The most magical snowfall of the season will return to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter this year as the breathtaking Hogwarts castle model is covered in a blanket of snow. Visitors will get the chance to see the castle’s festive makeover – as well as the iconic Great Hall decorated for Christmas – from Friday 14^th November to Sunday 1^st February.

For the first time at the Studio Tour, the film series’ Special Effects Department will use coloured lights and a special vapour that flickers and dances to create ‘fire’ in the Great Hall and Gryffindor common room fireplaces. Meanwhile, real flames will lick the plum puddings on display in the Great Hall.

Most of the snow used on the Hogwarts castle model throughout the Harry Potter film series was a mixture of paper and dendritic salt. It was used because it clumps like snow and even squeaks when walked on. During filming, a member of the crew climbed aboard an elevated work platform and sprinkled the mixture onto the model by hand with a sieve – like dusting sugar onto a cake. The same process will be used at the Studio Tour this November and samples of the different types of snow used in the film series will be on display.

The Great Hall will be decorated with the original props seen during the Christmas feast in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Eight Christmas trees will line the iconic set and two long dining tables will be dressed as they were for seasonal feasts with prop versions of turkeys, hams, fruit, vegetables and snow cakes (while the food featured in the feasts throughout the early films was real, the Set Decoration Department later used artificial food created from powder and resin).

Visitors will see the hand-knitted jumpers that Molly Weasley gave Ron and Harry for Christmas in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Other costumes on display will include one of the first Christmas presents Harry ever received at Hogwarts, his Invisibility Cloak, and the dress Luna Lovegood wore to the Slug Club Christmas party in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

[click any of the thumbnails for larger photos]

For one thing, many people simply do not have $600 to spend on a collection of books and The Creature Vault is only $27 at Barnes & Noble or Amazon. The book, out October 28th, also has 208 pages while the other edition only has 127. This new publication contains a LOT more material. The earlier book is mostly comprised of photos while this combines imagery with all the information you could want on the creatures in the films.  Harper Collins sent us a copy to review, and here are our thoughts!

We went over the basics, now let’s dig in a little deeper. The quality is beautiful, just picking up the book stimulates the senses with it’s textured cover (creatures are debossed in a dark purple.) The attention to detail in the creation of this book is apparent, the cover was designed to look worn out, almost as if it is part of the Potter universe. The book also contains a poster depicting some of the world’s favorite magical creates. It is concealed in an envelope on the back cover of the book.

 

 

What about the content, you’re thinking?  Well, you won’t be left wanting.  There are 208 pages full of little tidbits, fast facts and even film quotes to go along with the descriptions of each creature.  The Creature Vault is a great companion for fans of the movies because within the book you will find details on how certain creatures were made for the films. Also, in the “fast facts” sections you get to see the first film appearance of the creature, additional appearances if any, and other details you may want to know. For example, from Mrs Norris’ section:

First Film Appearance: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Additional Film Appearances: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
Location: Hogwarts Castle
Owner: Argus Filch
Description from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Book, Chapter Eight: “Filch owned a cat called Mrs. Norris, a scrawny, dust-colored creature with bulging, lamplike eyes just like Filch’s.”

 

[flat interior shots thanks to Behance; all others by Magical-Menagerie]

As many news outlets posted last week, J.K. Rowling has released some new information on Pottermore today.  Along with that, the first  chapters of Order of the Phoenix are now ready to explore! You can also visit the Great Hall to witness the spectacular annual Hallowe’en feast, and don’t forget to take a peek at the Hallowe’en map on your pottermore.com homepage. A preview of Dolores Umbridge’s back story may be read below.

“…Dolores…is one of the characters for whom I feel the purest dislike…” writes J.K. Rowling in a note at the entry’s conclusion. “Her desire to control, to punish, and to inflict pain, all in the name of law and order, are, I think, every bit as reprehensible as Lord Voldemort’s unvarnished espousal of evil.”

Among the new details about Umbridge that have never before been disclosed:

• A real person was the inspiration for the character of Dolores Umbridge (J.K. Rowling is deliberately vague on her identity).  She describes her as a person “whom I disliked intensely on sight. The woman in question returned my antipathy with interest.  Why we took against each other so instantly, heartily and (on my side, at least) irrationally, I honestly cannot say.”
• During detention, Umbridge forced Harry to cut the words “I must not tell lies” on the back of his hand, thus becoming the only person other than Lord Voldemort to leave a permanent physical scar on Harry.
• She is revealed to be a half blood – the daughter of a wizard and a Muggle (non-magical person).  This is especially noteworthy because in the books Umbridge lies to bolster her own pure-blood credentials.

