In this, the golden age of geekdom, Sounds Geek To Me is a column that seeks to discuss and dissect the latest from the various fandom universes, new and old. From Marvel to Middle Earth to The Matrix, sci-fi sensations to superheroes, galaxies far far away to wizarding worlds, the column aims to inform, opine and take fantasy storytelling far too seriously.

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“Yer a wizard Harry,” says a shaggy eight-foot tall tower of a man to a bespectacled, wide-eyed 11-year-old boy who, like us, did not know his world was never going to be the same again. This day, 20 years ago saw the US release of Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone (no, it is not Sorcerer’s Stone, the lazy, watered-down, spoonfeed-y American title – do not even get me bloody started).

It was the start of a beloved eight-part fantasy movie franchise based on an even more beloved book series that launched a million aspiring wizards and witches. The definitive young adult fantasy series that an entire generation grew up with and got utterly lost in. A series of movies which, to this day, have the power to transport us back to a simpler time. An age where we could solemnly swear we were up to no good.

Aside from laying the building blocks of one of the most successful movie franchises of all time, director Chris Columbus’ Philosopher’s Stone introduced us to the on-screen adaptation of JK Rowling’s richly detailed and wondrous Wizarding World. A world of spells and sorting hats, Horcruxes and hallows, Butterbeers, Boggarts, and Bertie Bott’s every flavour beans (and they really do mean every flavour). Of Shrieking Shacks, Remembralls, Quidditch, nearly headless ghosts, patronuses, Polyjuice potions, paintings with personality, and beyond. Not to mention imprinting a vast array of magical vocabulary and spells into our subconscious. Objectively useless knowledge that we will forever treasure.

The eight Harry Potter films collectively earned nearly $8 billion, and Rowling’s book series is one of the bestselling in history with more than 500 million copies sold. But the rich legacy and enduring fanbase aside, on the 20th anniversary of the big-screen introduction to the boy who lived, it feels like the right time to ask — in the age of cinematic universes, where do Potterheads go from here?

At a time when far less impactful franchises are getting spun into massive worlds of spin-offs and continuations, it feels like one of the biggest fandom universes remains relatively untapped. What we have had post the books and movies, is an interesting if unlikely mixed bag of controversies, (kind of) continuations, and spin-offs.

First off, to address the Quidditch-pitch-sized elephant in the room, you have an increasingly problematic author who, for all the wonder she has given the world, now seems hellbent on inflicting the Cruciatus curse to her career and reputation. An unfortunate turn of events that has led to many Potterheads being forced to have those delicate yet dreaded yet art vs artists conversations. (I legitimately would not be surprised if, in the time taken to read this, Rowling has tweeted yet another random character revelation no one asked for, like “OMG BTW Dobby was a Death Eater, and Hogwarts was a metaphor for the Middle East this whole time!”).

Then there is the Fantastic Beasts spin-off prequel series centered on Eddie Redmayne’s Newt Scamander  Not unlike the Hobbit series, Fantastic Beasts gave us a wonderful first film that allowed us to revisit this world we so loved with genuinely endearing characters. The film that followed, however, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Meandering Storytelling And Spectacular Miscasting Grindelwald, was another story. (Jude Law as young Dumbledore? Really? Go make out with a Dementor). And yes, there is an unfortunate third instalment on the way.

There was also Harry Potter And The Cursed Child (2016), the published script of a play, set 19 years after the events of the books. Despite all the hopes and hype attached, The Cursed Child was a poorly written yet ambitious Star Wars: Force Awakens-style continuation of the Harry Potter series, which told the story of the next generation of Weasleys and Potters, while still keeping the now older Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the mix.

But now, in the age of intellectual property and a franchise-fuelled movie industry driven by cinematic universes, what of the Wizarding World? Or perhaps the more pressing question is: would a sprawling fandom universe made up of endless spin-offs, sequels, and prequels be good for this world we love so much?

