WWTP Hogwarts Castle & Butterbeer

Additional details from the recent reveal of new information about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park have come online via two new reports via MTV.

"I can tell you when you stand in front of it, it appears to be about 700 feet tall. Truly, you cannot tell how big it is, it's just impossible. The castle itself, of course we couldn't make it 700 feet tall, but it's definitely about 15 stories tall. It just feels like it goes forever. It's gigantic." The article goes on to mention collaborative efforts with the Harry Potter films' production designer Stuart Craig and art director, Alan Gilmore, who worked closely with the Universal team. Quoteage:

The rooms are supposed to be very accurate representations of the interior of Hogwarts — so much so that most of the props used in the rooms are the actual props from the films and are on lease from Warner Bros. Later releases from Universal will tell which rooms are going to be included in the castle — and whether actual actors will be recreating the scenes promised for the Forbidden Journey ride.

The report continues:

The castle houses the ride Universal is being most hush-hush about: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. According to yesterday's USA Today article, the ride "uses robotic arms to move passengers in various ways as they pass through scenes from the movies."

Coup told us, however, that the waiting line for Forbidden Journey will offer as much excitement as the ride itself. When we asked him how young children would feel about some of the rides, he said even if they don't want to ride Forbidden Journey, the walk through Hogwarts castle would be worth it because they would be able to "visit all the iconic rooms" described in the "Harry Potter" books and movies.

The second article contains a small note about the creation of butterbeer for the Harry Potter theme park, which features Mr. Coup saying:

"It was really fun to be a part of the whole tasting different [attempts at butterbeer] to try until J.K. Rowling really felt, okay, this is it, this is what I always thought butterbeer should taste like. It was a very exciting moment to see her smile and actually taste it. It's a delicious thing, first of all. It's everything you expected it to be."

WWTP Hogwarts Castle & Butterbeer

Wand Contest in DH

Julie Walters (Mrs. Weasley) speaks briefly about her role in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" in a new interview on the What's On TV website. When asked about what the actress planned to do next, Walters replied:

“It is back to Harry Potter. Mrs Weasley has a lot to do this time. I kill Helena Bonham Carter for a start – and not many can say that. We have a bit of a wand contest, I can’t wait. It will be sad, though, because I’ve watched all of them all grow up. It will certainly leave a void."

Wand Contest in DH

Official Image of Hogwarts Castle from WWTP

click for HQ view

The image shows the castle's spiraling towers, turrets, and impressive detail of the exterior.

As construction on the massive Hogwarts Castle structure at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Theme Park nears completion, Universal Orlando has released a beautiful high res image of the castle. Universal notes:

The magical transformation continues. Although still very much a work in progress, the magnificence of Hogwarts castle is beginning to take shape above Hogsmeade as work continues on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Hogwarts will be the home of a thrilling, new, state-of-the-art attraction - Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey - that uses ground-breaking technology to bring the magic, characters and stories of Harry Potter to life in ways never before experienced. Set to open in Spring 2010 only at Universal Orlando Resort, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will feature multiple themed attractions, shops and a restaurant.


Other photos:

Official Image of Hogwarts Castle from WWTP

A big opera, a great big epic, with huge battles DH Film

The March 2010 issue of Total Film Magazine appears to have a small report on the upcoming "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" films which features a few new quotes from director David Yates, actress Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), and screenwriter Steve Kloves.

David Yates expands on earlier comments which described Part One of "Deathly Hallows" as "a road film," by saying that the film "[is] a refugee story about three kids cut off from everything they know and everybody they love, being pursued relentlessly by people who want to murder them." He goes on to describe the second part of the film as a "big opera, a great big epic, with huge battles."

Miss Watson who comments on a new "structure" for the film by saying: “The others have this structure. You know, we come into the Great Hall and there’s the opening talk. And that’s gone."

