey,” she wrote.
I don’t need a sobbing corner. I need a freaking UFO to take me away from this planet.
Neil Gaiman Short Story
If you’re a fan of Neil Gaiman and free things, then now is your chance to kill two birds with one stone! In celebration of his new novel, The Guardian has one of his short stories: “Click-clack the Rattlebag” posted on their website.
This piece can be found in Gaiman’s collection, Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances. William Morrow, an imprint at HarperCollins, published the book back in February 2015.
Now go and read it HERE.
Twitterary Round-Up
Maggie’s got herself a new shirt(in honor of Malfoy’s bday?):
https://twitter.com/mstiefvater/status/606879683947470848
Ahahaha, JK!
.@gillianngracee Draco turns 35 today. I'm not invited to the party, mainly because I keep telling girls they're misguided to fancy him.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 5, 2015
Lauren gives us food for thought:
https://twitter.com/LaurenDeStefano/status/605947616606568448
And Rainbow Rowell just wants food (I feel you on those cookies, RR):
https://twitter.com/rainbowrowell/status/606922198570385408
Kristoff enjoys the fruits of his labor:
"Shankable" is my new favorite word #illuminae pic.twitter.com/P9mhaluUIr
— Jay Kristoff News/Updates (@misterkristoff) June 4, 2015
Wendig has advice for writers:
https://twitter.com/ChuckWendig/status/605761086630047744
We are full of book nerd problems here at Cuddlebuggery:
I'm creating a new Amazon wish list titled: Books-I-Should-Have-On-My-Shelf-Please-Buy-Them-For-Me-Dear-Husband-Also-I-Love-You
— An Abundance of Stephs (@Sailor_Stephie) June 3, 2015
And of course, my fave tweet of the week, was this from @mizgillianberry and you know, it’s sort of book related:
https://twitter.com/mizgillianberry/status/606639947487920129
Interesting Links:
Anne or Elizabeth: Can You Tell?
Natalie M.
The Rainbow Rowell tweet made me laugh out loud. Damn, now I want cookies.
Another Harry Potter theme park!—that I will never get to visit in the near future. If I ever get the chance to visit America, it’s the first place I’m hitting up, next to BEA and Wicked on Broadway.
Kate Copeseeley
Cookies!!!!!
And I hope you do get the chance to see Harry Potter: the theme park. I hope I do too! 😀
Morgyn Star (@MorgynStar)
“Grey?” Let’s hear it for #shankable, Kate!
Kate Copeseeley
LOL great use of a hashtag!
Kelsey
Oh my gosh that Jimmy Fallon video was funny, I need to go and search and see if there’s more lol. Eww to the Grey book, but love the tweets!
Kate Copeseeley
I just do not understand all the fuss over the Grey book. I suppose it’s because I’m not the intended audience. (thank goodness for that!)
Beth W
How is Draco Malfoy older than I am?! (by a year, but still)
Even considering there’s FSOG in there, I think it’s squeezed out by all the awesomeness. And by #Bellarke.
Honestly, I think Redmayne’s best role was in Pillars of the Earth. He’s such a physical actor- I can’t wait to see him as Newt!
And I’m a bit bummed that the CA WWoHP will clearly be (first? only?) Hogsmeade. Why can’t it be all that the FL one has to offer…..AND MORE?!
Vane
I want an UFO too. Please tell me there’s another planet in which I can live and there’s no news about FSoG. -_-
Kate Copeseeley
IF ONLY!!! I’m kind of afraid to break this news to you, but apparently this is only the first book in the series. No joke.
Vanessa
First book in a series?! God this has to be a really cruel joke. :/
Georgette
Both Malfoy and Christian Grey (Gag!) are Geminis. I am not sure how to feel about this.
I am a week away from having to sell that filth to people..NOT looking forward to it. I will TOTALLY join you on the UFO!
Kate Copeseeley
I take it you must be a Gemini. ahahaha
I feel your pain, lady. Good luck, and if I get that UFO, I’ll send you a personal invite! 🙂
Lyn Kaye
Grey……just….*reaches for the aspirin*