Harry Potter Fan Zone

Exclusive look inside ‘The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac’, Levi Pinfold artwork

2023-08-22T00:00:00+11:00

On October 10 Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury will publish The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac, an illustrated ‘compendium of wizarding lists, charts, maps and all things magical’. A number of illustrators, including Peter Goes, Louise Lockhart, Weitong Mai, Olia Muza, Pham Quang Phuc, Levi Pinfold and Tomislav Tomić, will bring their artistic talents to the new tome and interpret key scenes, locations, characters and objects from J.K. Rowling’s universe.

The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac features new artwork from an assortment of illustrators.

Today we’re excited to share an exclusive illustration and Q&A with artist Levi Pinfold. Keen readers will know Pinfold’s gorgeous illustrations from the Harry Potter house editions. Pinfold, a fellow Australian, was gracious enough to answer some questions about his relationship with the ‘Potter’ series and his history with and approach to illustration.

Levi Pinfold has been drawing from his imagination for as long as he can remember. He has published many acclaimed books, and is a winner of the prestigious CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal. Born in the Forest of Dean, he now lives in northern New South Wales, Australia. In the Wizarding Almanac, readers can seek out Levi’s Knight Bus as it bumps along through the London fog, explore the house common rooms and peer into the thorns and thickets of his Forbidden Forest.

Why did you choose to take part in this project and what about it is most exciting for you?

Like so many others, Hogwarts is a great escape for me. To be given the chance to disappear into the Forbidden Forest for a few weeks was hugely exciting.

What are your memories of first reading the Harry Potter stories?

I was a bit late to the party. I must have been fifteen or sixteen, and newly returned to the UK after a couple of years in Australia with my family. It was an actual sunny summer, and we were in limbo between houses, so we were spending a few weeks camping before moving into a rental place. I borrowed the first four books from my brother’s partner because I was getting bored with Dostoevsky’s The Idiot, and I read them in quick succession, lying on my back in a tent. It was perfect.

‘Like so many others, Hogwarts is a great escape for me’. Artist Levi Pinfold.

Who are your favourite Harry Potter characters?

Hermione, Hagrid and Dumbledore.

How did you become an illustrator? Have any other artists or illustrators particularly inspired you and your journey?

I think anyone who has ever loved a fictional character or place so much that they felt compelled to draw it can rightfully call themselves an illustrator, so I’d say I became an illustrator when I first drew the Stay-Puft marshmallow man when I was three! As a young person, I found my way back to illustration through borrowing comics from the graphic novels section of the library. I borrowed a couple of Sandman collected editions and the artists in those really inspired me to try and give illustration a shot, particularly Dave McKean and Michael Zulli. I started reading deeper into myths and legends and fairy tales after that, rediscovering Alan Lee and Brian Froud along the way. And that was that.

How did you approach illustrating your sections of the book? Was illustrating the wizarding world difficult?

I think the most difficult piece for me was the Knight Bus. It would be fair to say that it was pretty far out of my comfort zone! I had been given this wonderful brief with all sorts of amazing details and I really struggled to cram them all in. I tried to think of the spreads as a kind of contemporary Book of Hours, so I put on my Monk cap to try to make it work. Eventually, with lots of dedication and hours, a solution finds its way out of the fog of possibilities.

An exclusive look at Pinfold’s Patronus illustration from the upcoming Harry Potter compendium.

Bloomsbury have already shared your stunning Patronus spread to readers worldwide as a preview for the publication in October 2023. Please could you tell us a little bit about the making of this piece of artwork?

The text layout for this was already underway, so I had the pleasure of hunting down reference and making those animals seem as full of character and beautiful as I could. I roughed the whole thing out digitally with a large brush to fit around the text that was already in place, then once all the basic shapes were in and flowing nicely together, I gradually refined the details with a thinner and thinner brush. I’m always tempted to go down to tiny brush sizes and zoom all the way in. I love the strange quietness of drypoint etchings from the Middle Ages, and I’m always going after that feeling, but time isn’t always on your side.

Aside from the Patronus artwork, what was your favourite spread to illustrate, and why?

The Forbidden Forest. My early years were spent in the Forest of Dean and some of my earliest memories are in and amongst trees. I love the woods. For me it was like going for a very long walk and catching a glimpse of all the creatures you always imagine could be around the next bend in the path.

What is your Hogwarts house?

I’m pretty sure I’m a Gryffenclawpuffian. Every time I do the test I get a different result!

The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac publishes on 10 October 2023 – pre-order it from your local bookshop or Amazon now!

On love and inclusion in the ‘Harry Potter’ fandom

2020-06-10T00:00:00+11:00

For nearly twenty years, Harry Potter Fan Zone has been my little labour of love. It’s something I do for fun — a hobby project to channel creative juices and provide a small dose of (I hope) entertainment and community for fans of J.K. Rowling’s books. Quite consciously, I’ve chosen to maintain a clear separation between my personal and professional lives and my online ‘Potter’ voice. With (a splash of) Aussie humour, I strive to objectively and authentically report on all things Wizarding World.

As this year goes on, I’ve found it increasingly challenging to separate those voices.

We’re all here because — at some point in our lives — we’ve been moved by Harry Potter. For many, it’s an unquantifiable source of warmth and joy. I include myself in the list of those who have found Rowling’s seven books to be a magical literary escape and a constant source of comfort. A glowing Patronus pushing back against personal and worldly struggles. Harry’s story is a guiding light for what is just and right. A lesson in tolerance and acceptance. A stern warning against narrow-mindedness, cruelty and unfounded prejudice.

If I could grab a wand and extract one silvery thread of truth from the ‘Potter’ books, it would be this: just be kind. Love and respect people for who they are and how they see themselves. Celebrate difference. Be patient, empathetic and learn from the experiences and challenges of others. The ways in which an individual chooses to find meaning, express their identity, or live out their short tenure on this big rotating rock is — quite frankly — nobody’s business but theirs. Your life will go on, I assure you.

What is to be gained by using a platform with such immense reach and influence to send loaded soundbite-sized messages which do little more than derail positive discourse and further sting those who are already the target of significant discrimination and abuse? Not everyone wears their suffering on their sleeves: I can’t imagine the internal and external pain trans and non-binary folk suffer on a daily basis. For a group already plagued with high suicidality rates, would it hurt to just be nice. At the same time, back-and-forth conversation loaded with cruelty, immature name-calling, vitriol and hate does nothing to educate, inform or uplift those already feeling marginalised, downtrodden or seeking to become better allies. The world isn’t divided into the untouchably virtuous and the unfixably evil — but it sure feels like it sometimes. The ‘Potter’ community has always led by example. Let’s keep that up.

The world is hurting right now: voices who have long deserved just amplification are finally being heard. I absolutely appreciate that it’s easy to label a flowery worded response to an issue as poignant and culturally significant as this as virtue-signalling. An attempt to assuage the crowd. Hollow allyship from those more privileged. I owe a great debt to J.K. Rowling — my personal and professional lives have undoubtedly been shaped by her creation. Over the last two decades, Jo’s been a shining beacon of kindness, goodwill and philanthropy. While I yearn for her to provide a compassionate longform response to the fractured ‘Potter’ zeitgeist of the late 2010s and those who feel genuine and personal hurt from her words, I can’t blindly ignore suffering in my own backyard. Whether intentional or simply misguided and (very) poorly timed, the Wizarding World community for which I’ve been a member for so long shows respect to all.

As such, I’d like to take Harry Potter Fan Zone’s efforts further:

Harry Potter Fan Zone is a fan website with significant running costs. We offset those costs by running ads. The entirety of our ad revenue earned thus far in 2020 will be donated to support initiatives of far greater importance than our own. Those initiatives are:

The Trevor Project — an amazing non-profit organisation which provides suicide prevention efforts for LGBTQ youth. (Read Dan Radcliffe’s post today for more context.)
Black Lives Matter — an activist organisation fighting against systemic violence, racism and prejudice against black people.
Reconciliation Australia — a not-for-profit organisation in my native country which promotes and facilitates reconciliation between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

If you’ve read this far, thank you. From today, we’ll continue our regular ‘Potter’ transmissions — reporting on the books, films, merchandise and new storytelling from Jo. That’s what brings me (and hopefully our readers) joy. I don’t want to stop. If this editorial means you want to throw HPFZ in the nearest Vanishing Cabinet, I completely understand. For me, Harry Potter continues to be a glorious source of escapism and warmth in an increasingly turbulent year. There’s no reason anyone should be denied that pleasure. For the fans who seek comfort in the Wizarding World, we are for you. For the creators who pour heart and soul into ‘Potter’-related endeavours — both official and unofficial — we are here to celebrate you.

For anyone feeling disenfranchised, lost, or without voice, the Wizarding World welcomes you. If you want someone to talk to, my inbox is always open.

***

Andy McCray is the creator and editor of Harry Potter Fan Zone, an unofficial Wizarding World website based in Australia and established in 2003.

Funko unveil mega 18″ ‘Harry Potter’ Pop! Vinyl figure

2020-05-02T00:00:00+11:00

A (super) super sized Funko version of Harry and Hedwig is coming in July.

Wizarding World Funko collectors: in the unlikely event you have any free shelf space remaining, the Pop Vinyl! giant has unveiled the finished artwork for a whopping 18-inch super sized version of Harry and Hedwig the owl. The figure was first announced earlier this year.

Harry and Hedwig join a rare category of figures to get the 18-inch treatment (including this anniversary Batman) — so far we’ve only seen 10-inch figures in the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts lines.

The super sized version of the Boy Wizard will be available from July and pre-orders are currently being taken for the lofty price of $99. In other Funko news, the Harry and Voldemort movie moment Pop! Vinyl, recreating Goblet of Fire’s iconic Priori Incantatem scene, is now available also.

Harry and Hedwig will be available in July for $99.

LEGO to release new ‘Harry Potter’ sets in June

2020-04-30T00:00:00+11:00

LEGO will release new sets featuring scenes from Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince.

LEGO will release a number of new Harry Potter sets in June with builds themed around the Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince films. A set featuring the flying Ford Anglia escape from Privet Drive (Chamber of Secrets) and a model of Hedwig the owl complete the new lineup.

Hogwarts Room of Requirement (75966)

A recreation of Order of the Phoenix’s Room of Requirement scene, this set features minifigure versions of Harry, Hermione, Luna, a Death Eater and translucent Patronus figures. The set contains 193 pieces and will retail for $29.99.

Forbidden Forest: Umbridge’s Encounter (75967)

A recreation of Umbridge’s encounter with Grawp, this set includes Harry, Hermione, Umbridge and Centaur minifigures. It contains 253 pieces and will retail for $49.99.

4 Privet Drive (75968)

A recreation of the Dursley family home, this set pays homage to the flying Ford Anglia escape (Chamber of Secrets) and the influx of Hogwarts acceptance letters (Philosopher’s Stone). The set includes minifigures of Harry, Ron, Dudley, Petunia, Vernon, Dobby and Hedwig. It contains 797 pieces and will retail for $99.99.

