Great choice. She replaces Helen McCrory.
Here's the full story from Leaky:
There has been a major casting change for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The role of Bellatrix Lestrange has been recast and Helena Bonham Carter (Mrs. Bucket, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) will now play the role of the Death Eater who causes such havoc at the Ministry of Magic. Previously we reported that Helen McCrory was to play the part, but due to the her pregnancy, she was unable to continue filming, and the part was recast. Newsround is also reporting the part of Professor Grubby-Plank has gone to actress Apple Brook. Bane, the Centaur is to be played by actor Jason Piper. Finally there is news about the casting for the roles of the Marauders for the Pensieve scene, with James Walter to be young Sirius, James Utechin as Lupin, and Alec Hopkins as a young Snape.
An Academy Award Nominee for her role in The Wings of the Dove, actress Helena Bonham Carter is well known for her terrific work in films such as A Room with a View which co-starred Dame Maggie Smith (Prof. McGonagall), Frankenstein, with Kenneth Branagh (Gilderoy Lockhart) and Howards End , where she co-starred with Emma Thompson (Prof. Trelawney) and Sir Anthony Hopkins. She also recently voiced a part in Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, along with Ralph Fiennes, who plays Lord Voldemort.
NOTE FROM BB: All I can say is that I look foward to the Department of Mysteries dueling scene between Ms. Bonham Carter and Gary Oldman as Sirius Black. That should be worth the price of a ticket right there.
