Although Daniel Radcliffe and his "Harry Potter" co-stars graduated from the franchise in 2011, studio Warner Bros. is planning additional films set in the Potter-verse. One spinoff <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/12/showbiz/movies/jk-rowling-new-movie-potter/index.html?iref=allsearch' target='_blank'>will be based on a fictional Hogwarts textbook,</a> and another "Harry Potter" spinoff <a href='http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/jk-rowlings-quidditch-through-the-ages-earmarked-as-next-harry-potter-spinoff-film-8849021.html' target='_blank'>potentially could examine Quidditch</a>. Radcliffe, who has been busy with movies like "Kill Your Darlings," <a href='http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/daniel-radcliffe-says-no-to-new-harry-potter-film-20130918' target='_blank'>doesn't plan to make an appearance</a>. But what's the rest of the cast up to these days?Although Daniel Radcliffe and his "Harry Potter" co-stars graduated from the franchise in 2011, studio Warner Bros. is planning additional films set in the Potter-verse. One spinoff will be based on a fictional Hogwarts textbook, and another "Harry Potter" spinoff potentially could examine Quidditch. Radcliffe, who has been busy with movies like "Kill Your Darlings," doesn't plan to make an appearance. But what's the rest of the cast up to these days?

Since portraying sharp witch Hermione in the "Harry Potter" series, Emma Watson has broken away from the supernatural with roles grounded in the (mostly) real world. After "My Week With Marilyn," "The Perks of Being A Wallflower" and "The Bling Ring," the 23-year-old actress also showed her sense of humor in Seth Rogen's outlandish summer comedy, "This Is the End."Since portraying sharp witch Hermione in the "Harry Potter" series, Emma Watson has broken away from the supernatural with roles grounded in the (mostly) real world. After "My Week With Marilyn," "The Perks of Being A Wallflower" and "The Bling Ring," the 23-year-old actress also showed her sense of humor in Seth Rogen's outlandish summer comedy, "This Is the End."

Rupert Grint kept it fairly low-key after he ended his 10-year run as one of Harry Potter's best friends, Ron Weasley. But this fall, the 25-year-old will take on a risky role with "CGBG" -- if you <a href='http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/09/25/rupert-grint-naked-cgbg/' target='_blank'>need proof that Grint's all grown-up, check out the trailer.</a>Rupert Grint kept it fairly low-key after he ended his 10-year run as one of Harry Potter's best friends, Ron Weasley. But this fall, the 25-year-old will take on a risky role with "CGBG" -- if you need proof that Grint's all grown-up, check out the trailer.

Bonnie Wright began playing Ginny Weasley at age 10, and since leaving the franchise has been on a steady diet of dramas. Wright will next appear in December's "The Philosophers," followed by "Before I Sleep" with Tom Sizemore. Bonnie Wright began playing Ginny Weasley at age 10, and since leaving the franchise has been on a steady diet of dramas. Wright will next appear in December's "The Philosophers," followed by "Before I Sleep" with Tom Sizemore.

Just enough time has passed for us to stop cringing at the sight of Tom Felton, who came to be known as the weakling bully Draco Malfoy. Even while working on the "Potter" franchise, Felton dabbled in other films, like "The Disappeared" and "Get Him to the Greek." Felton has been busy since "Potter" wrapped, and will appear next year in a World War II movie called "Ghosts of the Pacific."Just enough time has passed for us to stop cringing at the sight of Tom Felton, who came to be known as the weakling bully Draco Malfoy. Even while working on the "Potter" franchise, Felton dabbled in other films, like "The Disappeared" and "Get Him to the Greek." Felton has been busy since "Potter" wrapped, and will appear next year in a World War II movie called "Ghosts of the Pacific."

By the time the "Potter" movies wrapped, Matthew Lewis -- and his character, Neville Longbottom -- had morphed into <a href='http://www.buzzfeed.com/lyapalater/let-us-not-forget-that-neville-longbottom-aka-matthew-lewis' target='_blank'>quite the charming young man</a>. Now 24, Lewis initially migrated over to TV for a spell with 2012's "The Syndicate." By the time the "Potter" movies wrapped, Matthew Lewis -- and his character, Neville Longbottom -- had morphed into quite the charming young man. Now 24, Lewis initially migrated over to TV for a spell with 2012's "The Syndicate."

The brothers who played the elder Weasleys -- George and Fred -- <a href='http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2169421/Harry-Potter-stars-James-Oliver-Phelps-ditch-ginger-hair-dye-head-Hollywood.html' target='_blank'>don't have the trademark ginger hair anymore</a>, but they're still recognizable as the prankster pair. James (left) and Oliver Phelps are still happy to talk all things "Potter," even as they move on to other endeavors. James has been recently active on stage, and Oliver has been traveling in support of his website, <a href='http://www.jopworld.com/category/blog/' target='_blank'>JopWorld.com.</a>The brothers who played the elder Weasleys -- George and Fred -- don't have the trademark ginger hair anymore, but they're still recognizable as the prankster pair. James (left) and Oliver Phelps are still happy to talk all things "Potter," even as they move on to other endeavors. James has been recently active on stage, and Oliver has been traveling in support of his website, JopWorld.com.