Is a Harry Potter cinematic universe even a good thing? Why is it enough for us not to cherish what is, rather than focusing on what next? Should we not be fulfilled in just reveling in and relishing these movies and books as they are?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) | Directed by Chris Columbus Shown from left: Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson

In theory, yes. But at a time where cinematic universes are either constantly expanding (Game Of Thrones, Star Wars, Marvel Cinematic Universe) or there is a constant mad dash by studios to create new ones (The Boys, The Witcher), it is only natural that we have become accustomed to these worlds being mined for more. So as an entitled fan, my best answer to whether I would want more Harry Potter stories on screen would be — yes… but only if they are good.

And if it was to carry on, what would that look like? Small screen or big? Existing characters or new ones? There are rumours of a Harry Potter-related TV series currently in early development at HBO Max. It’s an idea that is hard not to be excited by. Back in 2011, pop culture publication IGN put out a bloody cool fan-made trailer for The Aurors, imagining what a wizarding US TV show could look like, and it is hard not to get your mind working.

More recently, Philosopher’s Stone director Chris Columbus said in an interview that he would love to direct The Cursed Child movie, considering the original cast is now the right age (please god no — someone obliviate this man). As to whether any or all of these come to fruition, only time, and the decisions of probably white male studio executives behind closed doors, will tell.

But coming back to relishing and celebrating what is rather than getting lost in what if,  regardless of what is to become of the Wizarding World, the fact remains that 20 years ago, we saw the beginnings of one of the most beloved fantasy stories of all time. An epic story which, despite its whimsical world, was, at its core, about the importance and power of love and connection. One of the most enchanting good vs evil stories ever seen on screen, the Harry Potter series did a lot more than just touch hearts and endure. It made us believe in magic.

It’s all-out war between good and evil in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2,” the epic finale of the epic eight-part film series drawn from the J.K. Rowling wizard novels. And the film has an epic score to match.

And this weekend, you can watch the movie on a huge screen and hear that powerful, Grammy-nominated score by Alexandre Desplat performed live by Symphony San Jose, and you don’t even need a magic spell.

The orchestra, led by John Jesensky, will perform the score during three screenings this weekend, wrapping up the eight part concert series that has been truly magical for Harry Potter fans and classical music lovers alike.

And “Deathly Hallows — Part II,” one of the best-reviewed films of the series, promises even more thrills as our hero Harry Potter gets his showdown with the evil Lord Voldemort. It will all be shown on a high-definition, 40-foot screen.

Desplat’s score was widely praised as well, especially since he worked in elements from some the series’ previous iconic John Williams musical themes.

Details: 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20, 1:30 p.m. Nov. 21; San Jose Center for the Performing Arts; proof of vaccination required for entry, masks must be worn inside the theater; $50-$100; 408-286-2600, www.symphonysanjose.org.

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• For many readers and fans, “Harry Potter” became a safe escape and supportive community.
• Controversial author J.K. Rowling has since spread transphobic messages, killing some of the magic.
• It’s hard to replicate the effect of the series for the next generation with its real-life context.

“Harry Potter” needs no introduction. It was a once-in-a-generation phenomenon.

As the millennial Potterheads grew up, the books provided an idealist escape to the less complicated world of childhood. The Wizarding World became a safe place where magic was real and bravery, brains, and friendship always won.

For early and late adopters alike, it seemed like a given that such a treasured series would be passed lovingly along to the next generation. But as often happens as we age, the real world began to seep in.

J.K. Rowling’s transphobic viewpoints left many Potter fans disenchanted

In 2020, in a now-infamous series of tweets and a subsequent essay, the controversial “Harry Potter” author issued a spate of contentious statements about biological sex and gender. Rowling’s opinions led many to label her a trans-exclusionary radical feminist.

A TERF is generally characterized as a person who says they’re a feminist while espousing trans-exclusionary views. Common examples include saying that trans women aren’t women, barring trans women from women’s spaces, and conflating sex with gender.

These comments weren’t her first foray into transphobia. In addition to liking a couple of offensive tweets in 2018, she also tweeted in 2019 in support of a British woman who was fired over making transphobic comments. 

