Half-Blood Cast Complete!!

Warner Bros. has announced that casting has been finalized for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, with the studio bringing aboard a handful of new, key characters, including the young Voldemort, Lavender Brown and Professor Slughorn.

The sixth and penultimate movie in the blockbuster franchise based on J.K. Rowling's acclaimed fantasy series has already begun shooting at the U.K.'s Leavesden Studios, with the the usual suspects—Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson—back on their respective broomsticks as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

This time around, some fresh faces have been added to the all-British company, led by Oscar-winning actor Jim Broadbent (Moulin Rouge, Iris, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) as new Professor of Potions Horace Slughorn.
Stepping into the part of the prebuescent Lord Voldemort, back when he was just Tom Riddle, will be nine-year-old Hero Fiennes Tiffin. The youngster will bring a real-life resemblance, as he just so happens to be the nephew of Ralph Fiennes, who plays the adult version of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Essaying Voldemort as a mischievous teenager will be 16-year-old Frank Dillane. Helen McCrory (The Queen, Becoming Jane) has signed on to play Narcissa Black Malfoy, the mother of Harry's nemesis, Draco Malfoy.
And much to the chagrin of thousands of aspiring actresses who turned out to audition, the role of Ron's love interest, Lavender Brown, went to 20-year-old actress Jessie Cave.

Helena Bonham Carter, who made her debut as nefarious Death Eater Bellatrix Black Lestrange in last summer's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, will cast more of those deliciously evil glances Harry's way.
Also back are Potter regulars Alan Rickman (Snape), Maggie Smith (McGonagall); Michael Gambon (Dumbledore), Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), Warwick Davis (Flitwick), David Thewlis (Lupin), David Bradley (Filch), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy); Natalia Tena (Nymphadora Tonks), Julie Walters (Mrs. Weasley); Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) and Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley).

Director David Yates, who helmed Phoenix, is back behind the camera for Half-Blood Prince, while veteran scribe Steve Kloves, who adapted the first four Harry Potter movies, returns to adapt the latest installment.

Half-Blood Prince chronicles the teen magician's sixth year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. He teams with Professor Dumbledore to journey into Voldemort's past for clues to defeat the dark lord. Along the way, Professor Slughorn gives Harry a textbook once owned by the mysterious Half-Blood Prince that helps the hero out of some sticky situations. All the action leads to a heart-wrenching confrontation.

"I am really excited that David Yates and all our cast are back for the sixth film and welcome some wonderful new additions to our ensemble," Jeff Robinov, Warner's president of production, said in a statement. "We all share a commitment to Jo Rowling and to Harry Potter fans around the world to keep making these films the best they can be and, as we head into the final installments, I can promise that this level of commitment will not waver."

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is due in theaters Nov. 21, 2008.