Warner Bros has confirmed that Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Fiona Shaw, Richard Griffiths and Ian Hart will star in its adaptation of JK Rowling's Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone. They join previously announced child actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in the film's cast (Screendaily, August 18).

At a press conference in London yesterday, Harry Potter director Chris Columbus, said that, despite rumours to the contrary: "It was always my intention to have Harry played by a British kid."

Columbus also mentioned that the film will go under two different titles, in keeping with the book's publication on either side of the Atlantic. In the UK it will known as Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone while in the US it will be labelled Harry Potter And The Sorceror's Stone. Some scenes of the film will be shot twice to support the change of title.