Then, amid the backlash of her 2020 tweets and essay, the author published a poorly received book under her pseudonym, Robert Galbraith, that follows a male serial killer who lures his victims by dressing as a woman. 

Her actions disenchanted scores of fans, who have struggled to figure out what to do with their love for the series given the controversy around its creator.

As Rowling’s personal beliefs became harder to ignore so, too, did the biases embedded in her books 

Warner Bros.

As fans reexamine the books and amplify long-quieted critiques in the wake of this backlash, it’s become increasingly clear that Rowling’s personal views and biases made their way into the subtext of the series.

Like so much of the media of yesteryear, the books are rightfully subjected to critiques and criticisms. Everything from the naming of Cho Chang, to the injustice that was the Patil twins’ Yule Ball look, to the absence of prominent Black and queer characters dulls the series’ luster.

Rowling’s attempts to revise history by sharing postcanonical details about characters and the Wizarding World at large — such as Dumbledore being gay and a minor, unknown character being Jewish — did little to quell these claims.

In a series that spans thousands of pages and often provides minute details, the thought that Rowling couldn’t spare a few words to mention a character’s race or sexuality already seems preposterous. But to imply that these facts were always present and that fans merely missed or failed to imagine them feels mildly insulting.

Rowling, like any person, is only human. Although some of the series’ flaws exist as overt bigotry, other coded messages may have been the result of unconscious biases or internalized stereotypes.

But intentional or not, the implications of these problematic portrayals left a stain on the series that even the most ardent Potterphiles can no longer ignore.

With each offensive comment Rowling shares, the Wizarding World becomes less of an escape. 

Some fans who were raised on ‘Harry Potter’ faced an existential reckoning, and the path forward isn’t clear

Suddenly, fans were reckoning with the literary equivalent of having a racist uncle: What do you do when someone or something problematic is unwittingly and inextricably entwined with your world?

It’s difficult to truly separate art from the artist when the artist’s views color her world in so many fundamental ways. 

Some fans treasure their existing copies of the beloved series while refusing to purchase anything new to support Rowling financially. For others, the books lie obscured and discarded, awaiting a fate yet to be determined.

As the original generation of fans has children, some may choose to omit the books entirely, opting for more inclusive family reading. Others may still introduce the series but ensure that it’s accompanied by disclaimers and caveats. 

This intrusion of real life means the series can’t be a safe haven for the next generation. When we introduce the real world to the Wizarding World, we inherently drain some of its magic. 

‘Harry Potter’ can never be what it once was for the next generation of readers

As we look for ways to carry the best of the books into the future, we’ll have to leave some of their splendor in the past — like a literary “you had to be there” moment.

We don’t have a Time-Turner to rectify these wrongs, so we’ll look upon “Harry Potter” with the kind of melancholy nostalgia that accompanies the lost days of childhood — a yearning for a time when the series was unburdened and uncomplicated. 

As we look to the future, the best we can hope is that these conversations inspire the next generation to foster fully inclusive magic and create a more perfect version of this fantasy world. 

Rowling and her representatives have declined to comment.

Happy Christmas Insiders! I know, I know it’s not even Thanksgiving yet BUT it seems Christmas has come early! I am so extremely excited to report that the new hardback house editions of the “Harry Potter” series is officially now on sale! The four sets come in Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin editions!

Out today: the hardback House Editions boxset is the ultimate gift for those who wear their house colours with pride. Each glorious collection of beautifully crafted House Editions features unique house-themed covers and a magical miscellany of extra content.
❤️💛💚💙 pic.twitter.com/6oOUW0TeYo

— Bloomsbury UK (@BloomsburyBooks) November 11, 2021

These are THE PERFECT gift for any Potterhead and with Christmas right around the corner these came out at the perfect time. Even you have all the “Harry Potter” books already, this is still the perfect gift as it shows off House pride and it’s so much fun for Harry Potter lovers to collect these sets. I personally have two different sets, the original set of books plus the illustrated ones, and I honestly really want these ones as well (I want to show my Hufflepuff House pride!).

