TOKYO (AP): Japan rolled out the red carpet for the world's most celebrated wizard Thursday for the premiere of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,'' the fifth movie from J.K. Rowling's mega-hit fantasy series.

Hundreds of young Japanese fans, wearing witch costumes and holding magic wands, screamed as Daniel Radcliffe, who played the teenage Harry, appeared as white smoke spewed on the stage.

"Japanese fans are the best!'' Radcliffe, dressed in a white suit, said in simple Japanese.

"Order of the Phoenix,'' which opens in the United States on July 11 and in Britain the next day, is directed by David Yates, a Briton best known for the multilayered TV thrillers "State of Play'' and "Sex Traffic.''

The film opens as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is undergoing a gradual takeover by the bureaucratic Ministry of Magic and its emissary, Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Dolores Umbridge, played by Imelda Staunton.

The sense of impending doom is heightened by a series of nightmares that link Harry ever more closely to the devilish Voldemort, bringing Rowling's saga into even darker territory.

There's also a new love angle: Harry's first kiss with fellow student Cho Chang (Katie Leung).

The Harry Potter books have been translated into 65 languages and sold more than 325 million copies since the first volume, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone,'' was published in 1997.

After this movie, the next Harry-related frenzy will be the publication of the seventh and final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,'' on July 21.

Radcliffe and co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, who play Harry's friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, have been at the center of the Harry Potter storm for almost half their lives.

"It's just absolutely brilliant. He's an icon,'' Radcliffe said, explaining why he has been playing Harry for such a long time. "He is somebody whose character has gotten his generation of kids into reading. So it's an honor to play him.''

All three stars have signed up for the final two Potter films, the first of which _ "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'' _ starts shooting in September.

All three young stars have begun to look toward life after Harry Potter. Watson wants to attend university and would like to appear in a costume drama. Grint, too, wants to continue acting.

Radcliffe has already begun to branch out, appearing in the Australian film "December Boys'' _ due for release later this year _ and making his stage debut in "Equus.''

• Police: Use of handcuffs on student activist is standard operating procedure
• Suspected cow thieves get ‘moo’ then they bargained for
• Najib congratulates Everest-conquering Felda youths
• RCI: Foreign nationals owe RM21.67mil in medical bills
• Families of top brass should not bid for gov’t contracts, says MACC panel
• Malaysia to work hard for UN Security Council seat
• Respect the rule of law, Senate chief tells Karpal
• Fishermen slammed for selling off free engines
• Cops urge motorists to avoid roads near Dataran PJ Thursday evening
• EC: Special team to find out why indelible ink was not indelible
• Banting murders: Thilaiyalagan never met Sosilawati and friends
• Sabah moves to annul rape victim's marriage to alleged rapist
• Sarawak ministers, assemblymen get three-fold pay hike
• Low’s Cabinet appointment will not change his principles, says Tunku Aziz
• Saturday rally near Amcorp Mall to go on despite official warning

• Alliance full year profit up 7% to RM538mil
• Bumi Armada's earnings up 22% to RM109.67mil, order book RM12.2b
• Dayang bags RM2bil contract from Shell
• CIMB earnings up 37.1% to RM1.386b in Q1, 2013
• MMHE Q1 earnings down 35% to RM50.59m
• KLCI closes a shade below record high
• AmIncome Flexi bond fund to attract RM200m investments
• EPF invests additional US$1.3b overseas
• MIDA: Investments up 44% on-year to RM49.3b in Q1
• Prague metro plans to launch love train for singles
• iGate sacks chief executive Murthy after sexual harassment probe
• Eversendai Q1 earnings slip 13.1% to RM23.68m on timing differences
• US asks judge to deny S&P's motion to dismiss fraud lawsuit
• Perdana Petroleum bidding for over RM1b contracts
• IOI Corp Q3 earnings up just 2.8% to RM567.8m (Update)

• China crush arch rivals Indonesia
• Former Asian phenom takes slow route to success
• Plenty for Hafizh as 55 is significant in his early racing career
• Yi Ting on a mission
• Razif: Indiscipline the cause of senior players’ poor performances
• Cool V Shem believes he will be too hot for rivals to handle
• Spirited Malaysian team vow to deliver against Germans
• Japan hope to reach their first semis in tourney
• KLHC to rule the roost if other teams don’t raise their game
• Malaysia have their work cut out in the World League
• Gobi’s fate to be decided by MHC’s administrative committee
• Andre nails it with last jump
• Grace hammers home a point with two golds
• Delia one step away from main draw after easy win
• Sharon believes KPT circuit is excellent for squash’s future

• Please wait.

• Sarawak ministers, assemblymen get three-fold pay hike
• Rape accused defends marriage to 13-year-old, says it was mutual
• Kerry visits Oman for arms deal, talks on Syria, Mideast
• Malindo set to operate from Subang Skypark
• MAS flew baby home with doctor's certification, says CEO Ahmad Jauhari
• Coconut yogurt anyone?
• Cops urge motorists to avoid roads near Dataran PJ Thursday evening
• AmIncome Flexi bond fund to attract RM200m investments
• The best ways to national unity
• Dayang bags RM2bil contract from Shell