Hogwarts Astronomy Tower (75969)

The Hogwarts Astronomy Tower set includes references to both Slughorn’s party and Draco’s encounter with Dumbledore atop the tower, both from Half-Blood Prince. Minifigures include Harry, Hermione, Slughorn, Luna, Lavender Brown, Neville, Ron, Draco and Hedwig. The set contains 971 pieces and will retail for $179.99.

Hedwig (75979)

A scale model of Hedwig, this set contains moveable wings and minfigures of both Harry and Hedwig. The model contains 630 pieces and will retail for $69.99.

Attack on the Burrow (75980)

A recreation of the sequence from Half-Blood Prince, this new Burrow sets includes minifigures of Harry, Bellatrix, Greyback, Tonks, Ginny, Ron, Molly and Arthur. It contains 1047 pieces and will retail for $149.99.

You can learn more about the entire Wizarding World LEGO collection over at our LEGO section. The new sets will be available from 1 June.

Japan celebrates 20th anniversary of ‘Harry Potter’ with new cover art

2020-04-27T00:00:00+11:00

Sayzansha Publications Ltd are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Japanese publication of the Harry Potter books with new editions. The new editions feature cover artwork by artist Miho Satake. As is tradition in Japan, books four through seven are split over two volumes — that means double the cover artwork!

The new editions can be purchased over at the publisher’s website. You can explore loads of international Harry Potter covers over in our book covers section.

‘Harry Potter: Wizards Unite’ adds Knight Bus for virtual travel feature

2020-04-20T00:00:00+11:00

Players of the Harry Potter AR game can catch the Knight Bus to travel to a Hogwarts Fortress.

While we’re all stuck at home, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite players are likely finding themselves unable to travel to Fortress locations and participate in Wizard Challenges.

To combat the issue, Portkey Games have added a Knight Bus to the augmented reality mobile game — the purple bus will transport players to a Fortress at Hogwarts Castle where they can use Runestones to battle foes.

The Knight Bus feature will be available to players level 7 and above and will be rolling out soon.

20th anniversary edition Thai ‘Harry Potter’ covers revealed

2020-04-13T00:00:00+11:00

The Thai editions of the Harry Potter books are celebrating their 20th anniversary. To celebrate, publisher Nanmeebooks has commissioned new cover artwork by artist Apolar. You can pre-order the editions over at their website and check out the covers in glorious detail below.

MinaLima unveil illustrations from new ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ edition

2020-03-27T00:00:00+11:00

Earlier this year we learned that Harry Potter film graphic designers Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima (MinaLima) would publish an illustrated version of the first Harry Potter book. Today, the design duo have unveiled a number of pieces of artwork from the new edition.

Dumbledore in Privet Drive.

The Hut-on-the-Rock.

The Hogwarts Express.

Hagrid and Hogwarts.

Dumbledore and Harry.

The MinaLima illustrated version of Philosopher’s Stone will be released on 20 October. The book can be pre-ordered over at MinaLima’s website or via Scholastic’s website if you’re based in the US.

COVID-19: how it will impact ‘Harry Potter’ in 2020

2020-03-19T00:00:00+11:00

From filming delays to event cancellations, COVID-19 will have a significant effect on the Wizarding World in 2020.

‘Fantastic Beasts 3’ filming delayed

Fantastic Beasts 3, scheduled for release in November 2021, was slated to begin filming earlier this week at Leavesden Studios in the UK. Production has since been paused indefinitely. It’s unknown at this stage when production might recommence, but it’s another blow for a film which has already suffered significant production delays.

There’s no word on a further release date delay yet — given the length of the production cycle we’re hopeful November 2021 is still achievable.

‘Cursed Child’ productions halted

The two-part Harry Potter stage play is currently playing at four locations around the world. In London, the West End production of the play is suspended until further notice. At the time of writing, the New York production is halted until at least 12 April, as is the production in Melbourne. Performances in San Francisco are suspended until 30 April.

The sale of tickets for the upcoming Canadian production have also been paused indefinitely. The German production will delay its debut until October 2020.

‘Harry Potter’ Studio Tour closed

The Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour at Leavesden Studios is now closed indefinitely. Tickets booked between 17 March and 3 April will be refunded in full.

‘Wizarding World’ theme parks closed

The Harry Potter theme parks in Orlando, Hollywood and Japan are closed until at least the end of March.

What else?

London’s Natural History Museum is closed until at least summer; that means the upcoming Fantastic Beasts exhibition will likely be delayed or cancelled entirely.
Harry Potter graphic designers MinaLima have closed the House of MinaLima indefinitely. Their online store remains open.
The March Wizards Unite Community Day has been cancelled. Gameplay changes have also been introduced to facilitate playing the game from home.

This sucks!

It does — but we’ll all get through this! Stay safe, reach out to loved ones and practice good hygiene. (In this author’s opinion, there’s never been a better time to bunker down for a series re-read or re-watch.)

⚡❤️

Bloomsbury unveil ‘Order of the Phoenix’ house editions

2020-03-19T00:00:00+11:00

Bloomsbury will publish the fifth of their 20th anniversary house edition series of novels with the release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on 11 June. Although the fifth ‘Potter’ book was published in 2003, Bloomsbury appear to be fast-tracking the remainder of the house edition releases.

The four Order of the Phoenix house editions will be published in both paperback and hardback and feature intricate cover and internal artwork by illustrator Levi Pinfold. Common to each edition is the central illustration of the flaming songbird, while a vignette of iconography built around a unique magical location adorns each coloured jacket.

The red Gryffindor edition depicts The Burrow and includes illustrations of Grawp, Mr Weasley’s flying Ford Anglia, Ginny Weasley practicing Quidditch and the mysterious Ministry Veil.
The blue Ravenclaw edition depicts the Hall of Prophecy with illustrations of Thestrals, Luna Lovegood, a copy of The Quibbler and the glass prophecy orb.
The yellow Hufflepuff edition depicts the Ministry of Magic and illustrations of a Gold Galleon, Tonks, Courtroom 10 and the visitor entrance telephone box.
The green Slytherin edition depicts Grimmauld Place and illustrations of Kreacher, house-elf heads, Sirius Black’s mother and other Grimmauld Place iconography.

Inside, the Order of the Phoenix house editions feature new portraits of Sirius Black (Gryffindor), Dolores Umbridge (Slytherin), Sybill Trelawney (Ravenclaw) and Justin Finch-Fletchley (Hufflepuff).

The Order of the Phoenix house editions can be pre-ordered now over at Bloomsbury’s website ahead of their June release. Pre-orderers will receive an exclusive house-coloured pocket-size notebook of their choice.

Cover artwork unveiled for illustrated ‘Quidditch Through the Ages’

2020-03-10T00:00:00+11:00

Bloomsbury and Scholastic today unveiled the cover artwork for the upcoming illustrated version of Quidditch Through the Ages, J.K. Rowling’s fictional Hogwarts textbook and companion piece to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Bloomsbury (UK) version

Scholastic (US) version

Two-time Kate Greenaway Medal award winning artist Emily Gravett will bring the book to life with ‘a deft combination of her signature pencil style, colour illustration, handmade realia and ingenious digital techniques.’ Published simultaneously on 6 October of this year, the illustrated release will contain a plethora of artwork to accompany Rowling’s (writing under the pseudonym Kennilworthy Whisp) words.

Pre-order the illustrated edition

‘Harry Potter: Wizards Unite’ celebrates ‘magical mayhem’ in March

2020-03-08T00:00:00+11:00

Find new Fantastic Beasts creatures this month in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite.

New adventures await this month in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. In March, the mysterious Calamity event is ‘unleashing its own whimsical assortment of waggery, hijinks and all-out shenanigans’. Players will be able to track down an assortment of creatures from the Fantastic Beasts films including the Zouwu, Graphorn, Kappa and Nagini.

Circus Calamitous Brilliant Event Part 1: Tuesday, March 10 at 11 a.m. PT–Tuesday, March 17 at 11 a.m. PT

Help return Brilliant Circus Arcanus Foundables from the 1920s that are on the loose including the Zouwu and Graphorn.

March Community Day: Saturday, March 21 at 11 a.m.–2 p.m. local time

Find the hidden Room of Requirement to assist Fred and George Weasley, as well as other members of Dumbledore’s Army.

Circus Calamitous Brilliant Event Part 2: Tuesday, March 24 at 11 a.m. PT–Tuesday, March 31 at 11 a.m. PT

Continue to help return lost Brilliant Circus Arcanus Foundables from the 1920s including Nagini and the Kappa.

Magical Mischief Event: Tuesday, March 31 at midnight–Thursday, April 2 at midnight local time

Grab your Marauder’s Map and make some magical mischief of your own with the young Marauders themselves: James, Sirius, Remus and Peter.

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is an augmented reality mobile game launched in 2019. Created by the same studio who developed the wildly popular Pokémon Go, players attempt to find and ‘return’ Harry Potter characters, objects and scenes to the Wizarding World after a mysterious ‘Calamity’ causes them to appear in Muggle locations. If you’re new to the game, we wrote an extensive gameplay review and guide for beginners last year.

Wizarding World announce Ron’s Jack Russell Funko Patronus

2020-03-01T00:00:00+11:00

Ron Weasley’s Jack Russell Patronus figure will be available from 4 March.

Wizarding World Gold members will have a chance to pick up Ron’s Patronus 24 hours early.

Ron Weasley’s Jack Russell Patronus will be immortalised with a Funko Pop! Vinyl figure, the third Patronus figure to be released following translucent versions of Harry’s stag Patronus and Hermione’s otter Patronus.

Like the other two Patronus figures, Ron’s Jack Russell will first be available as a Wizarding World pre-release figure. Wizarding World Gold members will be able to purchase the figure from 11:00 ET/16:00 GMT on 4 March, while Wizarding Passport holders can pick up the Pop! figure 24 hours later.

Gold subscribers will also receive a 20% discount and an ‘extra treat’ by scanning the Wizarding World Gold ‘Enchanted Key’ sticker on the box. To purchase the figure you’ll need to be logged into your Wizarding World account and visit the online shop at the release time.

‘Harry Potter’ stars to narrate ‘Beedle the Bard’ audiobook

2020-02-28T00:00:00+11:00

A number of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts stars will lend their voices to an audiobook version of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a collection of short magical stories released by J.K. Rowling in 2008. A collaboration between Audible and Pottermore Publishing, the audiobook will be released on 31 March with a large percentage of proceeds heading to J.K. Rowling’s Lumos Foundation charity.

The Beedle the Bard audiobook will be released on 31 March.

