SUBMITTED BY Lynnith

May 8, 2002 — Ananova reports:

Stars of the blockbuster film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone have turned out to launch the movie on video and DVD.

Emma Watson and Rupert Grint were among the actors who posed in front of the Hogwart's Express at London's Kings Cross station.

Also there were Warwick Davies - Professor of Charms Filius Flitwick and the Goblin Teller at Gringots Bank.

Veteran actor Richard Griffiths, who plays Harry's magic-fearing uncle Vernon Dursley, also put in an appearance on the platform, but the boy wizard himself (Daniel Radcliffe) was absent.

The video and DVD of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is expected to be the biggest seller so far.

Experts predict the magical movie will smash the previous record held by Titanic when it is released on Saturday morning.

The country has been gripped by Harry Potter mania once again and thousands of fans have already bagged their copy of the hit film.

Online retailer Amazon.co.uk has taken a record 36,000 pre-orders, twice as many as they did for Gladiator and Moulin Rouge combined.

HMV has also been deluged with orders from Potter fans and will sell the very first video and DVD copies at a special midnight store opening.

The flagship store in London's Oxford Street is hosting the official UK launch and will be transformed for the night with sorcerous special effects, with the first customer in the queue will receive a certificate to prove their place in Harry Potter history.