Huge Harry Potter Wands Will Light Up Leicester Square This Month
The wands mark the 20th Anniversary of the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone film (yes, it’s been that long)
Nine 4.5m-tall Harry Potter wands will illuminate Leicester Square this month — celebrating 20 years since the film release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
The wands, which will flank one of the square’s pathways from 13-25 October, represent various characters from the Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchise. They’ll light up from 6pm until 8.35pm every evening, performing regular light shows to dramatic Harry Potter scores.
Kids will love pointing out which wands belong to which characters — and of course, there’s also the semi-permanent Harry Potter statue to enjoy in Leicester Square now.
A new interview has hinted that Hogwarts Legacy may release in late 2022.
Rachel Wakely, Warner Bros. general manager spoke to Toy World magazine about the Wizarding World IP, in which she referred to “two major releases in 2022”. The first is the upcoming Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbeldore, she said, which releases in the UK on April 8. The second is Hogwarts Legacy.
“From what we’ve seen, the launch will be well worth the wait and deliver a unique way for fans to interact with the franchise”.
This could suggest that the game isn’t set to release until after Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbeldore.
The game was delayed until 2022 in January 2021.
In a statement published on social media, the publisher thanked fans for their “tremendous reaction” to the game’s announcement last year and confirmed the new release window.
“Creating the best possible experience for all of the Wizarding World and gaming fans is paramount to us so we are giving the game the time it needs,” the statement read.
Developed by Avalanche Software (Disney Infinity), Hogwarts Legacy is described as an open-world RPG that takes players beyond Hogwarts to new and familiar locations, as they “live the unwritten and embark on a dangerous journey to uncover a hidden truth of the wizarding world.”
It was also reported that Hogwarts Legacy, will reportedly add the ability for players to create transgender heroes, following controversy stemming from comments made by series creator J.K. Rowling.
According to a Bloomberg report citing anonymous sources at Warner Bros.’ Avalanche studio, some members of the game’s development have since fought to make the game as inclusive as possible, in response to the author’s comments.
As a result, when players start up the game they will reportedly be able to create a character that has a masculine or feminine voice regardless of body type, while the choice of “witch” or “wizard” will determine the dorm their character is placed in.
Some members of the Avalanche team have also been pushing for a transgender character to be added to the game’s cast, according to Bloomberg.
When I was a young “Harry Potter” fan in India, the Patils meant so much to me.
Their hideous on-screen Yule Ball outfits, however, were a wasted opportunity for representation.
The Patils were robbed of their identities, illustrating Western media’s larger diversity issue.
My decade-old copy of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” still looks new, except for the tiny dog-ear in chapter seven on a page I revisited time and time again.
On that folded page, we readers witness our first Sorting Hat ceremony and meet “a pair of twin girls, ‘Patil’ and ‘Patil.'”
Even though I had little more than a last name, I was immediately invested in their character development and what would come next for them.
Unfortunately, J.K. Rowling didn’t give them growth, and the movies didn’t provide them with opportunities to progress either. Really, the movies did these twins dirtier than I could’ve imagined.
As a young Indian Potterhead, I instantly identified with Parvati and Padma
The Patils don’t get much screen time in the movies.
Warner Brothers
It was because of my culture that I had such a big response to the introduction of minor characters who, really, would have no important role in the series.
Patil is a common family name in India, where I live. When I first read “Sorcerer’s Stone,” India’s president — the first and only woman to hold that office — was Pratibha Patil, a name that could’ve been a good choice for a third sister if the Patils were triplets.
I was used to the name in my regular life, but seeing it in the Wizarding World was something else entirely. “Harry Potter” wasn’t just a series of books; it was a phenomenon and a watershed moment for young-adult fiction.
It was also overwhelmingly British, with characters who were either clearly stated or implied to be Caucasian, people who had names nobody around me had, and kids who had blond and red hair — a spectrum absent from our rainbow here in India.
In this unfamiliar landscape, the presence of the Patils became my own personal connection to the world of magic.
As a young Indian girl, I was sure the twins would probably dress like me, eat like me, and even live with a family like mine.
But the Patils had disappointing character arcs — if you can even call them that — and were immediately shoved to the side
Upon their first mention, the twins don’t get first names.
