Harry Potter: The final film

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in the fantasy adventure, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2." The final entry in the film series, adapted from J.K. Rowling's phenomenally-bestselling book series of the boy wizard, debuts July 15, 2011.

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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The first film adaptation, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (2001), introduced viewers to a trio of young actors who grew into the roles as they grew up before our eyes. Pictured: Daniel Radcliffe (left) as Harry Potter; Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley; and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger.

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Though the last of Rowling's 7-book series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," was published in July 2007, the movies have taken some time to keep pace - and in the case of the final book, Warner Brothers split the story into two movies - shooting both parts back-to-back - with the first part premiering in Fall of 2010.

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

In "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2," Potter confronts the evil Lord Voldemort in a life-or-death battle, with Hogwarts the battleground. From left: Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Daniel Radcliffe.

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Alan Rickman as Professor Severus Snape with Daniel Radcliffe in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2." This last installment is the first to be shown in 3-D. Though "Deathly Hallows" was not shot in 3-D, "Part 1" was to have opened in that process, but the producers could not convert the film's 2-D photography into a stereoscopic image in time to meet the release date.

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
Photos: Who's who in Harry Potter
Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange and Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort, flanked by Death Eaters, in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

A scene from in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Daniel Radcliffe with, from left to right, Ruper Grint, Warwick Davis, Jon Key and Emma Watson in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

A Stone Soldier guards Hogwarts in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort and Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter and Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Ralph Fiennes and producer David Hayman on the set of "Deathly Hallows - Part 2." In her book "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," J.K. Rowling described Voldemort as "tall and skeletally thin," with a face "whiter than a skull, with wide, livid scarlet eyes and a nose that was as flat as a snake

Ralph Fienne as Lord Voldemort and Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter and Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Daniel Radcliffe on the set of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
Photos: Who's who in Harry Potter
Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Emma Watson as Hermione Granger in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Josh Herdman as Gregory Goyle (left), and Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and director David Yates on the set of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), producer David Heyman, and David Thewlis (Remus Lupin) on the set of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Helen McCrory as Narcissa Malfoy in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
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Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Director David Yates (behind the camera) on the set of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2." Yates' credits included TV miniseries and documentaries (including "State of Play" and "The Way We Live Now") and several television movies, including "The Girl in the Cafe," before directing "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," and the two parts of "Deathly Hallows."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
Photos: Who's who in Harry Potter
Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Director David Yates and Daniel Radcliffe on the set of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
Photos: Who's who in Harry Potter
Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Ralph Fiennes in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
Photos: Who's who in Harry Potter
Special section: Harry Potter through the years

Key art for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2."

Photos: "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" premiere
Photos: Who's who in Harry Potter
Special section: Harry Potter through the years