Even More Harry Potter Than Expected?

By Stephen M. Silverman

Monday October 21, 2002 11:00 AM EDT

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Good news for Harry Potter fans: Three new titles in J.K. Rowling's boy-wizard book series have been registered in the UK Patent Office, the Scotsman newspaper reports.

Last month, Rowling said she was near completing the long-awaited fifth installment, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." She has long stated that there would only be two more after that.

But the Scotsman reports that Hollywood studio Warner Bros. (which, like PEOPLE, is part of AOL Time Warner), has registered three more Harry Potter titles as trademarks, raising the possibility of an eighth volume, at least.

A Reuters search of the UK Patent Office trademark database confirmed the extra titles as "Harry Potter and the Alchemist's Cell," "Harry Potter and the Chariots of Light" and "Harry Potter and the Pyramids of Furmat."

The news service does point out, however, that the extra titles do not necessarily indicate plans for an eighth volume or if they were registered as possible alternative names for the remaining Potter books.

Warner Bros. could not immediately be reached for comment.

The studio registered the titles in April 2000, shortly before the publication of the fourth book, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," whose title was also filed at the same time, according to the records.

Warners reportedly filed "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" for registration as a trademark in October 2000.

Meanwhile, the second film in the series, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" opens in Britain and the U.S. on Nov. 15.