Paige DiFiore
The Patils’ character arcs seemed promising in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”
We see Parvati more closely since she is a Gryffindor like the leads Harry, Ron, and Hermione. She gets as much dialogue as some other supporting characters. In a pivotal scene, we see her standing up for Neville Longbottom, who was being bullied by Draco Malfoy, thus embodying the “daring, nerve, and chivalry” that sets Gryffindors apart from the rest.
Slowly, however, I noticed the Patil sisters fading away.
We see the sisters occasionally in the first three books in the Gryffindor common room, at Quidditch matches, and in divination class. Then we see only glimpses of them as members of Dumbledore’s Army in the fifth book, exactly four lines of dialogue in the sixth book, and a couple of mentions in the final book’s Battle of Hogwarts.
The books don’t even leave us with a definite answer as to whether they survive the battle.
The girls’ big moment is also the series’ biggest waste of an opportunity to showcase Indian culture
Parvarti Patil with Potter and Weasley with Padma Patil.
Warner Brothers
In the fourth book, Parvati and Padma’s role as Harry and Ron’s dates to the Yule Ball is the peak of their character progress — I refuse to call it development because they do not evolve beyond one dimension.
For my teenage self, it was immensely reassuring to know that Indian girls were fully capable of being found worthy by the Chosen One and his faithful friend. It helps that that books describe the situation in a fluffy, rom-com manner and paint a lovely picture of the outfits they wore to the ball:
“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 … “‘Hi,’ said Padma, who was looking just as pretty as Parvati in robes of bright turquoise.”
Having read this and imagined many versions of what their outfits might be, I was excited for the film version of the sequence.
As soon as I saw Parvati and Padma, I had a strong suspicion the costume designers neither were Indian nor consulted with anyone who was.
The girls wore garish pink-and-orange lehengas, a traditional Indian ethnic costume that consists of a floor-length skirt, a matching top, and, occasionally, a scarf called the dupatta. It’s worn to celebrations, formal events, and festivals.
Most important, lehengas are tough to get wrong — they are naturally graceful, come in a variety of designs, and are often sold in sets, which takes the brainwork out of matching the outfit. Many Indian designers exclusively make lehengas, giving wearers a plethora of options.
It takes a lot of work to make a lehenga look bad. And yet, the film managed to do it, with candy-colored outfits that did not fit, weren’t accessorized properly, and didn’t even match the descriptions in the book.
Even worse, it wasn’t necessary to have the twins wear Indian clothes in the first place — the book mentioned only “robes.” If the filmmakers were trying to pay homage to the sisters’ heritage, they wasted a wonderful opportunity to showcase the sisters’ cultural background.
Disappointed by the caricature-ish clothes shown on-screen, Indian artists have even taken it upon themselves to recreate the Patils’ look for the ball, giving the sisters the outfits they deserve.
The Patils aren’t the first Indian characters to be robbed of their identities
Afshan Azad and Shefali Chowdhury, who played the Patils in “Harry Potter.”
Ferdaus Shamim/WireImage/Getty Images
Western media has a representation problem that goes beyond “Harry Potter.”
For a country with an approximately 14% minority population, the UK has a massive representation problem — which also exists in the US and other Western countries — that excludes people of color from art.
Western media’s representation of Indian characters has often been stereotypical, lazy, and borderline offensive — one need look no further than Apu from “The Simpsons” and Raj from “The Big Bang Theory.” This fetishization of the exotic takes two forms, with characters either used for tokenistic diversity or made the butt of jokes.
But Parvati and Padma Patil are neither — their ethnic origins are never really proclaimed or highlighted enough to merit accusations of tokenism, and they are never used for the punch line.
Instead, they represent untapped potential and unrealized opportunities. Rowling didn’t seem to understand the importance of these characters to people like me — perhaps if she had, we’d have a well-researched portrayal of two Indian girls.
As for the film, it required just a little hard work to make sure the only tangible on-screen visualization of the twins’ heritage was not a twisted, neon, gimmicky version of what is really a vivid and colorful culture.
As I grew up, my disappointment with the treatment of the Patils has become my own case study
Parvati and Padma Patil are now two of my favorite characters for a different reason.
