'Harry Potter' interviews

Twin actors James and Oliver Phelps, are still getting used to the differences between American and European fans of "Harry Potter."

The Phelps, who portray the pranksters Fred and George Weasley, the older twin brothers of Ron Weasley, Harry Potter's flaming-haired best friend in author J.K. Rowling's book series and the movies, say they are overwhelmed at times by the enthusiasm levels of Americans for the most famous student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"In Europe, everyone is a little more relaxed and subdued about their excitement compared to everyone here in the U.S.," Oliver said.

"It's amazing the way fans here push against the police and the gates that are set up at film premieres."

The twins, who hail from England and just turned 21 in February, came to Chicago for press interviews earlier this month and to attend a midnight movie screening to sign autographs and discuss their roles in the latest "Harry Potter" film from Warner Bros., "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," which opened last weekend. The Phelps Brothers attended last week's midnight screening at Hollywood Boulevard Cinema in the quaint Chicago 'burb of Woodridge, Ill.. ( www.atriptothemovies.com or (630) 427-1880)

"Despite what you hear, there's really not as much pressure from the film producers about all of the cast trying to stay young in time to get all of films made before we look too old," James said.

"The characters are supposed to be get a little older with each movie and also a little more wiser."

I can also report these guys (who were sporting short dark haircuts with just few traces of red hair coloring on the tips, left over from the orange shag cuts their characters sport in the films) really ARE almost identical in appearance, as I reported in an earlier column, with the exception that Oliver has a small mole on the right side of his neck, which his brother does NOT have.

Yep, they even pointed out the mole to me as proof.

But this good-natured and smiling duo also taught me the importance of not believing everything you read on Internet fan sites.

Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com) includes trivia from fans that reports the twins decided to switch places/characters while doing one of the scenes in one of the last "Harry Potter" movies, which, as the story goes, the director did not appreciate and required the entire scene be re-shot.

"We get asked about this all the time and that's not the true story of what happened," Oliver said.

"We did switch roles once during a rehearsal just for fun, but everyone knew we were doing it and there weren't any cameras rolling. And then we repeated this story to a reporter while doing press interviews, and somehow the story has taken on its own life."

Besides all of the movie press junkets and promotion, the brothers said they are just as excited and anxious as everyone else to learn what will happen in the seventh and final book, "Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows."

"Everyone thinks the movie cast has inside information because we've met the author, but we don't," said James, who plans to relax with his brother for the rest of the summer before filming begins in September for the sixth movie.

"But we do have a great idea for a spin-off for the Weasley Brothers. Maybe it could be a TV series 'At Home with the Weasleys'; we think that might work nicely."

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

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