The audiobook will open with an introduction by Rowling, fittingly narrated by Sally Mortemore, the actress who played librarian Madam Pince in the ‘Potter’ films. Jude Law (Albus Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts films) will narrate Dumbledore’s ‘wise and whimsical notes’ which accompany each story in the book. Those stories are:

The Wizard and the Hopping Pot (narrated by Warwick Davis/Professor Flitwick)
The Fountain of Fair Fortune (narrated by Evanna Lynch/Luna Lovegood)
The Warlock’s Hairy Heart (narrated by Jason Isaacs/Lucius Malfoy)
Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump (narrated by Bonnie Wright/Ginny Weasley)
The Tale of the Three Brothers (narrated by Noma Dumezweni/Hermione Granger in Cursed Child in London and New York)

Since its general publication in 2008, The Tales of Beedle the Bard has been published in numerous formats. Rowling’s original handwritten and illustrated manuscript was auctioned for charity in 2007 and fetched £1.95 million. The audiobook version can be pre-ordered ahead of the 31 March release.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour announce ‘Celebration of Slytherin’ event

2020-02-25T00:00:00+11:00

From April through September the Harry Potter Studio Tour will celebrate all things Slytherin.

From April through to September the Harry Potter Studio Tour will celebrate all things Slytherin house. Visitors to the ‘making of’ experience will be able to explore a 25-foot high section of the Slytherin common room, explore the Great Hall decked out in green and silver, and see costumes worn by a number of famous Slytherin witches and wizards.

The Slytherin common room as seen in Chamber of Secrets (2002).

The cavernous Slytherin common room will be dressed and furnished with props from the film series. That set was first seen in Chamber of Secrets (2002) when Ron and Harry disguise themselves as Slytherin baddies Crabbe and Goyle and attempt to interrogate Draco Malfoy. Production designer Stuart Craig designed the rocky dungeon set in stark contrast to the warmth of the Gryffindor common room.

A number of original costumes worn by members of the Malfoy family will also be on display as part of the celebration event. In addition, costumes worn by orphan and teenage Tom Riddle and reborn Voldemort will be on display to chronicle the dark wizard’s rise to power.

Tickets for the Harry Potter Studio Tour are available from the official website.

Funko reveal two new ‘Harry Potter’ Pop! figures ahead of New York Toy Fair

2020-02-23T00:00:00+11:00

Two new Harry Potter Funko Pop! Vinyls will be unveiled at New York Toy Fair.

Funko have unveiled two additions to their Harry Potter Pop! Vinyl lineup ahead of New York Toy Fair, an annual showcase of the year’s biggest toys and collectibles.

An 18″ super sized version of Harry and Hedwig, and a ‘movie moment’ featuring Harry and Voldemort in their iconic graveyard duel will be released in the coming months.

Cast announced for second year of ‘Cursed Child’ in Melbourne

2020-02-20T00:00:00+11:00

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is about to celebrate its first birthday at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre and two new actors will take on the roles of Ron Weasley and Scorpius Malfoy for the show’s second year.

Nyx Calder and Mike Whalley join the cast of Cursed Child as Scorpius Malfoy and Ron Weasley, respectively.

Nyx Calder replaces William McKenna as Scorpius Malfoy, while Mike Whalley replaces Gyton Grantley as Ron Weasley.

‘Cursed Child’ to open in Tokyo in 2022

2020-02-15T00:00:00+11:00

The two-part Harry Potter stage play will open in Japan in 2022.

Tokyo will be the seventh city to host the two-part Harry Potter stage play with Cursed Child to open at the TBS Akasaka ACT Theatre in Tokyo in summer 2022. It’s the first time the play will be performed in Asia and the second non-English version of the production.

Cursed Child will be produced in Japan by TBS and HoriPro and commemorate TBS’s 70th anniversary. From next year the TBS Akasaka ACT Theater will undergo renovations and re-open as a site-specific venue designed to host the epic Harry Potter production.

Cursed Child debuted on London’s West End in 2016 before opening in New York, Melbourne and San Francisco. Productions in Hamburg and Toronto will begin in March of this year and autumn 2021, respectively.

Romance in the air in ‘Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery’

2020-02-14T00:00:00+11:00

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery players will have a chance to go on a romantic date with their crush in February.

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery players will have a chance to go on a romantic date with their crush with the announcement of February’s new in-game adventures. The new storyline is available from February 13 to players who have progressed to Year 5 Chapter 3 or later.

From the developers:

‘In this new special time-limited sidequest storyline, the player will choose their in-game crush from six fellow Hogwarts students: Penny, Andre, Merula, Barnaby, and Talbott. The storyline also features a wizard known for his luscious golden locks, the iconic Gilderoy Lockhart, who tasks the player and their group of friends with planning his Valentines bonanza. With help from everyone’s favourite fashion expert, Andre, players will also get to choose their ideal outfit, perfect for a romantic night out.’

In addition to the new storyline, players will be able to take advantage of:

A series of fun events and bundles that award Valentine’s Day-themed outfits, hairstyles, makeup and even a kitten Kneazle!
The start of the exciting second season of Quidditch, where players will have the opportunity to try out the position of “beater” on the Quidditch team.

Hogwarts Mystery was launched for both iOS and Android back in 2018 and allows players to create custom characters and play through life as a Hogwarts student.

Emerald City Comic Con to debut Tonks and Fleur Funko Pop! Vinyls

2020-02-13T00:00:00+11:00

Funko has unveiled three new Harry Potter Pop! Vinyl figures ahead of 2020’s Emerald City Comic Con in March. Nymphadora Tonks will be exclusive to Hot Topic stores while Fleur Delacour can be found at Barnes & Noble.

MinaLima to publish illustrated version of ‘Philosopher’s Stone’

2020-02-07T00:00:00+11:00

Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima (MinaLima) will publish an illustrated version of the first Harry Potter book.

MinaLima, the graphic design duo responsible for all of the graphics and many of the props in the Harry Potter films, will publish a full-colour illustrated version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

The MinaLima illustrated edition will clock in at 368 pages with a full-colour illustration on nearly every one of those. The edition also features eight unique paper craft interactive elements including an elaborately folded Hogwarts letter and Diagon Alley shopping list, a magical Diagon Alley entryway, and a die-cut, fold-out Hogwarts Castle.

Designed in MinaLima’s iconic graphic style (their Hogwarts letter motif will be familiar to fans of the ‘Potter’ films), the MinaLima illustrated edition of Philosopher’s Stone will be released on 20 October. Both the standard edition and a premium signed version can be pre-ordered over at MinaLima’s website.

‘Harry Potter: Wizards Unite’ adds February events, Adventure Sync

2020-02-04T00:00:00+11:00

New adventures are coming to Harry Potter: Wizards Unite in February.

New adventures await this month in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. February’s events are based around the themes of love, Albus Dumbeldore and the Triwizard Tournament flavoured Harry Potter Book Night.

Darkest of Times Brilliant Event Part 2: February 4–11

Continue to honor Dumbledore’s legacy by returning Brilliant Foundables related to key memories of his fight against Voldemort, including the Pensieve.

Harry Potter Book Night 2020: February 5–7

This year’s Harry Potter Book Night is themed around the Triwizard Tournament. Celebrate the classic magical contest by completing special tasks and encountering Dragon Eggs, the Goblet of Fire Foundable, and more.

Crazy in Love Event: February 11–13

Deflect the advances of a variety of love-stricken Oddities while making use of bonus Healing Potions.

Lost Love Brilliant Event Part 1: February 13–20

Help protect cherished memories of wizarding world loved ones by returning Brilliant Foundables including Minerva McGonagall.

February Community Day: February 23

Take on a variety of Oddities, including rare Doxies and Leprechauns, while making use of bonuses to Tonic for Trace Detection Potions.

Lost Love Brilliant Event Part 2: February 25–March 3

Put memories of tragic romances to rest by returning Brilliant Foundables including Severus Snape and the Mirror of Erised.

Adventure Sync allows the game to tap into your existing footstep data — even without the app running.

Adventure Sync

Finally, developers Niantic have announced that Wizards Unite will soon take advantage of a new feature called Adventure Sync. Adventure Sync allows Wizards Unite to tap into your step activity (recorded in Apple Health or Google Fit) and apply your physical activity to the game — even when the app isn’t running. That means you’ll earn rewards and accomplish movement goals without needing to have the game running in the background.

Additionally, the developers are rolling out some updates to Portkeys and the rewards associated with them.

Hermione’s otter Patronus Funko Pop! coming in February

2020-01-29T00:00:00+11:00

Hermione’s otter Patronus will be available as a Wizarding World Gold pre-release from 3 February.

Hermione Granger’s Patronus is the second Funko Pop! Patronus figure to be released. Ron Weasley will follow in the coming months.

Following the release of Harry’s stag Patronus Funko Pop! in December, Hermione Granger’s Patronus will be next to receive the Funko Pop! Vinyl treatment. The translucent blue otter will be released on 4 February via the Wizarding World shop.

Wizarding World Gold subscribers will have an opportunity to purchase the figure a day earlier from 10:00 ET/15:00 GMT. Fans will will need to sign up for a Wizarding passport, purchase a Wizarding World Gold subscription and be logged in on 3 February to be eligible. Gold subscribers will also receive a 20% discount and an ‘extra treat’ by scanning the Wizarding World Gold sticker on the box.

Ron Weasley’s Jack Russell Terrier will be next to receive the Funko treatment — that figure will be coming in the next couple of months. If you can’t wait that long, a horde of new ‘Potter’ Pop! Vinyls are just around the corner.

MinaLima unveil two new pieces of ‘Harry Potter’ concept art

2020-01-26T00:00:00+11:00

Harry Potter graphic designers MinaLima (Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima) have unveiled two new pieces of concept art from their work on the eight ‘Potter’ films. Arthur Weasley’s broomstick and Harry’s Triwizard golden egg are now available as as limited edition prints over at the duo’s website.

MinaLima created all the glittering graphics and designed many of the props for the eight Harry Potter films. They’re currently working on the pre-production phase of the third Fantastic Beasts film, set in Brazil.

New documentary tells the story of ‘Potter’ actor killed in knife attack

2020-01-24T00:00:00+11:00

Rob Knox played Marcus Belby in Half-Blood Prince (2009) and was slated to appear in Deathly Hallows.

Harry Potter director David Yates and actor Jim Broadbent (Horace Slughorn) will participate in a new documentary which tells the story of eighteen year-old Rob Knox, a ‘Potter’ actor who was tragically killed in a cowardly knife attack in 2008. Knox portrayed Slug Club member Marcus Belby in Half-Blood Prince (2009) and was penciled in to appear in Deathly Hallows but passed away before filming began.

David Yates in a still from (K)nox: The Rob Knox Story. Unseen footage of Knox from Half-Blood Prince will be shown in the documentary.

(K)nox: The Rob Knox Story will shine a light on the late actor’s story as well as highlight the state of knife crime in the UK. With the help of David Yates, the documentary will show unseen footage of Knox in Half-Blood Prince, including his audition tape. Actors Jim Broadbent (Slughorn) and Ray Winstone will also participate in the production.