A big opera, a great big epic, with huge battles DH Film

HBP Receives 2 BAFTA Nominations

The final set of nominations for the 2010 Orange British Academy Film Awards, the BAFTAs, have been announced, and include two nominations for the "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" film. First, the sixth Potter film was recognized in the category of Production Design, along side such other films as "Avatar," "District 9," "Inglourious Basterds," and "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus." A second nomination comes in the Special Visual Effects category, which has nominated "Half-Blood Prince" alongside "Avatar," "District 9," "The Hurt Locker," and "Star Trek."

It seems no chance with alongside Avatar is nominated... but of course, I hope HP wins. always.

HBP Receives 2 BAFTA Nominations

Confirmed: Alexandre Desplat to Score DH Part I

Mr. Desplat's agent.

FilmScoreMonthy is reporting that composer Alexandre Desplat has been tapped to score the upcoming "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" film. Describing the 48 year old composer an "overnight sensation that took decades to occur," the feature on the 2009 Top Forty Composer Countdown list includes the first part of the final Potter film as one of this upcoming projects. The profile notes:

He has become the director-of-choice for many of the world's most acclaimed directors, including Fincher, Stephen Frears, Terence Malick and Roman Polanski, and has signed for one his most challenging and highest-profile assignments yet, the penultimate entry in the Harry Potter saga.

WHAT'S NEXT: The Ghostwriter, Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows Part 1, A Prophet, The Special Relationship, Tamara Drewe, The Tree of Life

As noted on Mr. Desplat's official website, his previous work includes "Julie and Julia," "New Moon," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," and "The Golden Compass" and "Lust, Caution" (Se Jie).

He’s a very accomplished composer.
Two Oscar nominations in the past three years is exciting.

Personally, I’d still like to see Williams return just for fun, but I know Desplat will be great if this is true.
On a side note, I think whomever composes Part 1 will obviously compose Part 2.
It wouldn’t make sense if you had two, unless WB really wants each part to feel like a completely separate film instead of one film in two parts.

Confirmed: Alexandre Desplat to Score DH Part I

Dan & Emma on DH

Yahoo! Movies was granted an exclusive visit to the set of the final Harry Potter film recently, and while full details of what we discovered will be unveiled nearer the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One later this year, here is a quick peek into what you can expect.

"The main thing is we’re not at Hogwarts. It makes a huge difference. It gives the film a totally different feel. It might take people a while to adjust to this one, "remarked Daniel Radcliffe.

"Part One is a road movie. And the action is going to be pretty extraordinary." Emma Watson noted, "It was so nice to be outside, in the forest and out of the studio - running about. It was so much fun. Because it’s such an emotional, heavy film, it was nice to get out and do some action stuff.

"They were very fun scenes to film. Being out of Hogwarts just makes it really different. It just gives the audience a whole different experience. I’m so excited to see it together."

Shooting the movies back-to-back has taken almost a year, and there are still a few months before they head to what you would expect to be the wrap party to end all wrap parties. It’s been a tough schedule, especially when you throw in the promotional duties they had to carry out in the middle of the shoot for Half Blood Prince.

And Radcliffe concedes that shooting the two parts of Deathly Hallows out of sequence has its confusing moments.

"It’s been odd trying to keep track of it all. I’ve forgotten stuff we’ve done. It’s been a weird experience."


“Harry is like a Roman Emperor in his last days and everyone is turning on him," moaned Radcliffe. "Harry is completely paranoid about what Ron and Hermione are saying about him. He thinks they’re doubting his leadership, but while he is asking people that, he himself is doubting his leadership. He has no plan, so he is pretty useless."

Watson adds, "It's challenging in every way - physically, emotionally. They’re away from home. They’re isolated, they don’t have any news. They don’t know what they’re doing. They’re pulling at shreds. Dumbledore had hardly left them anything to go on."




love this article...
I'm so excited about the movies although I'm still sad it has to END.