Per Bloomsbury Publishing, “Each glorious collection of beautifully crafted House Editions features unique house-themed covers and a magical miscellany of extra content. This is the perfect box set to curl up with this winter.” I will certainly agree that this new edition of the series is gorgeously crafted and they are the perfect books to bundle up in a warm blanket by the fire with right next to the Christmas tree! If you’re interested in purchasing for yourself or as a gift for a fellow Potterhead, click here.

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Broadway News  

One-Part Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Opens on Broadway December 7

The Tony Award-winning play runs at the Lyric Theatre.

Audiences can once again visit the Wizarding World on Broadway. A newly condensed, one-part production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opens December 7 at the Lyric Theatre after pausing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Previews began November 12.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child first opened on Broadway as a two-part experience April 22, 2018. The production would go on to be nominated for 10 Tony Awards, winning five, including Best Play.

The play, penned by Jack Thorne, director John Tiffany, and original series author J.K. Rowling, takes place 19 years after the events of Deathly Hallows as the title wizard’s youngest son begins his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The Broadway production stars James Snyder as Harry Potter and Diane Davis as Ginny Potter alongside James Romney as their son Albus Potter; David Abeles as Ron Weasley, Jenny Jules as Hermione Granger, and Nadia Brown as their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley; and Aaron Bartz as Draco Malfoy and Brady Dalton Richards as his son Scorpius Malfoy.

Rounding out the company are Oge Agulué, Kevin Angulo, Chelsey Arce, Quinn Blades, Michela Cannon, Will Carlyon, Lauren Nicole Cipoletti, Judith Lightfoot Clarke, Ted Deasy, Kira Fath, Stephanie Gomérez, Steve Haggard, Ben Horner, Edward James Hyland, Jax Jackson, Jack Koenig, Spencer LaRue, Rachel Leslie, Sarita Amani Nash, Alexandra Peter, Dan Piering, Kevin Matthew Reyes, William Rhem, Antoinette Robinson, Stephen Spinella, Tom Stephens, Maya Thomas, and Karen Janes Woditsch.

The production features movement by Steven Hoggett, sets by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music and arrangements by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, illusions and magic by Jamie Harrison, and music supervision and arrangements by Martin Lowe. Patricia Dayleg is the newly appointed director of equity, diversity, and inclusion. U.S. casting is by Jim Carnahan. Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender, and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions serve as producers.

Check Out New Photos of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway

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Harry Potter rather famously got a chance to compete in the Triwizard Tournament even though he was underage and never put his name in the Goblet of Fire.

He became one of four young wizards to vie for the cup, the glory of their school and a thousand Galleon.

The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia can’t offer you that, exactly. But the science museum is offering a chance to be one of the first four people to tour the world premiere of “Harry Potter: The Exhibition” when it comes to Philadelphia next year. (Read on for details).

The exhibit, created by Imagine Exhibitions in partnership with Warner Bros., comes as the first “Harry Potter” film marks its 20th anniversary. 

Tickets are now on sale for the show, which opens Feb. 18 and announces itself as “the most comprehensive touring exhibition ever presented about the Wizarding World.”

As A New View bids adieu, what was the $1 million project’s impact in Camden?

“Harry Potter” will take Wizards and Muggles alike behind the scenes, where they can get up close to memorable characters, settings and moments from the books and films and the larger world created by J.K. Rowling, including more recent works such as “Fantastic Beasts” and “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”

Imagine Studios uses “best-in-class, immersive design and technology to deliver an unforgettable personalized experience,” according to press materials, that will include original film props and costumes.

It will afford Potterheads of all ages “an opportunity to engage with innovative, awe-inspiring and magical environments and installations in ways never before experienced in a touring exhibition.” 

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney spoke with enthusiasm about the show coming to his city at a press conference Wednesday morning, while wrapped in a scarf representing Ravenclaw house colors. He called the Franklin, “a local treasure with a global reputation that would host this first-class exhibition” at time when the world finally felt like it was returning to normal.

The exhibit comes as many of the region’s most beloved holiday events are returning, including the Thanksgiving Day parade, he said. While he spoke, the Philly Pops performed parts of the score of the iconic “Harry Potter” films.

Standing in the museum’s rotunda, CEO Larry Dubinski said it was “amazing to stand under the gaze of Ben Franklin after what we’ve endured – and it was science that brought us here.” He said the exhibition will “bring the world here” as international travel resumes.

Swathed in a Gryffindor scarf, Imagine Exhibitions CEO Tom Zaller offered a sneak peek at an interactive element of the exhibition, a façade of Hogwarts Castle, a Quidditch broomstick and a Golden Snitch.

The illuminated castle, as well as four Golden Snitch pedestal pieces, serve as fun backdrops for selfies, but also include a QR code that transports wizards and witches of all ages into an interactive game, “Seek the Golden Snitch,” and a chance to win prizes.

Fans can attempt to catch the Golden Snitch to be entered to win a grand prize — a two-night hotel stay in Philadelphia and four tickets to be the first in the world to experience the world premiere, as well as $500, exhibition merch and a family membership to the Franklin Institute. 

The Hogwarts Castle pop-up will remain at the Franklin Institute through Nov. 10. The Golden Snitch towers, meanwhile, will make appearances soon at The Franklin, Independence Square Visitors Center, The Promenade at Sagemore in Marlton, New Jersey; and Peddler’s Village in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Follow The Franklin Institute on social media as dates are announced.

More:Camden bookstore owner hopes history is part of his next chapter

“The retrospective special will tell an enchanting making-of story through all-new in-depth interviews and cast conversations, inviting fans on a magical first-person journey through one of the most beloved film franchises of all time,” reads its logline.

‘Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts’ will feature talent from the movies, including — according to the press release — Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Tom Felton, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Matthew Lewis and Evanna Lynch.

J.K. Rowling, the author of the iconic book series, will not be interviewed in the special, but will be shown in archival footage about the movies. Because of her anti-trans comments, which have been condemned by the core cast — Rowling has become a figure of instant, and seemingly permanent, controversy in the passionate and vast ‘Harry Potter’ fandom.

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint haven’t reprised their roles of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley for a decade now, but the director of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Chris Columbus, wants to bring the gang back together for one more ride.

Speaking to Variety, Columbus said he would love to work on a movie adaptation of The Cursed Child, a 2016 Harry Potter play that takes place 19 years after the final book in the series ends.

“I would love to direct ‘The Cursed Child,'” Columbus said. “It’s a great play and the kids are actually the right age to play those roles. It’s a small fantasy of mine.”

Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint are all in their early 30s, making them about the right age to play Harry, Ron, and Hermione on the big screen once again for this story. The Cursed Child focuses on Harry and Draco Malfoy’s children, with the original heroes serving as supporting characters. The play was a big hit on Broadway, setting records when it opened in 2018.

Columbus directed 2001’s The Sorcerer’s Stone and 2002’s sequel, The Chamber of Secrets. He also served as producer on Prisoner of Azkaban. David Yates took over directing duties for the final four Harry Potter movies, and also directed the first two Fantastic Beasts movies.

Yates is next helming The Secrets of Dumbledore, the third movie in the Fantastic Beasts spinoff series set to be released next year.

The original play was written by Jack Thorne, along with John Tiffany and Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, though it’s been a conflicting time for Harry Potter fans as J.K. Rowling has become a major proponent of anti-transgender rhetoric.

While it’s unknown if a movie version of The Cursed Child will ever become a reality, Warner Bros. is still working on a potential Harry Potter TV series, and the video game Hogwarts Legacy, which will reportedly allow players to create transgender characters.

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Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

• As an Indian woman and a twin, I expected more from Padma and Parvati Patil in “Harry Potter.”
• I ended up relating more to Hermione, the white female lead, than the actual Indian characters.
• “Harry Potter” is one of many Western-media examples of shallow sketches of South Asian characters.

Like many middle-class Indian kids, I was used to neatly reimagining my life into Western stories.