Directed by Aaron Truss, a childhood friend of Knox’s, the documentary will give a first hand account of the night Rob died, including recollections from his brother Jamie (pictured in the banner above) and other friends who were present on the night of the attack in May of 2008. Knox’s father Colin serves as a producer on the project, which has been in the works for eighteen months.

(K)nox: The Rob Knox Story will be released this year and we’ll update you with specific details about the film’s release and distribution when it’s available. A foundation established in Rob’s name helps young people looking to work in theatre, film and television, as well as raising awareness about knife crime.

Review: all eight ‘Goblet of Fire’ 20th anniversary house editions

2020-01-23T00:00:00+11:00

If it seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the 20th anniversary of Prisoner of Azkaban that’s because — in ‘Potter’ chronology — it was. The late 90s saw the release of a Harry Potter book each year, culminating in the arrival of Goblet of Fire in July of 2000. A book twice the size of its predecessor, the narrative and time pressures the book placed upon author J.K. Rowling meant Muggles would need to wait a whopping three years for further Hogwarts adventures. Twenty years later and Bloomsbury are commemorating that very significant moment in Wizarding history with the Goblet of Fire house editions.

Like the three preceding anniversary house edition releases (2017, 2018 and 2019 for those playing along), there are eight editions of Goblet of Fire to add to your bookshelf. Each Hogwarts house — Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Hufflepuff — is represented by both a hardback and paperback volume. Predictably, the hardback and paperback versions are printed with reversed colour schemes (both on the cover and spine) meaning devout ‘Potter’ collectors are going to want both. Unique to each edition is house-coloured jacket artwork, internal illustration and gorgeous iconography from illustrator Levi Pinfold. It’s Pinfold’s fourth ‘Potter’ assignment in as many years and, in my opinion, his finest yet (more on that later).

All eight of Bloomsbury’s Goblet of Fire house editions in paperback (left) and hardback (right).

As I made my way to the bookstore ahead of today’s release I half expected to need a Granger-style bottomless bag to carry eight house brick sized novels home. My first impression of the new house editions is that they aren’t significantly thicker nor heavier than their ‘Azkaban’ counterparts. A quick look inside confirms as much. Bloomsbury are using thinner paper and smaller type to keep the novel’s physical size down, a technique they employed late last year with the release of the Goblet of Fire illustrated edition. It’s an understandable decision given there will be a total of fifty-six (!) house editions by the anniversary of Deathly Hallows in 2027 (and there’s only so many IKEA bookshelf purchases one can reasonably make).

Each Goblet of Fire house edition has a unique jacket crest with the central flaming Goblet and iconography unique to each house.

The Goblet of Fire house editions take their vignette jacket artwork theme from an ‘element’ specific to each house: fire, earth, air and water. Common to each edition is a central flaming Goblet, while the red Gryffindor house edition (fire) is bordered by Sirius Black’s head in the fireplace, a Hungarian Horntail, Harry on his Firebolt and Mad-Eye Moody’s magical eye. The blue Ravenclaw edition (air) and yellow Hufflepuff edition (earth) include the Beauxbatons Carriage, wandmaker Ollivander, Fleur Delacour; and the Triwizard Maze, Cedric Diggory and a Niffler, respectfully. The green Slytherin edition (water) shows Tom Riddle’s headstone, Viktor Krum, the Hogwarts Giant Squid and the Durmstrang Ship. The ‘element’ theme doesn’t feel as married to the source material as some of the earlier covers (let’s face it, there are only so many house tropes one can draw from), but Pinfold’s easter egg illustrations are as stunning (and clever) as ever.

Of course, the major appeal of these house editions are the beautiful internal illustrations and portraits which are again represented in Pinfold’s signature line drawing style. For Goblet of Fire, four new characters are given visual identity: Hogwarts gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid (Gryffindor), wandmaker Garrick Ollivander (Ravenclaw), Hogwarts heartthrob Cedric Diggory (Hufflepuff) and He Who Must Not Be Named — Lord Voldemort himself (Slytherin). Each portrait is paired with facts and a few famous character quotes which create a nice double-page spread at the back of the book. (As an aside: like Jim Kay’s illustrated edition illustrations, I love the fact that Pinfold’s drawings are largely detached from the classic movie interpretations of these now famous characters.)

Levi Pinfold’s Goblet of Fire character portraits.

A supplementary feature on famous Hogwarts paintings adds extra character to each edition. The Gryffindor edition depicts the pomp and pride of Sir Cadogan, while The Drunk Monks (‘this image … proves irresistible to the Fat Lady and Violet’), former headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black, and The Giggling Pear (‘this innocuous still life protects the door to the Hogwarts kitchens’) are given detailed treatment in the Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Hufflepuff editions. A ten-question Triwizard Tournament trivia quiz is a nice touch at the end of the novel and no doubt a nod to Bloomsbury’s upcoming Triwizard-themed Harry Potter book night.

Each house edition contains a feature on a Hogwarts painting.

While it’s easy to look at these house edition releases through a cynical marketing lens, there’s no denying the attention to detail and quality of finish Bloomsbury have achieved is suburb. Levi Pinfold’s illustrations add extra character to J.K. Rowling’s words and the bold embossed house-coloured jacket print (and scarf-inspired sprayed page edges and spine) look amazing on the shelf. If you pledge your allegiance to a single Hogwarts house, the house editions are an affordable and eye-catching addition to any ‘Potter’ bookshelf (and if you’re grabbing ell eight to review for a fan site prepare to be met with an inquisitive ‘whoa, just pick a house already’ stare).

If you’ve found it hard to keep up with the onslaught of anniversary releases, you’ll soon be able to take a well earned breath. Three long years elapsed between the release of Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix, meaning we won’t see another series of house editions until sometime in 2023. For ‘Potter’ fans who have been there since the beginning, that’s plenty of time to double-down on house loyalties (proud Ravenclaw here) and show off a colourful new addition to the bookshelf. And for a new generation of readers there’s never been a better opportunity to discover Harry’s story (in glorious block colour) and pledge your loyalty to one of the four Hogwarts houses (‘not Slytherin’).

***

The Goblet of Fire house editions are available from January 23 (today) in store and online in both paperback and hardback.

Funko unveil new ‘Harry Potter’ figures ahead of London Toy Fair

2020-01-21T00:00:00+11:00

A new series of Harry Potter Pop! Vinyl figures are on the way.

Funko unveiled a number of new Harry Potter products ahead of 2020’s London Toy Fair, which begins on Thursday. Ten new Pop! Vinyl figures have today been added to Funko’s Harry Potter lineup and are available for pre-order ahead of a release in the coming months. They are:

Harry Potter (With Two Wands) (Barnes & Noble exclusive)
Harry Potter (Wearing Invisibility Cloak) (Funko Shop exclusive)
Albus Dumbledore (With Baby Harry)
Harry Potter (With Invisibility Cloak)
Neville Longbottom (With Monster Book of Monsters)
Hermione Granger (With Feather)
Ron Weasley (Vomiting Slugs)
Draco Malfoy (With Whip Spider)
Lord Voldemort (With Nagini) (10″ Super Sized Pop)
Albus Dumbledore (With Fawkes) (10″ Super Sized Pop)

Predictably, this is only the beginning of ‘Potter’ Pop! Vinyl figures for 2020. You can read about some of the additional figures (including Tonks!) coming out in the near future over on our Funko page.

Warner Bros. to open flagship ‘Harry Potter’ store in New York

2020-01-11T00:00:00+11:00

A three-floor flagship Harry Potter store will open in New York in the summer.

The world’s first official Harry Potter flagship store will open in New York in the summer next to the iconic Flatiron building at 935 Broadway. The three-floor store will span over 20,000 sq. ft and house the world’s largest collection of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts merchandise.

Alongside Wizarding World merchandise the store will feature a new range of house wands exclusive to the New York location, and interactive experiences and photo opportunities for ‘Potter’ fans. Opening in the summer, the store promises to be a ‘cutting-edge retail environment’.

Concept art for the New York Harry Potter store.

‘Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature’ exhibition coming to the Natural History Museum

2020-01-08T00:00:00+11:00

Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature will pair creatures, specimens and artefacts from London’s Natural History Museum alongside creatures and objects from the Wizarding World.

London’s Natural History Museum will house a new exhibition featuring ‘creatures, specimens and artefacts’ from the Museum’s collection alongside elements from J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature will open in spring 2020 and ‘showcase creatures from the natural, mythical worlds and the Wizarding World’.

An Erumpent horn will feature in the new Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature exhibition.

The Museum’s most ambitious exhibition to date, Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature will give visitors the chance to see natural world creatures including a tiger and Galápagos marine iguana as well as ‘Potter’ inspired pieces including an Erumpent horn and the dragon skull from Professor Lupin’s classroom. Parallels between real-word creatures and Fantastic Beasts characters will also be central to the exhibition — visitors will be able to compare the camouflage tactics of a jaguar with that of the mythical Demiguise, as well as the mating rituals of the peacock spider and the Fantastic Beasts Erumpent. The exhibition will also give visitors an opportunity to learn more about Magizoologist Newt Scamander, the protagonist of the Fantastic Beasts films.

A collaboration between London’s Natural History Museum, the BBC and Warner Bros., the new exhibition will pair exhibition objects with ‘spellbinding digital installations and iconic wizarding world elements from the Fantastic Beasts film series’. A companion documentary called Fantastic Beasts: A Natural History (working title) will be narrated by Harry Potter audiobook narrator Stephen Fry and air on BBC One. Bloomsbury and Pottermore Publishing will also produce published companion material related to the exhibition.

Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature will open in the spring of 2020 with a first wave of tickets available from Thursday 16 January. You can sign up for priority booking over at the National History Museum’s website.

‘Harry Potter: Wizards Unite’ begins 2020 with Dumbledore-themed Foundables

2020-01-08T00:00:00+11:00

Remembering the Light in the Darkness: new Foundables are coming to Wizards Unite in January and February.

It’s a new year and Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is celebrating the months of January and February with a number of new in-game Foundable adventures themed around the late Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore. According to developers Niantic:

‘As a new year unfolds, the mysterious Calamity appears to be already at work, surfacing memories of Dumbledore, particularly those tied to his fight against Voldemort. While these occurrences offer a grim reminder of Voldemort and his history of nefarious deeds, fortunately, even in the darkest of times, we remember how happiness can be found. Inspired by Dumbledore’s wisdom, perseverance and love, we find light and hope by remembering his legacy of fighting the darkness.’

The timeline for those Foundable events are as follows:

Frosty Foundables Event: January 7–January 14

Brace yourself for the cold and help free Foundables trapped in the frosty clutches of ice Confoundables.

January Community Day: January 18

Uncover secrets of the Room of Requirement Registry Page by returning Wonders of the Wizarding World. Keep an eye out for especially rare Wonders such as the Foe Glass and Whomping Willow.

Darkest of Times Brilliant Event Part 1: January 21–28

Remember our favorite Hogwarts Headmaster by returning Brilliant Foundables including Dumbledore and Fawkes.