According to the press release:

The essay about Dolores Umbridge is just one entry in over 5,500 words of new writing by J.K. Rowling posted on Pottermore at Halloween, to mark the launch of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix onto the website.  Other entries include a look at the magical and mysterious creatures Thestrals, the dark history of the wizarding prison Azkaban, thoughts on the character Sybil Trelawney, details of all who have held the position of Minister for Magic, and an introduction to the ancient wizarding practice of Naming Seers.

In a new interview with The Guardian, Rupert Grint talks about his various projects since Harry Potter (as well as his new pet tortoise).  First, and foremost, he talks about It’s Only a Play, which is currently running in New York City:

Your first play was Mojo with Ben Whishaw and Daniel Mays. Now you’re in a show with Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick and Stockard Channing. Didn’t you ever think about starting off small? Maybe a bit of am-dram?

Ha! I know, it’s pretty amazing working with all these geniuses. After Mojo ended, I didn’t want to do another play for a long time. It was fun but so exhausting. Then this came up and it was such an incredible cast, I had to do it.

So you’re playing a theatre director?

Yeah, he’s a real nightmare, a completely ridiculous lord who is celebrated for his work but hates all the acclaim. He’s desperate for a bad review. On top of that, he’s a kleptomaniac and in therapy. An absolute mess.

Which aspects of that can you relate to?

Not too many, actually. I’m really the polar opposite. I can’t even relate to his look – the eye makeup and the mad hair. I dunno how ladies put up with makeup. I wear a lot of guyliner in the show. It’s really heavy duty and hard to get off.

He quickly mentioned Harry Potter and which film he would destroy if he had to pick one:

Actually, that’s quite easy: number four, Goblet of Fire. Nothing to do with the film, really. It’s a hair thing again – it’s just because of how my hair looks in it. It’s terrible. I’ve got no recollection of my hair ever looking like that.

When asked about the The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman, which was filmed back in 2012 and will be released in the UK on 31 October and the US on 15 November, he said:

This is the craziest film I’ve ever seen or been a part of. It was just ridiculous. You’ll have to be patient with me ’cos it was two years ago and I’m still trying to erase it from my mind – no, I mean piece it all together. So James Buckley from The Inbetweeners is in it and we’re best friends living in Bucharest. Shia LaBeouf comes there after his mother … no, after the ghost of his mother appears to him and tells him to find himself in Bucharest. He gets in trouble with gangsters and someone dies on his flight over – literally on his lap! This isn’t making much sense, is it?

You’re making it up as you go along, aren’t you?

It does sounds like it, doesn’t it? So Shia meets me and James in this youth hostel. I’m a wannabe porn star called Boris Pecker. My main plot is I take too much Viagra and require medical assistance. So it’s me running around with a strap-on.

Did Shia LaBeouf do lots of mad things on set?

Er, yeah. Yeah, he did. I guess you’d call him a method actor. He kind of lived that part. It was … interesting. I think he’s talked about it a bit himself.  Things happened which I probably shouldn’t go into.

The Film Cell, an online store that sells film merchandise, have emailed to let us know they’ve received information about a few new Harry Potter items for this year!  The items will be available in December. Some of the images are a little slow, but you get the idea!

The Lost Diadem of Ravenclaw: The Diadem features the words “Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure” etched onto the crown. Made to a fantastically high standard from quality silver-plated brass and blue and white crystals. This can be worn and comes in a one size fits most size measuring approx. 14 inches in length 5inches wide and 2 inches high. This Rowena Ravenclaw Diadem replica can also be displayed and comes with fantastic display box.

Diagon Alley Map: mounted on a wooden plaque and features every wizards favourite shops. So you no longer need to guess where Ollivander’s is in relation to Madam Malkin’s robe shop as they are all pictured in this highly collectable wall sign.

Daily Prophet Sign: the logo of the most popular Wizards newspaper is now available to hang on your wall.

Basilisk Fang and Tom Riddle Diary statue: the fang can be removed from the diary which is essentially it’s display stand.

Triwizard Tournament Golden Egg: 9 inches tall. The egg doesn’t open when placed under water (haha) but this is hand painted reproduction of the task from the Triwizards tournament as featured in the Goblet of Fire

Alfie Enoch, who is currently starring on How to Get Away with Murder on ABC, stopped by the Jimmy Kimmel Live show last night to have a chat.  Apparently Jimmy had no idea he was British, so watch out for some fun chatter. You can watch the full interview here (you will need to log in with your cable provider) and a couple snippets below. He talks about riding the bus in LA and Harry Potter.

“How to Get Away With Murder” airs Thursday nights at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. “Jimmy Kimmel Live” airs every weeknight at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC.