Even though this story is about a book, it's so closely tied to the related movies, it warrants a mention...

Today, the Scholastic book publishing company has released the image of the front and back cover for the final book in the Harry Potter franchise, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." The front cover appears to the left, and you can visit the Scholastic web site to see the full front and back spread, complete with a magnifier tool.

The book will be released on July 21st (at 12:01am, by the way), shortly after the release of the latest Harry Potter movie, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" on July 13th. (Check out the pre-order pricing on Amazon.com)

Press Release

SCHOLASTIC RELEASES BOTH FRONT AND BACK COVERS OF HIGHLY ANTICIPATED HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS

New York, NY (March 28, 2007) -- New York, NY –(March 28, 2007) Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, today released both the front and back covers of the highly anticipated Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling’s seventh and final Harry Potter book due in stores on July 21st at 12:01 a.m. Once again, the stunning cover art was created by Mary GrandPré, the acclaimed illustrator of all six previous U.S. editions of the Harry Potter books.

“The front cover of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows features a dramatic sky of oranges and golds. It depicts 17-year-old Harry with arm outstretched, reaching upward. The structures around Harry show evident destruction and in the shadows behind him, we see outlines of other people,” said David Saylor, Scholastic’s Vice President and Creative Director who has designed all seven Harry Potter covers.

“For the first time the cover is a wrap-around. On the back cover spidery hands are outstretched towards Harry. Only when the book is opened does one see a powerful image of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, his glowing red eyes peering out from his hood.”

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc also today released the cover images for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which will appear on editions distributed in Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and many other countries throughout the world.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling’s sixth Harry Potter book, was released on July 16, 2005, and was the fastest-selling book in history selling 6.9 million copies in the first 24 hours. All six Harry Potter books, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, as well as Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince have been number one bestsellers in the United States, Britain, and around the world. The American editions of the Harry Potter books are published under Scholastic’s Arthur A. Levine imprint.

Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site, www.scholastic.com.

Source: Scholastic Press Release