Harry Potter fans, rejoice!

The movies based on our favorite books are – finally – beginning to get the recognition they deserve!

The BAFTAs are honoring the Harry Potter movie series with an award for “Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema”.

For those who don’t know, or don’t want to know, the Harry Potter movies are the highest grossing movie series ever, with total revenues upward of $6 billion. The books are one of the best selling books of all time, with the last book of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, selling over 11 million copies in the United States on the first day alone. Yes, sorry Twilight!

The latest movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part I, has already grossed over $950 million and is nominated for two Academy Awards.

The Harry Potter series has never won an academy award and many people have been wondering why.

Rumor has it that Warner Bros is preparing a full-blown award-season campaign for the last movie of the series: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part II.

Producers are already hyping up the summer 2011 release by saying that the already brilliant part 1 was nothing but a “road-movie”. Part 2 will be a full-blown battle.

Leaked pictures from part 2 show the trio and other characters battered and beaten. And honestly, I cannot wait to watch it!

The DVD for Part 1, available starting April 15th, 2011, will apparently include the opening scene of Part 2.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part II will be released on July 15th, 2011.