This film will be so amazing!!
Dan and Emma are so right, it’s a completely different storyline.
It will be so surreal to see it play out on-screen since the book just came out.
Part one will have so many cool action sequences—7 Potters, the ministry break in, Godric’s Hollow, and so many other amazing scenes! I love that they’ve kept in Harry’s paranoia. That’s one of the best parts of the book to me, because it keeps you on edge…you don’t know what he’s going to do next.

The movie is going to be amazing, taking people who haven’t read the book by surprise.

As it is the last one, it's gonna be a bit depressing…
No more books(cried my eyes out) No more movies (NOOOO) but HP will never be over, NEVER.

Dan & Emma on DH

Rupert Grint's Holiday Heaven & Hell

Thanks to RupertGrint.net, we can let you know about a fun new interview with Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) in today's Telegraph.


And the best hotel you’ve stayed in?
Each year when the cast of Harry Potter stay in New York City for press interviews and the premieres, we stay at Essex House, an Art Deco hotel right on Central Park. My room had a great view of it. The first time we stayed there was not long after 9/11, so that was really eerie. The staff get to know us well because of our repeat visits and it’s a good location for sightseeing or shopping – not that our schedules allow for much downtime. For us, the best bit about our room is obviously the minibar.

What do you need for a perfect holiday?
Being ginger and pale-skinned, I don’t really get a tan, so sitting on the beach doesn’t do it for me. I like activity-based holidays where I’m not going to fry, which is why I’ve really got into rally car driving – my brother James is an aspiring driver. I recently went on holiday to Blackpool with Oliver Phelps, who plays one of the Weasley twins. We both play golf – I’ve got a handicap of 13, which is not bad – and there’s a really good golf course in the area. I think it was quite surreal for people to see two Harry Potter actors walking down the promenade – they kept stopping dead in their tracks to do a double take.

What do you always take with you?
I can’t live without my iPhone – it comes everywhere with me. It’s got so many applications on it it practically runs my life. And a couple of my favourite T-shirts. Apart from that, I’m a pretty light traveller.

What’s your best piece of travel advice?
Always check your room thoroughly before you leave. Wherever I go, I always leave something behind. I’ve left suits, phones and even my wallet because I always spread my stuff about. I need someone to do a security sweep after me.

Where do you want to go next?
Thailand would be cool, but I’m not sure how sensible that would be given my hair and skin tone. I’ve not done the United States properly, even though we go there a lot, because we don’t have much free time, so I’d like the chance to wander around, shop and visit the sights without having to constantly check my diary for the day.

What’s the biggest packing mistake you’ve made?
I was recently visiting Paris and went to unload the car, only to picture my haphazardly packed bag still sitting on my bed at home. I’d entirely forgotten to put it in the car. I had to go buy an entire holiday wardrobe, and it wasn’t cheap.

What do you avoid on holiday?
Flash celebrity-type destinations in the sun. I’m not going away to be seen and I’m quite softly spoken and laid-back, so I like to blend in. Being with my friends or my family is the most important thing.

Is there anything you hate about holidays?
Airports because they’re noisy and stressful. Plus it’s like being stuck in a giant fishbowl with no escape as people are always looking at me. Once I’m on the plane, I can relax.



I like this~ very nice interview.

Rupert Grint's Holiday Heaven & Hell

Dan on Filming DH in Scotland

Daniel Radcliffe has spoken to a Scottish newspaper about filming "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" in the recent snowy weather.

Quotages:
Daniel said: "We were only in Scotland for one night to do the camping scenes but it was magic."

"The mountains up there looked kind of blue and the weather was great. It was fun but I am not sure how well I would cope if I really went camping."

"I'm sure I would enjoy it as long as there was someone to cook for me."

"I have done caravan holidays and they were great."

"It was when we were in a caravan in Devon that I experienced my first thunderstorm. I was terrified."

Daniel and the regular Harry Potter cast - including Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as best friends Ron and Hermione - are currently filming the two-part finale at Leavesden Studios near Watford.

And even though the deep freeze had gripped the area - surrounding the studios with ice and snow - the Potter team managed to avoid falling victim to the Arctic weather.
Producer David Barron made a snap decision not to write snow scenes into the plot.

