Bonham Carter will terrorize Harry Potter in 2007 sequel

Warner Bros. has officially confirmed that Oscar nominee Helena Bonham Carter will join the cast of the upcoming "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."

As had been rumored for some time, Bonham Carter ("Wings of the Dove") will play the nefarious Sirius Black's cousin and a Death Eater, who is one of Lord Voldemort's followers.

The fifth film in the insanely popular "Harry Potter" franchise is already set to return Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in the lead roles of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Also coming back are Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, David Thewlis, Fiona Shaw, Richard Griffiths, David Bradley, Robert Hardy and Mark Williams.

But Bonham Carter, soon to be seen in the indie "Conversations With Other Women," isn't the only new addition, with the previously announced casting of Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge, George Harris as Kingsley Shacklebot, Natalia Tena as Nyphadora Tonks, Kathryn Hunter as Mrs. Figg and Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood.

"Order of the Phoenix" will be directed by David Yates ("State of Play").

Yates has also recruited frequent collaborator Nicholas Hooper to write the film's score, taking over for Patrick Doyle, composer on "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." John Williams' "Potter" themes will presumably remain intact.

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" will open sometime in 2007. Warner Bros. will probably provide some warning in the form of advertising and other promotion.