Darkest of Times Brilliant Event Part 2: Coming in February

Honor Dumbledore’s legacy by returning Brilliant Foundables related to key memories of his fight against Voldemort, including the Pensieve.

Harry Potter Fan Zone co-hosts MuggleCast

2020-01-07T00:00:00+11:00

I had the privilege of co-hosting the latest episode of MuggleCast, the world’s biggest Harry Potter podcast. Listen to Andrew, Micah, Laura, Eric and I discuss all things ‘Potter’ and analyse a chapter of Order of the Phoenix below.

Harry Potter Fan Zone on MuggleCast: listen to Andy co-host the popular Wizarding World talk show.

2019: a ‘Harry Potter’ year in review

2019-12-27T00:00:00+11:00

2019 was another year of great Wizarding World expansion. Read on to explore the year that was.

It’s been twelve years since the publication of the last Harry Potter book and eight since the final film — yet the Wizarding World shows no sign of slowing. Far from it, 2019 was another year of magical expansion: new mobile games and Cursed Child productions, a groundbreaking rollercoaster and more illustrations than you could shake a holly and phoenix stick at. Read on (or explore instead by photos) to see everything that happened in 2019 in ‘Potter’.

January

19 January: Australian Cursed Child cast portraits are revealed. In February, Melbourne will become the third location to stage the Harry Potter play.

Cast portraits for the Australian production of Cursed Child are revealed. The Melbourne production becomes the third location to stage the two-part ‘eighth story’ play.
Bloomsbury unveil the cover artwork for the four 20th anniversary house editions of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, out in June. The cover designs (again by artist Levi Pinfold) feature Sirius Black in his animagus dog form and an ornate vignette of house-flavoured iconography.

February

Warner Bros. announce a Gringotts Bank expansion set to open at the Harry Potter studio tour in London in April.
Dan Fogler (Jacob Kowalski in the Fantastic Beasts films) confirms the third film in the series will see Newt and co. travel to Brazil. He also hints at a release delay (the film is at this point slated for November 2020) but attributes the delay to the logistics of creating a film ‘bigger than the first two combined’, not a response to Crimes of Gindelwald’s lukewarm critical reception.
Bloomsbury announce they’ll publish a paperback version of the Chamber of Secrets illustrated edition. The paperback edition will be smaller than its 2016 hardback counterpart and feature 60% of the illustrations present in that version.
We interview and profile MinaLima, the graphic designers responsible for all of the graphic design in the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films.
Funko unveil a convention-exclusive Pop! Vinyl pack featuring Ginny, Fred and George Weasley in their Irish Quidditch World Cup outfits.

22 February: Universal announce a new immersive rollercoaster experience will open in June at the Harry Potter theme park in Florida.

Universal announce Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, a new ‘immersive coaster experience’ set to open at the Harry Potter theme park in Florida. The new rollercoaster will replace the Triwizard-themed Dragon Challenge which closed in 2017.
Cursed Child officially launches at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne. J.K. Rowling sends a cake and handwritten letter to the cast and crew and reveals her ‘heart was in Oz’.

March

12 March: Bloomsbury reveal the cover artwork for the Goblet of Fire illustrated edition. It’s a familiar book cover scene with Harry facing the dragon in the First Task.

Graphic designers MinaLima announce a new series of limited graphic prints featuring magical moments from the Harry Potter films. The first print in the series depicts Harry receiving his Hogwarts letter.
Bloomsbury unveil the cover artwork and a number of glorious illustrations from Jim Kay’s Goblet of Fire illustrated edition, due out in October. The publisher also confirms that the the fourth illustrated edition will be published in both a standard and deluxe format and that both versions will contain over 115 new illustrations from Kay in a single volume.
Cast portraits for the second wave of actors set to take the stage in the Broadway production of Cursed Child are revealed. The first wave of actors included a number of principals from the original West End production.
We release the second part of our extensive profile of graphic design duo MinaLima, this time delving into the design of Newt Scamander’s prequel universe.

April

Following the release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Beedle the Bard illustrated editions in 2017 and 2018, respectively, Bloomsbury announce an illustrated version of Quidditch Through the Ages. The fictional textbook will feature illustrations by artist Emily Gravett and will be released in late 2020.

1 April: Bloomsbury announce an illustrated version of Quidditch Through the Ages and unveil a few pieces of artwork by its illustrator Emily Gravett.

Harry Potter: The Exhibition opens in Spain, the next stop on a worldwide tour which began in Chicago in 2009. James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley) and Natalia Tena (Nymphadora Tonks) are on hand to help launch the event.
We chat to composer Nicholas Hooper about his two Harry Potter film scores and mark the tenth anniversary of his Half-Blood Prince music.
Universal unveil a number of creatures which will feature in the Hagrid motorbike rollercoaster ride, including Fluffy the three-headed dog, Centaurs, and — for the the first time — a Blast-Ended Skrewt.
LEGO announce five new Harry Potter sets will be released in June. The new sets depict scenes from Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire.
Warner Bros. officially confirm Fantastic Beasts 3 will be released on 12 November 2021 following a year-long delay. A senior Warner Bros. spokesperson says the company still has much faith in the franchise and are excited about its next instalment.

May

7 May: Universal unveil a state of the art eight-foot animatronic version of Hagrid ahead of the June launch of the new rollercoaster.

Universal reveal a first look at a nearly eight-foot animatronic figure of Rubeus Hagrid, the centrepiece of the new motorbike rollercoaster ride. The creators studied actor Robbie Coltrane’s body movements and facial expressions to help inform the half giant’s design, which has a ‘meticulously hand-sculpted face’ and ‘24 different body actions’.
LEGO announce two additional Harry Potter lego sets: the Beauxbatons arrival and Harry/Voldemort’s graveyard duel will arrive in August.
Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling announce a new digital venture and successor to Pottermore: Wizarding World Digital. The Wizarding World brand — unveiled in 2018 — will aid in consolidating the Fantastic Beasts films, Cursed Child and other Harry Potter properties under a single media umbrella. Think of it as the MCU for ‘Potter’.
Funko unveil their Harry Potter Pop! Vinyl theme for 2019: the Goblet of Fire Yule Ball. The company announce a first wave of Yule Ball figures which include Harry, Cedric, Fleur and Krum. A second wave will follow later in the year, while an Advent calendar (also themed around the wintery Yule Ball scene) will arrive in time for Christmas.
Universal reveal more details about Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure: the coaster will feature a record seven launches, a vertical free-fall drop and an obligatory ‘backwards bit’. Harry Potter film production designer Stuart Craig’s involvement with the ride’s set design is also confirmed.
Bloomsbury reveal more details about the Goblet of Fire deluxe illustration edition, including a Hogwarts sketch by artist Jim Kay which will be unique to that deluxe format.
The next location for Cursed Child is revealed: Toronto! That’s now six productions of the ‘Potter’ stage play.
Pottermore announce the publication of four new Harry Potter eBooks, a series of bite-sized Hogwarts lesson inspired reads adapted from the Harry Potter: A History of Magic audiobook published a year earlier. Predictably, the Internet blows up with clickbait and misinformation claiming new ‘Potter’ books are on the way.

26 May: We put Harry Potter: Wizards Unite through its paces and write one of the first detailed gameplay reviews.

Wizards Unite, a new augmented reality mobile game from the team responsible for Pokémon Go, is released in beta in Australia and New Zealand. Over a weekend in May we put the game through its paces and write an extensive review of the gameplay experience. A couple of months later the game is released to the world.

June

13 June: The Prisoner of Azkaban 20th anniversary house editions are released.

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure officially opens at Universal Studios in Orlando. A number of Harry Potter stars including Tom Felton, Rupert Grint, Evanna Lynch, Warwick Davis and the Phelps twins help launch the attraction. Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) sends a greeting by video.
Bloomsbury celebrate the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban with the release of the four house editions. We scoop up a copy of each edition on release day and write an extensive review.
The iconic San Diego Comic-Con festival is marked with three convention-exclusive Funko Pop! Vinyls: Fawkes the Phoenix, Rita Skeeter and Nagini in human form.

July

Bloomsbury continue their 20th anniversary Prisoner of Azkaban celebrations by commissioning a number of illustrators (including Jim Kay, Chris Riddell, Emily Gravett, Levi Pinfold and MinaLima) to produce postcards of Patronus animals. The postcards are then auctioned for BookTrust, the UK’s largest reading charity.

7 July: Bloomsbury commission a number of illustrators to draw postcard-sized Patronus illustrations and auction them for the UK’s BookTrust charity.

Little, Brown Book Group and Scholastic announce the publication of a Cursed Child companion book featuring new behind the scenes photos, interviews, sketches, notes and stories. The companion book follows the play from its conception through to staging and will be published in October.
Bloomsbury announces a theme for the 2020 Harry Potter Book Night, the Triwizard Tournament from Goblet of Fire. The annual event will take place on 6 February 2020 and encourages readers to discover and celebrate the magic of the ‘Potter’ series.

August

We put LEGO’s new Hogwarts Castle set — the second largest set the company has ever produced — to the test and write a detailed review of the build process.
Bloomsbury announce a release date for the Goblet of Fire 20th anniversary house editions: 23 January 2020. In addition, new cover artwork reveals each edition is themed around a sketch of the eponymous Goblet with unique house-themed iconography inspired by the elements: fire, earth, air and water.

September

New York Comic Con continues the Funko Yule Ball theme and announces new Pop! Vinyl figures for Madame Maxime and Argus Filch (complete with Mrs. Norris).
Cursed Child gets a branding makeover. Gone is the original logo and in its place is the iconic Harry Potter film logo. J.K. Rowling’s name is also featured more prominently on signage. Time Square is decked out in Cursed Child signage to mark the change.

11 September: With only a month to go until the Goblet of Fire illustrated release we bring you a first high-resolution look at Jim Kay’s interpretation of the Beauxbatons arrival.

Harry Potter Fan Zone exclusively unveils a first high-resolution look at the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrivals illustrations from Jim Kay’s Goblet of Fire illustrated edition.
MinaLima reveal a new wallpaper collection of some of their most iconic Harry Potter prints, including the famous Marauder’s Map design.

October

15 October: Wizarding World Gold, a new Harry Potter subscription from Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling, is available to pre-order. The subscription grants access to exclusive ‘Potter’ content and collectibles, including these pins.

The Goblet of Fire illustrated edition is released and we’re one of the first to get our hands on the new tome and review its gorgeous contents.
Cast portraits for the San Francisco production of Cursed Child are revealed. San Francisco will become the fourth location to stage the play.
Wizarding World Gold, a new annual Harry Potter subscription, is available to pre-order in the US and UK. Wizarding World Gold will give ‘Potter’ fans access to exclusive Wizarding World content and collectibles.
In an effort to further consolidate ‘Potter’ properties, Warner Bros. announce the closure of Pottermore, J.K. Rowling’s digital venture launched in 2012. Pottermore’s content is migrated to the WizardingWorld.com domain, creating a single home for official ‘Potter’ content, the Gold service, and a new fan club and mobile app.
We interview composer Patrick Doyle and delve deep into his 2005 Goblet of Fire film score.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter expands with the announcement of a Beijing park to open in 2021. China will be the third country to host a Harry Potter theme park following the USA (Orlando, Hollywood) and Japan.
Japan celebrates their 20th anniversary publication of Harry Potter by unveiling new book covers for the first three novels in the series.