Dan said: "If we had the likelihood is that by the time we filmed them, the snow would have gone." "We have only lost half a day's filming because of the snow." Instead of shooting the scheduled outdoor sequences last week, the team moved back inside the studios and completed scenes on the giant Hogwarts Great Hall set.

As he prepared to act out a dramatic scene in the battle against Voldemort, Daniel revealed that audiences can expect a change of scene when the first part of the finale is released later this year. He said: "Part I is a road movie." "We are not in Hogwarts at all and it's going to look very different, "And the action is going to be pretty extraordinary."

Dan on Filming DH in Scotland

Tom & Matt Interviewed by BBC Radio 1

"If you thought ["Half-Blood Prince"] was dark, you ain't seen nothing yet," commented Tom Felton when interviewed recently alongside co-star Matt Lewis.

Quotage:

Tom Felton: We've only shot certain parts of ["Deathly Hallows"], so it is actually impossible to say what to look forward to because we haven't done half of it, but I know the nice thing from a lot of people's perspective is that usually - well, for the last ten years - we've left it "dot dot dot," to be continued, whereas now, finally, they have the ability to say, "right, this is it, this is the ending." I hate to say it, but people are dying around you, and it's something that hasn't happened in the last ten years of school and now, all of a sudden, you've got all these characters that have been there for nine years who are no longer there. [...] The severity of the whole thing's kicked up a notch.

Matt Lewis: There's no fat suit this year, that much I can tell you. They got rid of the fat suit and it's good for Neville this year, actually. Again, I'm not going to give too much away, but we've had some really cool stuff. The set's kind of like a set from "Saving Private Ryan" that we're working on, like D-Day.

Tom Felton: It's epic and again, without revealing too much, Matt has some fantastic stuff. It's heroic, I'd even go as far as saying it's heroic. Heroic and even iconic.

Presenter: Have you ever been suspended or had detention at school?
Tom Felton: Yes.
Matt Lewis: I've had detention, but never been suspended.
Tom Felton: But one was for dyeing my hair blond! They suspended me for dyeing my hair blond. I couldn't believe that.

Tom & Matt Interviewed by BBC Radio 1

... puking pastie?

Another fun cast interview has surfaced, this time with James and Oliver Phelps on Scholastic.com. The actors responsible for portraying Fred and George Weasley in the Harry Potter films reminisce about the auditions for their parts, speaking in unison and souvenirs smuggled from the set. Quotage:

Q: In the films you guys speak in unison. Does that ever happen in real life?
James: It kind of came across because of that. In the films that happened because Oliver said something and I just cut him up to carry on pretty much exactly what he was saying. And Alfonso [the director of Prisoner of Azkaban] said, “I like that. Let's put it in.” So he literally got the script, crossed a load out and mixed it all up and it came from there. So I guess we do. I don't know why. Probably been around each other too much.

Q: Have you managed to take any of the props as souvenirs?
Oliver: A few may have found their way into my bag. We were on tour for the Half-Blood Prince and I was going through one airport. I took my laptop out of my bag and I found a puking pastie. And the [security] dude who was working was like, “What's that?” And I was like, “. . . puking pastie?” And he says, “What does that do?” “It makes you sick.” “Why have you got that?” And I said, “You're not gonna believe me if I told you.”

The full text of the interview can be found via this link.



haha! This is funny XD

... puking pastie?

~QUOTES~ V

Of course. Why am I study at Hogwarts if it doesn't?!

On top of loony's favorite quote list...

~QUOTES~ V

HBP in the Finalist for OSCAR Nomination

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" film has been chosen as one of the seven finalists in the Achievement in Visual Effects category for the 82nd Academy Awards. As you will recall, in December the sixth Potter film was among fifteen semifinalists included in the short list of potential VFX nominees by the The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

On January 21st, fifteen minute film clips of the seven VFX finalists will be screened for the members of the Academy’s Visual Effects Branch, who will choose the final three films vying for the golden statute. Nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards will be announced February 2nd.