My reading habit developed on the backs of white, mainly British authors — from Enid Blyton and Agatha Christie to Charles Dickens and Jane Austen — so the series of my generation, “Harry Potter,” was a natural progression.

I thought I was finally going to get the Indian representation I longed for, because “Harry Potter” had an element my wildly Anglophone reading diet lacked: Padma and Parvati Patil, Indian, brown-skinned, identical twins, just like my twin sister and me.

I was willing to take this smidgen of representation — but I never found a way to read myself into the underdeveloped characters.

The Patil twins were part of a cultural touchstone but weren’t sketched well enough to offer real representation

On paper, the Patil twins seemed like they were in for an interesting time at Hogwarts.

Parvati was sorted into Gryffindor with Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Padma became a Ravenclaw prefect. In “Goblet of Fire,” Harry and Ron took the sisters to the Yule Ball, where Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas dubbed them the “prettiest girls in our year.” They were part of Dumbledore’s Army, and they went on to fight in the Battle of Hogwarts.

Unlike even lazier attempts at Anglicized representation, their names were also actually Indian. Padma is the shortened name my mother goes by, and their surname, Patil, is hugely common in Maharashtra, the state where I grew up.

But even with a broad canvas to deepen two of the Potterverse’s most visible characters of color, the series’ controversial author, J.K. Rowling, just … didn’t.

Representation has never been about the existence of a brown face in a crowd or a hard-to-pronounce name on a roster. It’s about reflecting reality and appreciating the tangible presence of identities often sidelined in white narratives.

Parvati’s arc in Gryffindor could’ve been sketched lovingly, like Neville’s or Luna’s, but instead she was made the archetypal giggling “silly girl” foil for Hermione.

One of the few things we know about Parvati was that she was fascinated with Divination, which is painted as superstitious, mystical mumbo jumbo. To me, this brought to mind Orientalist descriptions of India as the realm of unscientific hocus-pocus (and snake charmers) that still rankle our collective Indian soul.

Worse off, Padma essentially disappeared from the narrative.

Warner Bros.

The one moment of poetic justice that Rowling offered the twins in the books was at the Yule Ball, where Parvati “looked very pretty indeed, in robes of shocking pink, with her long dark plait braided with gold, and gold bracelets glimmering at her wrists.” Padma “was looking just as pretty as Parvati in robes of bright turquoise.”

But the movies undid the little that Rowling did.

The twins’ Yule Ball costumes spawned articles and rants on Reddit and Tumblr because no self-respecting Indian would wear those garish orange-and-pink lehengas to the biggest event of the year.

I was so disappointed in the Patils’ portrayal that I looked to Hermione for self-representation

I have to wonder if Rowling examined the British Asian experience at all when she was writing the books. After all, the Indian community is a vibrant part of the UK, making up 2.5% of the population in 2011.

It would’ve taken more than a plate of chicken tikka showing up in the Great Hall to paint meaningful representation. But peddling stereotypes and questionable sartorial choices is evidently easier than creating fully sketched characters.

I never expected book characters to look like me, because that wasn’t my experience growing up. So I was already used to choosing my heroines out of a cast of white characters based on qualities alone.

Jo March and Maggie Tulliver became kindred spirits of my youth. And when it came time to read myself into “Harry Potter,” Hermione outshone Padma and Parvati.

Warner Bros.

Hermione was a brave, whip-smart witch painted in bold strokes: an adventurer, a book-loving nerd, a fiercely loyal friend. Most importantly, she’s the reason Harry made it through seven books alive.

It was a pity, though, that I related more to Hermione than to Indian twins — a Gryffindor and a Ravenclaw, just like me and my own sister.

If I wasn’t the target demographic for these characters, who was?

Beyond ‘Harry Potter,’ there’s a gap in nuanced portrayals of South Asians in Western media

British literature never quite captured the complex life and identity of a non-Western kid for me.

Half-baked South Asian representation from white creators has largely led to cultural stereotypes in place of real narratives — evidenced by Apu’s thick Indian accent on “The Simpsons” and Raj’s social ineptitude on “The Big Bang Theory.”