November

Warner Bros. announce Fantastic Beasts 3 is officially in pre-production. Steve Kloves, screenwriter of seven of the eight Harry Potter films, will co-write the screenplay with J.K. Rowling. The Rio de Janeiro location is confirmed, alongside the return of all of the main cast members.

4 November: Warner Bros. announce that Fantastic Beasts 3 is officially in pre-production and that Harry Potter screenwriter Steve Kloves will co-write the screenplay with J.K. Rowling.

Warner Bros. unveil a calendar of events for their Harry Potter London studio tour in 2020. New events will celebrate the art department and Slytherin house.
Bulgaria celebrates the 20th anniversary of its first Harry Potter publication with new cover artwork by a 96-year-old artist.
Harry Potter: The Exhibition travels from Spain to Portugal and actors James and Oliver Phelps, alongside graphic designers Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima (MinaLima), are on hand to celebrate the launch.
Wizarding World Gold is officially launched in the US and UK. A gift box subscription for the service is also unveiled, alongside a Gold-exclusive Patronus stag Funko Pop!.

December

J.K. Rowling and Eddie Redmayne at a red carpet event for the Finding the Way Home documentary.

Cursed Child makes its debut in San Francisco. It’s now playing in four locations across the globe.
Eddie Redmayne and J.K. Rowling walk the red carpet at a preview event for Finding the Way Home, a new documentary which shines a spotlight on the painful realities of children living in orphanages and similar institutions.
J.K. Rowling receives the prestigious Ripple of Hope Award for her continued human rights work. A week later, Rowling — an author whose work so often champions equality and inclusivity — sends a Tweet which causes significant distress and hurt to the Transgender community.
We launch a redesigned version of Harry Potter Fan Zone, the culmination of a year of behind the screens work. The rebuilt website will help us continue to deliver a daily dose of Harry Potter magic and community long into the next decade.

What’s in store for 2020?

Crack out your crystal balls — it’s time to take a look into the future. There’s much in store for the Wizarding World in 2020. Here are a few things to look forward to at the start of the next decade:

The Goblet of Fire 20th anniversary house editions will be published on 23 January 2020. Goblet of Fire was first published in July of 2000.
Cursed Child will open at the Mehr! Theater am Großmarkt in Hamburg (spring) and the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto (autumn).
Fantastic Beasts 3 will begin shooting in early 2020. We’ll also get a title, casting announcements and (likely) our first promotional stills.
Emily Gravett’s illustrated version of Quidditch Through the Ages will be published in October.
Funko will continue its takeover of literally every piece of free shelf space in the world with new Harry Potter figures. Nymphadora Tonks is first up. She’ll be released in March.
A number of new Harry Potter LEGO sets will be released — it looks like one of those will be the Second Task from Goblet of Fire.
Wizarding World Gold will (likely) be opened to a worldwide audience and more exclusive content and collectibles will be unveiled.

Thanks for a great 2019 at Harry Potter Fan Zone — have a safe and happy New Year and we’ll see you in the next decade! Be kind.

Our past, present and future

2019-12-22T00:00:00+11:00

Exactly sixteen years ago, Harry Potter Fan Zone opened its digital doors for the first time. The sixth ‘Potter’ book was but a draft on J.K. Rowling’s desk, Alfonso Cuarón was only months away from introducing his cinematic contribution to the Wizarding World and Newt Scamander was nothing more than a fictional pseudonym. It’s been close to two decades since that day and I’d like to mark the anniversary by unveiling the biggest makeover in the website’s magical history.

While we haven’t joined forces with the Death Eaters — nor have we been hiding Horcruxes across the net — Tom Riddle’s famous unmasking quote is the perfect way to unveil what is much more than just a cosmetic overhaul. Lord Voldemort is not our past, but let’s jump into the Pensieve for a quick trip down memory lane. Back in 2003, both the Wizarding World and World Wide Web were in relative infancy. We were one of a truly international and groundbreaking menagerie of Harry Potter fan websites — a global and welcoming community of Boy Wizard enthusiasts who crafted their own humble platforms to deliver a daily dose of news, rumours and analysis.

If you were part of those early Wizarding World days you’ll remember the anecdotes: book six was Harry Potter and the Green Flame Torch, Ian McKellen was Albus Dumbledore, and rumours that Daniel Radcliffe had outgrown his onscreen creation and a major casting change was imminent were never far away. As a collective, we worked closely with Warner Bros., Bloomsbury and Scholastic and I had the absolute privilege of bringing our readers personal insights into shooting sessions at the Harry Potter film set, official press junkets and red carpet movie premieres. There was never a dull day in the Muggle world.

Short of obtaining a prototype Time-Turner (ahem, they were all destroyed), those golden days are now part of ‘Potter’ history. Today, the fan site is just one part of an ever-spreading tapestry of both free and subscription-based digital Harry Potter platforms. Social media accounts, mobile apps and first-party sources like Pottermore (now Wizarding World) all exist to inform and entertain 21st century Muggles. As a result, Harry Potter Fan Zone has undergone a year-long behind-the-screens transformation — a labour of love to lay the groundwork for a digital fan site of the future. Enter, our present.

Harry Potter Fan Zone: redesigned and rebuilt for a new era of Wizarding World fandom.

While we’ll still report the biggest Wizarding World news stories — the bread and butter of the fan site — our focus today shifts towards creating insightful and analytical pieces which take the reader inside the magical world in unique depth and detail. We began that journey this year with a two-part Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts profile of graphic design wizards MinaLima and comprehensive early-reviews of the Goblet of Fire illustrated edition, Prisoner of Azkaban house editions and Wizards Unite mobile game. We also sat down with composers Patrick Doyle and Nicholas Hooper to provide unique insight into how their Harry Potter film music was written. There’s much more where that came from — but we can’t say too much just yet.

We’ve also greatly expanded the scope of our content offerings with original comprehensive guides to the 20th anniversary house editions and illustrated editions, and rewritten much of our encyclopaedic content to reflect the magical world of today. For the modern ‘Potter’ fan, new collectible checklists for Funko Pop! figures, LEGO sets and minifigures are just a click away. We’ve painstakingly restored our favourite Harry Potter news stories and exclusives from the last two decades and built a brand-new Wizarding World picture gallery which you can explore by category (I personally love the book cover and movie poster sections) or year. We’ve written hundreds of thousands of magical words and collected thousands of ‘Potter’ pictures over the decades — today we want to be an exhaustive ‘Potter’ resource where both modern and archival chronology are accessible, searchable and fun.

There’s never been a more important time for a fan site to serve Harry Potter fans. With an increasingly commercialised canon clouded by clickbait and character limits, I wanted to build a resource that was fast, accessible and free. A platform that would inform the Wizarding World community of today while harnessing the web technologies of tomorrow. I firmly believe the Harry Potter fandom is a mature, inclusive and diverse community and that there is still a home for thoughtful and long-form content. J.K. Rowling once called Harry Potter Fan Zone ‘impressive’ and ‘insightful’ and that’s an endorsement I couldn’t be prouder to uphold and build upon. As the Wizarding World continues to expand, there’s never been a more crucial time for authentic and authoritative fan voices to join the conversation.

So whether you’ve been with Harry since the beginning, or Newt’s prequel stories are your introduction to all things magical, we’d love Harry Potter Fan Zone to be your digital destination of choice for all things Wizarding World. This rebuild has been a passion project for much of the last twelve months and the culmination of sixteen years of Harry Potter and digital media enthusiasm. If you’d like to get in touch, we’d love to hear your feedback: we’re on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as plain-old email. If you’ve read this far we’d love for you to check out our brand new home page and discover what else is new.

Heres’s to another decade of magic — Mischief Managed!

Spend the holidays with the Weasleys in ‘Hogwarts Mystery’

2019-12-19T00:00:00+11:00

Spend the holiday season with the Weasley family in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.

A new holiday-themed adventure in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery will allow players to spend Christmas with the Weasley family and travel to The Burrow in the blue flying Ford Anglia. At The Burrow, players will be able to decorate the Weasley house, enjoy Christmas dinner and exchange gifts.

The limited time side-quest is available for Year One players who have completed chapter seven and beyond, and once completed will earn you a special gift from Molly Weasley. In addition to the Weasley adventure, Hogwarts Mystery is celebrating the holiday season with giveaways and in-game gifts.

Hogwarts Mystery was launched for both iOS and Android back in 2018 and allows players to create custom characters and play through life as a Hogwarts student.

Rowling and Redmayne walk the red carpet for ‘Finding the Way Home’

2019-12-13T00:00:00+11:00

J.K. Rowling and Eddie Redmayne (Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts prequels) walked the red carpet at a New York premiere preview of Finding the Way Home, a new HBO documentary which shines a spotlight on the painful realities of children living in orphanages and similar institutions.

J.K. Rowling and Eddie Redmayne at the Finding the Way Home premiere.

The documentary features narration by Redmayne and follows the story of eight previously-institutionalised children who have been reunited with family or placed in loving foster homes.

The documentary is inspired by the work of Rowling’s Lumos Foundation, a charity founded by the Harry Potter author in 2005 to promote an end to the institutionalisation of children worldwide. Since 2016, the foundation has helped more than 17,000 institutionalised children through foster care, small group homes and finding adoptive parents.

While in New York, Rowling was honoured with the Ripple of Hope Award, a human rights award whose past recipients have included Barack Obama, George Clooney and Tim Cook.

Finding the Way Home will premiere on HBO on 18 December.

Hot Topic exclusive Buckbeak Funko Pop! Vinyl released

2019-12-13T00:00:00+11:00

Buckbeak the Hippogriff is flocked and exclusive to Hot Topic stores.

A flocked version of Buckbeak the Hippogriff is the next Harry Potter Funko Pop! Vinyl to hit shelves. The new Buckbeak figure is exclusive to Hot Topic stores in the USA but is already available internationally via Popcultcha.

A couple of interesting things to note about Witherwings: the eyes in the glam shot are black but the figure’s actual manufactured eyes seem to be orange, and, for some inexplicable reason (and just to complicate taxonomy), the Hippogriff shares a number (#104) with the recently released stag Patronus figure.

Please explain, Funko.

‘Cursed Child’ officially opens in San Francisco

2019-12-01T00:00:00+11:00

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opened its doors at the Curran Theater in San Francisco for the first time today, the two-part stage play’s fourth location and second in the USA.

Cast walk the red carpet at the Cursed Child San Francisco premiere.

Cursed Child opened on the West End in 2016, followed by performances in New York and Melbourne. Next year will see the play open in both Hamburg and Toronto. Tickets for the San Francisco production are available from the official website.