They now remind me of the importance of representation and varied perspectives. They drive me to research thoroughly and put in as much effort as is required for accurate and nuanced descriptions. They remind me of the impact and importance that literature and characters we relate to can have on our perception of art.
And, of course, the sisters will always be a reminder for me to never wear neon pink and bright orange together — a fashion faux pas that should only be made once in history.
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 authentic
props 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 AR
technology.
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 well
as all social media channels for The Franklin Institute. #HarryPotterExhibition
TICKET INFORMATION
Daytime Tickets
Daily: 9:30am-5pm
Adults $43.00
Seniors and Military $41.00
Children (ages 3-11) $39.00
Daytime tickets include admission to The Franklin Institute and one Fels Planetarium show.
Evening Tickets
Thursday – Sunday: 5pm-8pm; last entry 6:30pm
Adults and Seniors $30.00
Children (ages 3-11) $30.00
Evening tickets include admission to Harry Potter: The Exhibition only.
Other Museum areas close at 5 p.m.
VIP [Anytime] Ticket: $59
An 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
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
As for the exhibition itself, the Franklin promises that “it spans thousands of square feet and features 10 distinct areas — from Hogwarts castle to The Great Hall to Hagrid’s Hut to The Forbidden Forest. Guests will transition into the exhibition from the iconic Kings Cross Station.”
From there, they will select their Hogwarts house and wand and explore the show on a personalized journey.
Here’s how to get your tickets:
Tickets are timed and dated.
Daytime tickets for timed entry between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily are $43 for adults; $41 for seniors and military; $39 for children ages 3 to 11. Tickets include museum admission and one planetarium show.
Evening tickets are for timed entry between 5 and 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday are $30 for all guests and does not include other areas of the museum, which will close at 5 p.m. Final guests must leave by 8 p.m.
VIP anytime passes are also available for $59.
For more information, visit www.fi.edu
Once it leaves Philadelphia, “Harry Potter” is expected to tour the world including Latin America, the Asian-Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Visit www.HarryPotterExhibition.com for updates on the tour.
Tammy Paolino is Features Editor for the Atlantic South region of the USA Today Network. She’s an award-winning reporter and editor who loves to cover trends, diversity, the arts, food and drink. Reach her at tpaolino@gannett.com or 856-486-2477 or on Twitter @CP_TammyPaolino. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.
Women Children’s Center transformed at Kaiser Permanente Roseville
Roseville, Calif. – The playroom at Kaiser Permanente Roseville’s Women Children’s Center has been completely transformed into a magical Harry Potter experience, to the delight of pediatric patients and their families, as well as physicians and staff.
Upon entering the space, young witches and wizards step onto Platform 9 3/4, then stroll through the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which includes a Potions classroom, Great Hall, and the Chamber of Secrets.
“We all need a little magic right now.”
Aoki-Tan, Child Life Specialist
Kaiser Permanente Roseville Child Life Specialist Traci Aoki-Tan dreamed up the idea for converting the playroom into Hogwarts and recruited Harry Potter superfans among the pediatric staff to bring the idea to fruition.
“With so many other activities canceled over the past year and a half, we really needed something to bring joy to our patients, their families and each other,” said Aoki-Tan.
“I didn’t expect it to be this big, it was really creative! My favorite part was definitely the Great Hall,” said Austin Mitchell, a 13-year-old Roseville pediatric patient.
“It’s been a really tough year, and this really made me happy.”
Austin Mitchell, a 13-year-old Roseville pediatric patient.
Inspired Creativity
Aoki-Tan was joined by a core group of nurses, medical social work, carpenters, painters, and volunteers who helped bring this magical experience to pediatric patients.
The team spent countless hours over the past month sourcing and creating items to use in the room. Once word got out about their plans, physicians, staff, family, and friends began reaching out to lend items from their personal collection, such as wands, swords, and cloaks.
“It was really cool, I loved the decorations, especially Hedwig and the Sorting Hat,” said 17-year-old Ashley Tapparo, another Roseville pediatric patient. “I just want to say thank you to all the staff and nurses that put this together.”
The Harry Potter experience will be up until October 31. But the team is considering making this an annual tradition and hopes to be able to allow more visitors when COVID-19 restrictions are no longer in place.
