The Hollywood Reporter has exclusively revealed three more cast members for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. According to their report:
Gemma Chan, who stars in USA’s sci-fi thriller Humans, Selma actress Carmen Ejogo and Jon Voight have joined the cast of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Warner Bros.’s fantasy set in the world of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter.
No information about who the actors will be portraying has been released as of yet. We will be sure to keep you updated with any developments!
Pottermore has released a new behind the scenes video with Harry Potter illustrator Jim Kay in his studio. Jim talks about how he gets his inspirations from nature and gives a little peek at what he’s working on for Chamber of Secrets! Be sure to get the book when it goes on sale TOMORROW, October 6th, or pre-order on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk!
“I was looking at all these photographs of evacuee children from the 1940s — in England, you’d call them ‘blitz kids’ — who have been taken away from their home during the blitz. They had sort of thick, scruffy hair, and round glasses, and looked sort of underfed and malnourished, from really tough East End parts of London as well. I wanted that real character coming through, some adversity. But also slightly fragile, because he’s thin, and he’s smaller than usual.”
“What I like about early portrait painting,” Kay says, “is that you have objects in them that are representative of that person. So the dried plant there is honesty — but on the honesty is also a little camouflaged praying mantis. It’s sort of saying, there is honesty with Dumbledore, but with a catch. There’s also a little bottle of dragon’s blood because he wrote a book on dragon’s blood. And knitting because, of course, he likes to knit.”
Dumbledore’s likeness has a special place in Kay’s heart: “He’s based on an amazing illustrator I know, who I absolutely idolize. He’s been an inspiration for years for me, so it’s a huge deal that he’s lent his face to Dumbledore.”
The Telegraph has released 10 new photos from the new Illustrated Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The book has been fully illustrated in color by artist Jim Kay and will be released on October 6th! Be sure to stay tuned to Magical-Menagerie for an exciting post on the release day!
New illustrations include Ron, Harry with the Sorting Hat, Professor McGonagall a Great Hall celebration and more!You can view all of the images in our gallery!
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London has announced an exciting activity they planned for this Winter. On December 3rd fans will be able to have a holiday themed dinner in the Great Hall! Tickets for this exclusive event cost £230 (roughly €311 or $349). You can book your tickets here and read more information about the evening below.
Join us this Christmas for our first ‘Dinner in the Great Hall’ and experience something extra special as you’re greeted on arrival with welcome drinks and canapés, before dining in the iconic set that is the Great Hall.
The Hogwarts dining room will be dressed for the occasion with the original props used in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, including flaming Christmas puddings and hams studded with cherries. A wand will be waiting for you at your table and you’ll enjoy the first two courses of a delicious Christmas dinner with all the trimmings on the authentic set (vegetarian option also available).
First featured in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the Great Hall was home to Hogwarts’ famous feasts and the setting for many other memorable scenes such as the Sorting Ceremony in the first film where Harry is placed in Gryffindor house and the arrival of the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
After dinner, you’ll be able to:
Explore the Studio Tour, admiring sets such as the Gryffindor common room and the Weasley’s kitchen at The Burrrow, which will also be dressed as they were for winter scenes.
Enjoy a selection of three festive dessert bowls on Platform 9 ¾, alongside the original Hogwarts Express.
Drink Butterbeer in the backlot café and walk up the wizarding shopping street, Diagon Alley, before taking in the breathtaking Hogwarts castle model (covered in a layer of filmmaking snow especially for the festive season).
Finish the evening with music and dancing, with a bar provided for those who wish to purchase additional drinks.
Our first ever ‘Dinner in the Great Hall’ will take place from 6pm until midnight and is open to over 18s only.
A few other tidbits that may be of interest from the event FAQs may be read below:
To choose your preferred wand, please contact the Events Team (options include Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Professor Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort).
Upon booking, you will receive an email confirmation which will direct you to contact the Events Team with your dietary requirements.
Smart, casual and evening wear are all encouraged for this event, however we are also looking forward to seeing some of your Hogwarts attire!
J.K. Rowling confirmed on Twitter today that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will now be two separate plays due to the “epic nature o the story.” Pottermore was also updated with further information. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will open in London’s West End summer 2016, with tickets going on sale this Autumn. You can register for priority booking at HarryPotterthePlay.com.
The important bits from the Pottermore post may be read below:
Bafta-winning writer Jack Thorne was elated by the chance to delve deeper into the wizarding world.‘Obviously I loved it when we decided to tell this story in two parts,’ Jack tells us, ‘because I got to spend more time with the characters and what an honour that has been. It continues to be unbelievable and amazing that I’ve been given this extraordinary chance to bring Harry Potter to the stage. As a fan, who just devoured the books and the films, this couldn’t be more exciting for me.’
The significance of the stage play is not lost on Tony and Olivier Award-winning director John Tiffany. He feels that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a unique production, and we’re inclined to agree.
‘I’ve never worked on anything quite like this before,’ he says. ‘Usually in theatre you’re adapting existing material or creating an entirely new play. With the Cursed Child we have been given the unique opportunity to explore some of the most cherished books and beloved characters ever written, yet work with J.K. Rowling to tell a story from that world that no one yet knows – it’s exhilarating. It shares a scale and ambition with all the Harry Potter stories so in order to do this justice we have decided to present the play in two parts.’