Pandora launches ‘Harry Potter’ jewellery line

2019-11-28T00:00:00+11:00

Pandora’s new Harry Potter collection includes twelve original hand-finished charms, pendants and a bracelet.

Pandora today released a collection of Harry Potter themed jewellery which includes twelve original hand-finished charms, pendants and a bracelet. Each Hogwarts house is included in the collection, alongside characters and symbols from the Wizarding World.

According to the jewellery maker, ‘all four Hogwarts house charms are represented in sterling silver double dangles with craftsmanship details that will excite super fans, like a front disc detailed with the house crest surrounded by man-made stones in house colors. On the back disc, the edges are detailed with crenellations, in reference to the battlements of Hogwarts Castle and a bail shaped like the Hogwarts crest’.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Dobby are represented in the collection, as are symbols like the Hogwarts Express and Hogwarts Castle. The collection also includes a limited edition Golden Snitch pendant. Of the collection, Pandora Chief Creative and Brand Officer Stephen Fairchild says, ‘Pandora fans have asked for this collection for years, and we are really excited that it is here.’

Browse the entire collection over at Pandora’s website and in Pandora stores across the globe.

Funko to release Pop! figure of Harry’s stag Patronus

2019-11-26T00:00:00+11:00

A translucent stag Patronus Funko Pop! figure will be released on 4 December.

Funko’s next Harry Potter Pop! Vinyl figure is a gorgeous translucent stag Patronus, while Hermione and Ron’s otter and dog Patronuses are soon to follow. The new Pop! figure will be released on 4 December as a Wizarding World pre-release before a general release at some point after that.

Harry’s stag Patronus will be released on 4 December.

A pre-release means the Funko figure is available for a limited time at an exclusive location before the general public can purchase it — this time around that lucky vendor is WizardingWorld.com (formerly Pottermore). To be eligible to grab the stag in the pre-release phase you’ll need to sign up for a Wizarding Passport and visit the official Wizarding World online store from 4 December at 11am ET/4pm GMT. Wizarding World Gold subscribers will also receive a 20% discount.

If you’re interested in where Funko are going next: a Hot Topic exclusive Buckbeak the Hippogriff is coming next month, followed by Nymphadora Tonks in March and then a number of new scenes including Harry with an invisibility cloak, Ron vomiting slugs, Dumbledore with baby Harry, Hermione levitating a feather and Neville with the Monster Book of Monsters. Watch this space for more details!

Harry’s stag Patronus — coming in December!

Wizarding World Gold now available as gift box subscription

2019-11-22T00:00:00+11:00

Wizarding World Gold is now available in a physical gift box.

The 12-month Wizarding World Gold premium Harry Potter subscription is now available in a physical gift boxed format. The gift boxed version includes four exclusive notelets, a Keys and Curios journal and a unique code to unlock a 12-month subscription to Wizarding World Gold.

Launched earlier this month, Wizarding World Gold gives ‘Potter’ fans access to original digital Wizarding World content (the full scope of that content is yet to be revealed), priority access to Wizarding World events and early access to Harry Potter merchandise and collectibles (like the new Stag Patronus Funko Pop!). You can learn more about those perks in our earlier Wizarding World Gold overview.

The Wizarding World Gold gift box includes a 12-month subscription and four exclusive notelets.

Fans in the US can pick up a gift boxed version of Wizarding World Gold from Barnes & Noble stores for $74.99, while UK fans can purchase the box at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Gift shop or the Harry Potter shop at Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station for £59.99. The box is also available online. There’s no word yet on the subscription being opened up to other countries, but we imagine a global rollout is not far away.

James and Oliver Phelps launch ‘Harry Potter’ exhibition in Portugal

2019-11-18T00:00:00+11:00

The Phelps twins and MinaLima officially opened Harry Potter: The Exhibition in Lisbon.

Actors James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley in the Harry Potter films) and graphic design duo MinaLima (Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima) were on hand over the weekend to officially launch Harry Potter: The Exhibition in Lisbon.

For a decade, twins James and Oliver Phelps played Fred and George Weasley.

Since 2009, Harry Potter: The Exhibition has been touring the globe bringing Wizarding World props, costumes and artefacts in front of Muggle eyes. The Weasley twin actors have travelled the globe promoting the travelling exhibition — when I spoke with them at the Sydney launch in 2011 we learned that 23 shipping containers were required to carry an enormity of magical props to locations across the world.

Portuguese fans can catch Harry Potter: The Exhibition at Lisbon’s Pavilion of Portugal through until April 8. Tickets are available over at the exhibition website. (If you’re walking through the Great Hall set, make sure to look out for authentic James and Oliver Phelps graffiti carvings on the Gryffindor table.)

Lisbon launch: MinaLima (left) created all the glittering graphics for the Harry Potter films.

Jim Kay talks about inspiration and processes for illustrating ‘Potter’

2019-11-14T00:00:00+11:00

Jim Kay, the talented artist behind the Harry Potter illustrated editions, was recently profiled in a wonderful piece by the New York Times. In the profile, Kay talks about his artistic processes, character inspiration and the challenge of giving new illustrative form to a franchise already marked by such recognisable visuals.

Jim Kay: ‘you’re trying to get people to buy into an alternative world … the more you can seat it in apparent reality, the better it works’.

On illustrating a story like Harry Potter, Kay explains, ‘the problem with fantasy books is these things don’t normally exist, so you have to create them to give them a sense of reality’. Adds the illustrator: ‘you’re trying to get people to buy into an alternative world. The more you can seat it in apparent reality, the better it works. On a more practical level, it’s much easier to draw if you have something in front of you. If it doesn’t exist, I make it’.

Jim Kay starts with 3D models. These in-progress sculptures of a Thestral and Kreacher will serve as inspiration for the Order of the Phoenix illustrated edition (2021).

The wealth of existing ‘Potter’ imagery (courtesy of the Warner Bros. film series) presented interesting challenges for Kay. ‘It was very difficult because I’m very fond of the films. The only way to do it was to start from scratch. I built the landscape first, really physically built it with models … after that, I recast the film and I used people I know’. Kay modelled Ron, Ginny and Molly Weasley on real mother, daughter and son, and adds, ‘my niece is a perfect Hermione … it took about two years, but now I think of my world and not the film one’.

And the hardest character to draw? ‘Harry’ says Kay. ‘Also because he wears glasses and glasses are a nightmare to draw … I’ve literally smashed up and thrown stuff across the room in frustration trying to draw Harry.’

The Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire illustrated edition — the fourth in the series — was released last month. Jim Kay is currently hard at work on the Order of the Phoenix sequel (he mentions the Thestrals as a favourite character) which will be released in late 2021.

New MinaLima print celebrates Harry’s first Quidditch match

2019-11-08T00:00:00+11:00

MinaLima, the graphic design duo behind all of the graphics in the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, have revealed the fifth in their series of magical ‘Potter’ moment graphic prints. Titled ‘Another Ten Points to Gryffindor’, the numbered print celebrates Harry’s first Quidditch match and is available in both a standard and premium finish over at MinaLima’s website.

The first four prints in the series commemorate iconic moments from Harry’s first story and are also available from MinaLima’s website.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour unveils 2020 calendar

2019-11-05T00:00:00+11:00

Warner Bros Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter is set for some enhancements in 2020 with new events and exhibitions celebrating the Dark Arts, Slytherin house and the props of the ‘Potter’ films.

Introducing the Art Department

14 February–24 February

Responsible for a huge range of props, from Harry’s Hogwarts acceptance letter to the Daily Prophet and Bertie Bott’s Beans, the Art Department brought the Wizarding World to life on screen with every detail. In the Studio Tour’s Introducing the Art Department feature, visitors are invited to discover the craftmanship and artistry in technical drawings, white card models, concept art and prop-making. During this time, the Studio Tour will welcome the original filmmakers, who will reveal a range of techniques including wand-making demonstrations by the team who handcrafted thousands of wands for the film series.

A Celebration of Slytherin

3 April–6 September

The Studio Tour will shine a spotlight on all things Slytherin, the house known for its ambition, cunning and links to dark magic. For the first time ever, visitors will be welcomed into the Great Hall dressed to celebrate a Slytherin victory of the House Cup, complete with a grand feast and original banners from the film series suspended from the enchanted ceiling. Throughout the Studio Tour fans will discover secrets behind the costumes and props belonging to the most sinister of Hogwarts houses.

Dark Arts

25 September–8 November

The Studio Tour’s popular Dark Arts feature will return for Hallowe’en. The Great Hall ceiling will be decorated with over 100 floating pumpkins as well as a Hallowe’en feast of lollipops and red apples dressing the long tables. Visitors are invited to try their wand combat moves against Death Eaters in a live duel demonstrating how battle scenes were directed, all before walking down a darker, spookier Diagon Alley.

Hogwarts in the Snow

14 November–17 January 2021

The year will end with the Studio Tour’s magical Hogwarts in the Snow feature. The festive makeover will see the Great Hall undergo a glittering Yule Ball makeover, the Gryffindor common room dressed for the season and a blanket of filmmaking snow covering the majestic Hogwarts castle model. Visitors will even be able to touch samples of the different types of ‘snow’ used during production, each selected for its ability to float like falling flakes, crunch under foot or glisten in the light like ice.

For more information and tickets, visit the official studio tour website.

‘Fantastic Beasts 3’ in pre-production, Kloves to co-write screenplay

2019-11-04T00:00:00+11:00

The third Fantastic Beasts film will be set in Rio De Janeiro and is co-written by seven-time ‘Potter’ screenwriter Steve Kloves.

The third Fantastic Beasts film is officially in pre-production with filming to begin in the first quarter of next year. In an announcement this morning, Warner Bros. confirmed a number of details about the delayed November 2021 film release, including cast and behind-the-camera personnel, a new Wizarding World location and details about J.K. Rowling’s screenplay.

The third Fantastic Beasts film will visit Rio De Janeiro in Brazil — the third major location for the series after Paris (Crimes of Grindelwald) and New York (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them). A trip to South America was strongly rumoured, but this is the first official confirmation of Newt’s next destination. We don’t know too much about the Wizarding communities of Brazil beyond the name ‘Castelobruxo’, the Brazilian magical castle hidden deep in the rainforest. (Incidentally, students wear robes of bright green and alumni include Advanced Potion-Making author Libatius Borage.)

Actress and comedian Jessica Williams (right) joins the Fantastic Beasts cast as Ilvermorny teacher Eulalie ‘Lally’ Hicks.

The announcement also confirmed the return of a number of cast members including Eddie Redmayne (Newt Scamander), Jude Law (Albus Dumbledore), Johnny Depp (Gellert Grindelwald), Alison Sudol (Queenie Goldstein), Dan Fogler (Jacob Kowalski) and Katherine Waterston (Tina Goldstein). Interestingly, Ezra Miller is credited as both Credence Barebone and Aurelius Dumbledore — make of that what you will! Jessica Williams will join the cast as Professor Eulalie ‘Lally’ Hicks, a teacher at the American magical school (Ilvermorny). She appeared briefly in Crimes of Grindelwald, speaking to Nicolas Flamel through a book. Neither Callum Turner (Theseus Scamander), Zoë Kravitz (Leta Lestrange) nor Claudia Kim (Nagini) are mentioned.