“We all need a little magic right now,” says Aoki-Tan. “This experience helps each patient that goes through forget – even for moment – about being in the hospital, their illness and what is going on outside these hospital walls.”
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 INFORMATIONDaytime 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
I think the business model is basically perfect, and a wonderful thing for gaming.
These games are free … UNLESS you have some huge entitlement issues that make you think that YOU are special, YOU should never have to wait for anything, YOU shouldn’t need to work towards anything, it should be handed to you without effort, and that no one should ever, ever be allowed to be more advantaged then you. If that’s the case, yeah, you are going to spend a LOT of these games, but I’m also going to guess based on the presence of the entitlement that you’ve got a fair bit of disposable income.
Or maybe you’re just rich AF? Maybe you look at the timer that says “play for an hour or $1 to unlock” and think “well, I make $5000 an hour and I want to experience that thing, so paying is the better option.” Maybe you’re used to spending money to slightly enhance a temporary experience, like paying for fast track or front row tickets to Hamilton vs seeing it in the back. I mean I pay like $200 a year in park fees for the 2 or 3 times a year I go camping. What’s valuable to one person isn’t the same as what’s valuable to the next. Some people will only lease and rent cars because the value of never driving a car that’s older then a few years is more then the value of owning one as far as they are concerned.
Or maybe you have a bit of income, and you really like the game, so you toss in a buck to support them. It’s Patreon without someone taking a 30%.
Or maybe you’re broke or your don’t think the game is that good. Then it’s free.
Again, anger at this business model is generally the ultimate in entitlement, where people scream because you feel you should be able to just pay $20 and get everything.
What about people that don’t have $20? I think it’s awesome that entitled clowns and ultra rich people are literally paying to get them the game for free.
Warner Bros. has officially announced the title of its upcoming Harry Potter quiz show. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses will be a four-part series, presented by Dame Helen Mirren.
The quiz show, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone, will award the winner the title of House Cup champion. To win, contestants will need to prove themselves the most knowledgeable about the Wizarding World across hundreds of trivia questions.
“Special guest surprises” are promised, hinting at actors from the film series, but the show will be fronted by Helen Mirren, one of Britain’s most famous actresses, and a surprising omission from the star-studded British cast of the Harry Potter movies. “I knew someday I’d get a Harry Potter role, and I’m so pleased to take part in the 20-year film celebration,” said Mirren in a press release. “The films inspired such enchantment and wonder for so many of us, and it will be such a treat to reignite that magic for the countless fans who continue to revel in this spellbinding world.”
The four-part show is due to be filmed later this month, and will premiere later this year on both Cartoon Network’s ACME Night and TBS. It will then be made available on HBO Max.
Earlier this year there were reports of a Harry Potter series being planned for HBO Max. It’s unclear if that show is, in fact, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses, or if there are/were plans for a scripted drama set in the Wizarding World. At the time Warner denied that any Harry Potter show was in development, but the company has noted its interest in expanding the franchise beyond the film series and its Fantastic Beasts spin-off.
Matt Purslow is IGN’s UK News and Entertainment Writer.
Two decades after the Harry Potter film franchise debuted, a competition show will challenge competitors and test them on their wizarding world knowledge.
Dame Helen Mirren is set to host Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses which will debut at 7 p.m. on Nov. 28 on TBS and Cartoon Network, according to Entertainment Weekly.
“I knew someday I’d get a Harry Potter role, and I’m so pleased to take part in the 20-year film celebration,” said Mirren. “The films inspired such enchantment and wonder for so many of us, and it will be such a treat to reignite that magic for the countless fans who continue to revel in this spellbinding world.”
You can expect to see cast members from the film franchise like Tom Felton who played Draco Malfoy, Shirley Henderson who played Moaning Myrtle and Luke Youngblood who played Lee Jordan.
Other celebrities like Pete Davidson and Jay Leno will also be featured in the show which will be set up as a bracket-style game and take place over the course of four nights.
Potterheads can join in on the magic at home with the online Wizarding World Quiz Championship – a set of three special online quizzes that escalate in difficulty, according to WizardingWorld.com.
