I doscovered this in Daily News online:

[voicelady_2000 at yahoo.com]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C755
From: voicelady_2000
Subject: I doscovered this in Daily News online:
Date: 3/29/00 8:18 am  (ET)

Up until last month, his mentor, Steven <<Spielberg, was the top candidate
to direct the first installment. But Spielberg bailed over creative
differences with Rowling and Warner Bros. Spielberg wanted Sixth Sense
spook spotter Haley Joel Osment as the spell-spinner; the studio and
author want to find an unknown British schoolboy.>>

Woo-hoo!!! No argument from me on that one! (Although I watched The Sixth
Sense on DVD again last night, and that kid SHOULD have won the Oscar.)