The final awards ceremony will take place on March 7th at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Los Angeles, California.


The films are listed below in alphabetical order:

• “Avatar”
• “District 9”
• “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”
• “Star Trek”
• “Terminator Salvation”
• “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”
• “2012”

Cool~! I hope HP wins ^^
Crossing the fingers~

HBP in the Finalist for OSCAR Nomination

*UPDATED* Enchanted EMMA

*



New photos from actress Emma Watson's Burberry fashion advertising campaign have been published in various magazines for the new year.



Thanks to our awesome Image Galleries crew, I round up of a number of these photos.



Firstly, print advertisements featuring Miss Watson have appeared in the February issues of GQ Magazine and Vogue UK.



Next, the young actress has taken part in fashion spread that also features her younger brother, Alex.


The Telegraph reports, the siblings are taking part of a series of photos by photographer Mario Testino showcasing work by designer Christopher Bailey, the current British ‘designer of the year’.




People Magazine now has an article online with an additional photo of Miss Watson from her Spring/Summer Burberry ad campaign.

*UPDATED* Enchanted EMMA

Empire Magazine Scan Online; Dan Radcliffe Talks Seven Potters Sequence

Click to enLARGE!

Thanks to TLC we now have a scan of the February 2010 Empire Magazine feature on the upcoming "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I" film. This short preview includes actor Dan Radcliffe and director David Yates relating their experiences and feelings about the final film. While describing the "Deathly Hallows" film as the "hardest film to do," Mr. Radcliffe noes that "as long as you equal that kind of toughness with your enthusiasm, then it sort of goes away." The young actor goes on to mention filming the flight of the seven Potters sequence by saying:

"We are actually filming what is probably the single most complicated sequence we've done in any of the films. Everyone's changing into me and nobody really knows what's going on. I'm dressing up as everyone else ad they're dressing up as me, and, well it's very confusing."

In regards to Part Two of the final Potter film, director David Yates feels that each film is "very different." He relates:

"Jo [Rowling] described the book as a bit of a road movie so the first of the two movies is gonna feel very much like that. I watched the first assembly of Part One just last week, and the most interesting dynamic is that you're taking these three characters we know quite well away from the comfort zone of Hogwarts. ANd you really can't underestimate the odd power of that."

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One" is slated for a November 2010 release.

Empire Magazine Scan Online; Dan Radcliffe Talks Seven Potters Sequence

HP makes Empire's Review of the Decade Lists

Empire Magazine has looked past at the past decade and listed a number of the biggest film related happenings in their Review of the Decade. The Harry Potter series made the list in a number of different categories. First, box office receipts are totaled for the profiled on the "10 Biggest Box Office Hits Of The Decade" list, which includes "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" at number four, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" at number six, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" at number seven, and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" taking the ninth place on this list.

Next, Dan Radcliffe was listed as one of the "People You'd Never Heard Of Before 2000" for his role as Harry Potter. In regards to his pre-Potter fame, the magazine notes:

In 1999 he was: Making a name for himself as the young David Copperfield in the Beeb's adaptation of the Dickens classic, and preparing to go to the theatre for a night out, where he would be spotted and identified as a potential Potter.

Movie posters are profiled next by the magazine, and the the "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" poster featuring Lord Voldemort is ranked in the 18th spot.

Empire then gives the Potter films pair of fun nods, in the categories of "10 Crimes Against Hair" and "5 Synopses That Make You Sound Insane In The Telling." Jason Isaacs as Death Eater Lucius Malfoy and his luscious long, blonde locks are number three on the Hair Crimes list, while the following humorous synopsis is listed for the first Harry Potter film: "Abused child is rescued from life in cupboard under the stairs by Robbie Coltrane who says he's a wizard and takes him off to a magical school."

from TLC

HP makes Empire's Review of the Decade Lists