Sound Bites: Franchise killer?

Authors plead for Potter's life

By VARIETY STAFF

J.K. Rowling's hints that a major character -- possibly even Harry Potter himself -- might die in the last book of the series led fellow authors Stephen King and John Irving to plead for the boy wizard's life.

At a New York charity reading with Rowling last week, Irving said, "My fingers are crossed for Harry." King said he hoped Rowling would be "fair" to the character.

Rowling has suggested that killing Harry would insure the franchise isn't continued by publishers and moviemakers after her own passing.