"Potter" stars set for more wizardry

Actors Daniel Radcliffe (L) and Rupert Grint and actress Emma Watson (C) pose at the premiere of the film 'Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire' in New York November 12, 2005.  (Keith Bedford/Reuters)

LOS ANGELES - Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have signed on to reprise their roles as teen wizards in the final two "Harry Potter" movies.

The three youngsters have been with the series since its first installment, 2001's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," and over the years questions arose whether they would get too old to play students at Hogwart's. There also were questions of whether deals could be made and whether some of the actors still even wanted to play the roles.

The final books in J.K. Rowling's best-selling series are titled "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," which will be published worldwide July 21.

The fifth film in the series, "Order of the Phoenix," is slated for North American release July 13 via Warner Bros.

"Through the years, and in each of the 'Harry Potter' films, we have watched (Radcliffe, Grint and Watson) grow into extraordinary young adults as well as remarkable actors," Warner Bros. president of production Jeff Robinov said.

"It would be inconceivable to imagine anyone else in the roles with which they have become so identified, so we are thrilled and proud that Daniel, Rupert and Emma have chosen to complete the arc of their characters in the final two films."

Radcliffe, 17, who plays the title character, appears unclothed on the London stage in "Equus." Grint, 18, plays Harry's pal Ron Weasley, and Watson, 16, plays Hermione Granger.