But English’s colonial legacy as the lingua franca means those character tropes get read or seen more widely than our own versions.

Parvati and Padma were likely never meant to be more than harmless background characters, but their mere existence in the Potterverse made them powerful.

For once, it would’ve been nice to see a white author allow them to wield that power in a meaningful, awe-inspiring way.

Tickets are now on sale for the highly-anticipated world premiere of “Harry Potter: The Exhibition,” debuting at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia February 18, 2022.

The all-new behind-the-scenes exhibition will celebrate the iconic moments, characters, settings, and beasts as seen in the films and stories of Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts and the expanded Wizarding World, including Harry Potter and the Cursed Child through beautifully crafted environments that honor the iconic moments, characters, settings, and beasts fans love using best-in-class immersive design and technology to deliver an unforgettable personalized experience.

From the mysteries of Hogwarts castle to the adventures of its brilliant students; from daring duels to dragons and Dark Arts; from goblins at Gringotts™ to the magnificent Ministry of Magic—the exhibition will bring magic to life, connect visitors with a global community of fans of the Wizarding World, and reveal the artistry and craftsmanship behind the Blockbuster films.

The groundbreaking exhibition spans thousands of square feet and features 10 distinct areas—from Hogwarts castle and The Great Hall to Hagrid’s Hut and The Forbidden Forest. Guests will transition into the exhibition from the iconic King’s Cross Station, entering through a spellbinding entry, selecting their house and wand and beginning their personalized journey. They will get an up-close look at authenticprops and original costumes from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts™ films, and an opportunity to engage with innovative, awe-inspiring, and magical environments and installations in ways never before experienced in a touring exhibition. Harry Potter: The Exhibition is the most comprehensive touring exhibition ever presented about the Wizarding World.

PRE-EXHIBITION SEEK THE GOLDEN SNITCH TOURING INSTALLATIONS

Fans will have a limited-time opportunity to experience the magic of the Wizarding World as they vie for a chance to become the first guest to visit the Harry Potter: The Exhibition through a series of interactive photo-op installations, one unveiled today for media, and all slated to appear at locations across the northeast, beginning at The Franklin Institute.

Designed as a photo-op to prepare fans for the magic to be found in Harry Potter: The Exhibition, a 13- foot-tall illuminated Hogwarts castle front and four accompanying Golden Snitch pedestal pieces will travel to popular events and locations through the exhibition’s opening. Each features a QR code that, when activated by a mobile device, launches an interactive “Seek the Golden Snitch” experience using ARtechnology.

Fans are challenged to catch the quick-moving Golden Snitch to be entered to win the grand prize—a two night hotel stay in Philadelphia and four tickets to be the first to experience the world premiere of Harry Potter: The Exhibition. Plus, a $500 cash prize, Harry Potter: The Exhibition merchandise, and a family membership to The Franklin Institute ($4000 prize value).

Hogwarts Castle locations

• The Franklin Institute: November 3-10

Upcoming Golden Snitch™ locations:

• The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia
• Independence Visitor Center, Philadelphia
• The Promenade at Sagemore, Marlton, NJ
• Peddler’s Village, New Hope

Fans are encouraged to follow Harry Potter: The Exhibition on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, as wellas all social media channels for The Franklin Institute. #HarryPotterExhibition

TICKET INFORMATION

Daytime TicketsDaily: 9:30am-5pmAdults $43.00Seniors and Military $41.00Children (ages 3-11) $39.00Daytime tickets include admission to The Franklin Institute and one Fels Planetarium show.Evening TicketsThursday – Sunday: 5pm-8pm; last entry 6:30pmAdults and Seniors $30.00Children (ages 3-11) $30.00Evening tickets include admission to Harry Potter: The Exhibition only.Other Museum areas close at 5 p.m.VIP [Anytime] Ticket: $59An immediate-access pass, exclusive exhibition lanyard, and a discount on an audio tour and photo op.*Valid for any timeslot on the date indicated at the time of purchase