Warner Bros. has released a new image from their upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Check out the image here at right of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, who return for this sixth Harry Potter film installment to their roles as the young wizards Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, respectively. (Click on image for larger view.)

A blurry scanned version from Nick Magazine made it way around the Internet yesterday and the reaction seemed to be that the image was “boring” and “uneventful.” The scene might appear to be nothing more than the three friends just sitting in the Gryffindor common room, but take a look at what Harry’s doing: he’s showing Hermione a weathered-looking book, most likely the Potions textbook that once belonged to the former student known only as “The Half-Blood Prince.” Also, the newspaper Hermione is holding looks like it reads, “More Disappearances at Ministry,” so there’s more going on in this photo than simple loafing around.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hits theaters on November 21, 2008.

Official Synopsis

Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort’s defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information. Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Harry finds himself more and more drawn to Ginny, but so is Dean Thomas. And Lavender Brown has decided that Ron is the one for her, only she hadn’t counted on Romilda Vane’s chocolates! And then there’s Hermione, simpering with jealously but determined not to show her feelings. As romance blossoms, one student remains aloof. He is determined to make his mark, albeit a dark one. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again.

Director: David Yates
Writer: Steve Kloves
Producers: David Heyman, David Barron
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, David Bradley, Jim Broadbent, Jessie Cave, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Frank Dillane, Tom Felton, Michael Gambon, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, Helen McCrory, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Natalia Tena, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Julie Walters, David Thewlis, Bonnie Wright

[Image source: Latino Review]