As we posted back in January, Warner Brothers purchased Leavesden studios and planned to revamp and open part of the studio up to the public. Their request to do so has now been approved and will open some time in 2012!
Warner Brothers, which has brought world-wide fame to the former aerodrome complex with its Harry Potter franchise, can now begin a programme of redevelopment worth an estimated £100million – creating hundreds of jobs and providing a boost to the local economy. The company, which will now purchase the site outright and use it as its European filming base, will build new film stages, production and administration facilities. It will also open a Harry Potter themed visitor attraction to cater for up to 5,000 visitors a day.
Three Rivers District Council’s development control committee finally approved the plans this evening, after ironing out most of the numerous queries and objections raised by local residents and councillors. These concerns, most of which were raised at a similar meeting last month, included the potential impacts of increased traffic congestion, noise and light pollution.
Many residents also expressed alarm at the size and scale of the visitor attraction, which will offer tours of old Harry Potter film sets when production on the franchise comes to a conclusion later in the year. Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, who has represented residents’ concerns throughout the planning process, stressed the need for further road improvements before the site opens in 2012 but expressed his support for the scheme.
In a new interview with OK Magazine Rupert Grint talks about what it is like nearing the end of Harry Potter filming.
Harry Potter changed your life, do you ever wonder where you would be without it?
I don’t know, it’s a scary thought. I was very fortunate. I saw something on Newsround, actually [which OK.co.uk remembers seeing as well!] it’s weird. I really enjoy acting and if I can keep going I definitely will.
Do you get offered a lot of scripts off the back of Harry Potter?
There wasn’t really a lot of time to do other stuff because we were filming Harry Potter every day of the year, so it’s quite hard to find the gaps to do other things. Without Harry Potter I wouldn’t really be… it’s quite a tough industry to get into so I’ve been quite lucky. Harry Potter was a bit of a fluke anyway.
How has filming the last few scenes been?
It’s a comfortable atmosphere, but the end is quite daunting, we’ve known all the crew for half of our lives and we know the characters so, well, it’s just easy. But I’m excited as well, I’m looking forward to moving on and seeing what else is there for me.
Will you have a huge end-of-filming party?
I hope so, we haven’t had a party since the second one. That was a great wrap party but we’ll have some kind of a bash.
Has it been emotional on set?
Not yet, I’m guessing once we get to the last few weeks… I don’t know how I’m going to react it’s going to be quite overwhelming. It’s like ten years of your life is down to one shot, really, and then it’s all over. It’s going to be strange. I’ll probably get over it [laughs].
What has been your favourite Harry Potter moment?
It has all been really good. But the first scene, the first day, was pretty cool. Because, obviously, I had no idea what to expect or how many people were involved. It was exciting.
Will you remain friends with the cast?
Definitely, it’s an intimate process and you do kind of warm to people quite a lot. We’re good mates. There’s a big list of people involved but we’ll definitely stay in touch.
ONE WAY… ONE FATE… ONE HERO!
Once again Magicbox is hard at work on the latest Trailer for the final chapters of the Harry Potter Franchise. The Deathly Hallows will consist of two full length feature films released a year apart. Voldemort’s power is growing stronger. He now has control over the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, and Hermione decide to finish Dumbledore’s work and find the rest of the Horcruxes to defeat the Dark Lord. But little hope remains for them, so everything they do must go as planned.
Just a reminder to everyone that Tolga Safer (Karkaroff’s Aid) and Stanislav Ianevski (Victor Krum) will be attending the Elf Fantasy Fair this weekend from April 24th – 25th!
The event will take place at the Kasteel De Haar, Haarzuilen in the Netherlands. You can purchase tickets to the event by going to this page or at the event.
FILMCUB members exclusively quizzed Tom Felton on 21 April. Tom had this to say about the event, “I had a great time at the FILMCLUB webcast. Fantastic questions that quizzed me far better than journalists! I would do it again anytime. Thanks to everyone who asked so many great questions.” FILMCLUB is a network of exciting after-school clubs which offers children free weekly access to thousands of classic and popular films – opening the door onto a dazzling world of cultures, life stories, aspirations, times and places. For further information please visit www.filmclub.org. Watch some segments from the event below, the full segment will be available on the website next week!