Evanna Lynch's Luna Lovegood showed up halfway through the "Potter" saga, but her character was so wonderfully strange she's easily among the most memorable. And if there's anyone who's eager for the "Harry Potter" spinoff films, it's Lynch: "Maybe 'Fantastic Beasts' will turn into a long ting like HP did &amp; I can play Luna as an old lady?" <a href='https://twitter.com/Evy_Lynch/with_replies' target='_blank'>she tweeted</a>. "Even if I'm too old to play Luna, can I go through 10 hours prosthetics to play a crumple-horned-snorkack. Please??"Evanna Lynch's Luna Lovegood showed up halfway through the "Potter" saga, but her character was so wonderfully strange she's easily among the most memorable. And if there's anyone who's eager for the "Harry Potter" spinoff films, it's Lynch: "Maybe 'Fantastic Beasts' will turn into a long ting like HP did & I can play Luna as an old lady?" she tweeted. "Even if I'm too old to play Luna, can I go through 10 hours prosthetics to play a crumple-horned-snorkack. Please??"

Jamie Waylett's Vincent Crabbe appeared in the first half of the franchise, and life post-"Potter" hasn't been so easy for the actor. In May 2012, <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/20/world/europe/uk-harry-potter-actor-jailed/index.html' target='_blank'>he was sentenced to two years in jail</a> for his participation in the 2011 London riots. Jamie Waylett's Vincent Crabbe appeared in the first half of the franchise, and life post-"Potter" hasn't been so easy for the actor. In May 2012, he was sentenced to two years in jail for his participation in the 2011 London riots.

Devon Murray's Seamus Finnigan was an easy character to love, and fans have missed seeing Murray (and hearing his accent) on the big screen. The 24-year-old actor <a href='https://twitter.com/DevonMMurray/status/383279833520013313' target='_blank'>assured a supporter </a>from his unverified Twitter account in late September that he's "been offered a lead role in a new movie so could be seeing my mug soon :)"Devon Murray's Seamus Finnigan was an easy character to love, and fans have missed seeing Murray (and hearing his accent) on the big screen. The 24-year-old actor assured a supporter from his unverified Twitter account in late September that he's "been offered a lead role in a new movie so could be seeing my mug soon :)"









  • Some stamp collectors are upset over a new line of Harry Potter stamps

  • Dean Obeidallah: Keep in mind that the Postal Service is in a financial mess

  • He says popular stamps are preferable to higher deficits or drastic cuts in services

  • Obeidallah: The Postal Service should roll out some stamps that can make money




Editor's note: Dean Obeidallah, a former attorney, is a political comedian and frequent commentator on various TV networks including CNN. He is the co-director of the new comedy documentary "The Muslims Are Coming!" It was released recently. Follow him on Twitter @deanofcomedy.


(CNN) -- First, immigrants steal Americans' jobs. And now foreigners are stealing Americans' rightful place on U.S. postage stamps!


OK, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. But a new line of Harry Potter stamps released this week by the U.S. Postal Service has outraged some stamp enthusiasts. As the former head of the American Philatelic Society (that's a stamp collecting society to the rest of us) noted: "Harry Potter is not American. It's foreign, and it's so blatantly commercial it's off the charts."


First off, can a fictitious teenage wizard ever become a U.S. citizen? Secondly, and far more importantly, the Postal Service is in a financial "hot mess." It's losing $25 million every day. And for the 2013 fiscal year, which ended September 30, the USPS ran up a deficit of $5 billion.



Dean Obeidallah


At this point, I'd be all for a stamp bearing the image of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack if that could generate revenue. That's preferable to higher deficits, drastic cuts in services and increases in stamp prices.


Look, I understand that one of the mandates of the Postal Service is, "portraying the American experience to a world audience through the issuance of postage stamps." But the "American experience" is not just colored by U.S. citizens.


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Plus Harry Potter and his cast of cohorts are not the first non-U.S. citizens to grace our stamps. Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Mother Theresa and French singer Edith Piaf have all been featured on past stamps.


This is not the first time a new set of stamps has caused controversy. In 2001, the Postal Service came under fire from some on the right when it released the Frida Kahlo stamp because she was a Communist, a Mexican and a bisexual. In fact, the late Republican Senator Jesse Helms denounced the stamp on the Senate floor.


Some have even objected to stamps honoring Mother Theresa, celebrating the Muslim Eid holiday, or bearing the image of the famed Botticelli painting of the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus. Why? Because they were troubled by the religious implications.


It appears, though, that the real reason for the uproar over the Harry Potter stamp isn't his citizenship status. Rather, it's because stamp purists are dismayed by the increasing commercialization of U.S. postage stamps. As one collector said: "They shouldn't be reduced to the latest fads, whatever's going to sell."


This very issue has caused friction between the Postal Service and the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee -- a body established in 1957 to evaluate and recommend to the USPS what should be chosen for stamps.


The tension undoubtedly escalated when the Postal Service chose not to consult with this advisory committee before approving the new Harry Potter stamp collection.


But here's the thing: It's not an either/or scenario. Stamps bearing images of iconic America, like national parks and national heroes, will always have their audience. And pop culture stamps certainly have their legion of fans. Keep in mind that the stamp featuring Elvis Presley is the top seller of all time with over 700 million sold.


So I say it's time for the Postal Service to roll out stamps that will make money. I don't care if it's Miley Cyrus swinging on a wrecking ball, an angry Donald Trump or Honey Boo Boo wearing a tiara. These are all preferable to the Postal Service incurring more debt and slashing services to the point where it ends up having to lay off so many postal workers that it's stuck delivering mail via carrier pigeon.


The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dean Obeidallah.



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