Trade Roundup: Pottermania By The Numbers: 8.3 Million, 150 Million, 100.8 Million

· Following the kind of hype we generally reserve for the release of Hollywood blockbusters that leave us feeling empty inside, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows sells 8.3 million copies in its first 24 hours of release, shatteringâ„¢ the record of 7 million copies set by Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Saturday’s record-setting take could mean as much as $US150 million for JK Rowling and her publisher. [Variety]
· Meanwhile, the new Potter movie brings in another $US100.8 million at the overseas box office, leading Rowling to consider the possibility of buying her own planet. (Please disregard if she has previously purchased a planet and we somehow missed the news.) [Variety]
· Hollywood GuttenbergWatch: The Gütte joins the cast of the Jessica Simpson comedy Major Movie Star, where he’ll play the part of Simpson’s agent, a man none too pleased by his earner’s decision to enlist in the Army. Hilarity to ensue as Guttenberg steals every scene he’s in. [THR]
· Columbia is in “negotiations” with Hotel Rwanda and Reservation Road director Terry George to direct the Tom Cruise vehicle Edwin. A Salt (think The Fugitive, but with a CIA operative instead of a doctor – we see lots of Cruise’s trademarked perfect-form sprinting), a project among the contenders that the actor hopes to rush into production before a strike hits. [Variety]
· And speaking of the strike, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers puts a hold on talks with the WGA while they wrap up contract negotiations with the Teamsters and some craft unions, delaying their next heated round of exchanging “fuck you” proposals and “no, fuck you” counterproposals. [THR]