Behind the camera, J.K. Rowling will share a screenwriting credit with seven-time Harry Potter screenwriter Steve Kloves. Kloves has a producer credit on the first two Fantastic Beasts films while Rowling exclusively wrote both of those previous screenplays. David Yates returns to direct and ‘Potter’ alumni David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves, Lionel Wigram and Tim Lewis will serve as producers. James Newton Howard will return to write music for the franchise.

Castelobruxo is the Wizarding school of Brazil. It’s hidden deep in the rainforests.

The as-yet-untitled third Fantastic Beasts film will be released on 12 November 2021. Earlier this year, Warner Bros. revealed that the film would be delayed by an entire year amid speculation J.K. Rowling’s screenplay would be significantly tweaked as a result of Crimes of Grindelwald’s lukewarm critical reception. However, Dan Fogler (Jacob) insisted the delay was simply because of the scale of the film, calling it ‘bigger than the first two combined’. In a tweet late last year, J.K. Rowling described the third film by saying ‘answers are given’.

MinaLima release ‘Harry Potter’ wrapping paper collection

2019-10-29T00:00:00+11:00

Graphic design magicians Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima (MinaLima), the designers responsible for all of the glittering graphics in the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, have released an enchanting collection of Wizarding World themed Christmas wrapping paper.

Marauder’s Map

Black family tree

Quidditch

Hogwarts library books

Daily Prophet newspapers

Five of the seven designs (above) — the Marauder’s Map, Black family tree, Quidditch, Hogwarts Library books and Daily Prophet newspapers — were unveiled in a recent wallpaper collection. Two new designs, Santa’s Sleigh and Christmas Elf, were first seen onscreen in Order of the Phoenix (2007) when Arthur Weasley and family exchange Christmas gifts at Grimmauld Place following Mr. Weasley’s snake attack.

Christmas Elf

Santa’s Sleigh

Each design includes two sheets of single-sided folded gift wrap measuring 50 x 70cm and costs £5.95. All of the amazing designs can be pre-ordered over at MinaLima’s website or at their House of MinaLima London gallery at 26 Greek Street from Monday 4 November.

Patrick Doyle on composing magical music for ‘Goblet of Fire’

2019-10-21T00:00:00+11:00

We chat to Scottish composer Patrick Doyle about writing music for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

‘In the case of Harry Potter’s waltz, I heard the tune in my head. I was in the middle of a meeting with [Goblet of Fire director] Mike Newell and a number of other people and I heard the tune in my head. I grabbed a piece of my music editor’s note paper, wrote some staves on it and then wrote the melody.’

In 2004, famed film composer John Williams — now with three Harry Potter film scores in his infinite and incredible repertoire — parted ways with the Wizarding World. Waving the musical baton for the fourth entry in the ‘Potter’ universe would be Scottish composer Patrick Doyle. More than a decade later, Doyle’s Goblet of Fire score stands as an incredible musical addition to that universe: a rich score full of memorable melody, colour and unique orchestral opportunity. I recently had the pleasure of chatting to Patrick about his magical Harry Potter music.

***

Harry Potter Fan Zone (HPFZ): How did the involvement with director Mike Newell and the fourth ‘Potter’ film come about?

Patrick Doyle (PD): I worked with Mike Newell on two previous films: Donnie Brasco and Into the West. I’d also worked with one of the producers, David Baron, so he knew my work. That’s the connection. When John Williams wasn’t available, Mike asked me to come in and talk about it and that’s how it happened.

HPFZ: Was the approach to composition different at all for a big fantasy piece like Harry Potter compared with a drama or historical piece?

PD: I’d already worked on a couple of bigger films and no matter what I’m doing — whether an animation film, a fantasy film — all stories are fantasies, strictly speaking. The first film I did with Mike Newell, Into the West, was full of magic. There was no magic that you could ‘see’, the magic was in the music. Mike needed to convey a sense of mystery and magic, so that was one of the reasons that he employed me. I could bring those qualities to the picture.

Scottish composer Patrick Doyle followed in the footsteps of the legendary John Williams to write music for 2005’s Goblet of Fire.

Goblet of Fire was actually a really interesting drama. It was a dark drama. The story was a lot darker than the previous three in the series and the characters had matured. There were lots of different elements: love, the Yule Ball, waltzes and foreign visitors from France, Bulgaria and Ireland. There was a rich tapestry of musical styles I could weave into it.

HPFZ: What I found so interesting about the fourth film was the quantity of diegetic music: the two waltzes, the brass march, the rock tunes that you provided string arrangements for and the underwater golden egg cue that I believe your daughter sang vocals on. Goblet of Fire is unique in that sense.

PD: There were two music opportunities for waltzes — Neville’s Waltz and Potter Waltz. And then Harry in Winter. And working with Jarvis [Cocker] who I’d worked with before on Great Expectations. A lovely, lovely guy. He needed someone to do some string arrangements for his [Yule Ball rock songs], so that was lovely working with him again. He’s a very nice guy.

My daughter Abigail has written lyrics and sung in the past for me. She did some chanting for the French Beauxbatons students and sang the mermaid lyrics. She also ended up doing the voice of Voldemort’s snake. Two or three times her voice was used as the snake. It was a great opportunity to create an eclectic score and also interesting to change the harmonies under John Williams’ Hedwig’s Theme because it’s a much darker story.

HPFZ: You were the first composer to come in after the three Williams scores. Was it hard to choose the places where you’d interpolate the Hedwig’s Theme with your music and the places to twist it or play it in full voice?

PD: If you count it up it’s actually less than a minute of John’s theme and the rest is my music. It’s literally the opening of the film and a little flight of the owl. So there’s very little of John’s theme there and I felt I was utilising it as was appropriate. There were so many new characters and different stories — there was very little related to the owl. You’ve got to be true to the script so it was literally thirty seconds or so of music in the end.

HPFZ: You mentioned Harry in Winter earlier. The Voldemort theme is very prominent too and those themes combine beautifully at the end. Do those ‘good guy’ and ‘bad guy’ themes come first and you work backwards from there?

PD: I believe the Voldemort theme came first of all, then Harry in Winter came later. I like to try and interweave these themes whenever I can. There isn’t always the opportunity to be as intricate as you would like. Sometimes it’s time against you, other times it might feel too ‘smug’ and get in the way. I’m very pleased with the end cue — the Voldemort cue — I’m really proud of that. Lots of people like Harry in Winter, but from a classical music standpoint [Voldemort] is a standalone piece of symphonic music that I’m rather proud of.

Voldemort reborn: ‘from a classical music standpoint [it’s] a standalone piece of symphonic music that I’m rather proud of’.

HPFZ: The little Harry in Winter reference when Harry wins that final battle in Voldemort is really nice.

PD: It’s very operatic. I write very operatically.

HPFZ: Does that writing process usually start on a piano? Is that your instrument of choice?

PD: Yeah, I’m a reasonable pianist so I’ll write mainly on the piano and then I’ll need to orchestrate it. Sometimes I’ll work on a string pad but usually I’ll sit at the piano. Sometimes, in the case of Harry Potter’s waltz, I heard the tune in my head. I was in the middle of a meeting with Mike Newell and a number of other people and I heard the tune in my head. I grabbed a piece of my music editor’s note paper, wrote some staves on it, and then wrote the melody.

Potter Waltz: ‘I was in the middle of a meeting with Mike Newell and a number of other people and I heard the tune in my head. I grabbed a piece of my music editor’s note paper, wrote some staves on it, and then wrote the melody’.

I also wrote in a taxi on the way into town the funny Hogwarts song. I wrote a round in my head in the car. I had two Hogwarts ideas and Mike loved them but he thought they’re not quite quirky enough or crazy enough yet. I grabbed my moleskin notebook and wrote a melody. And then I thought I’ll have a round of the four different houses. They can all sing one after another. It never made the picture but it’s in the DVD extras. So I can write at the piano and write in my head away from the piano. Generally speaking I’ll write at the piano and work out all the harmonies, but I do write away from the piano.

HPFZ: You mentioned you’re thinking about orchestration when you’re writing a melody. Take the Rita Skeeter theme for example — are you thinking there’d be pizzicato strings from the beginning or do you write melody and the texture comes later?

PD: In that particular scene the confined space [where Rita interrogates Harry] made me feel odd. It’s very odd being interviewed in a cupboard and I thought I won’t play [Harry] or [Rita], I’ll play the pen. The pen makes it comical and whimsical and crazy so I said to Mike I think this should be from the point of view of that pen.

HPFZ: That’s so interesting. The pen almost moves like a baton.

PD: That’s right. If you watch the music it follows that pen like animation.

HPFZ: Were there any cues that were particularly difficult to write or went through many iterations before they arrived at their final form?

PD: Well, I can’t remember [anything specific]. Half the music was never used in the picture. But there was never pressure. I would try things out and Mike would say, ‘no’ or ‘great idea’ or maybe ‘there’s no time for that one, we’ll have to cut it’. But there was never ‘oh my goodness’ real pressure. The only pressure that I had on the picture was self imposed. Nothing to do with Mike. It was a very relaxed process and he’s a very enthusiastic director. He loved my ideas. When you hear the opening strings that’s a [reference] to [Barty Crouch Jr.’s] tongue coming in and out of the mouth like a lizard or snake. That appears throughout whole thing. You build a visual library up in your head and turn it into a musical representation. It’s like a kaleidoscope of ideas that become part of your palette.

‘At lot of film music has to be readapted for live concerts but I write music 95% of the time that can be played in concert. Fortunately that’s how I write.’

HPFZ: Do you have some say in the soundtrack presentation? Some of my favourite cues are Fleur’s foxtrot which isn’t on the soundtrack, and there’s a nice little major-scale melody when they’re taking the Portkey to the World Cup that’s not on the album.

PD: It’s very difficult. I’m the one who chooses unless specifically the director [asks], but they never do. Very often I’m constrained by the amount of time you’ve got on there. You have a difficult choice to make as to what is going to end up on the album. Sometimes the melody isn’t long enough or won’t sustain a standalone track. In the case of Harry Potter there was too much music to fit onto a CD without it being a double CD.

HPFZ: A good problem to have I suppose!

PD: Yeah! It was difficult.

HPFZ: From a technical perspective do you write a concert arrangement for those pieces that might be different to what we hear in the film? Harry in Winter comes to mind.

PD: Sometimes that happens, yes. Harry in Winter appears for a very short moment while [Harry’s] up in the tower. Producer David Heyman particularly loved it. I thought I’d make it into a standalone piece and wrote it on its own. It’s become a very popular piece of music that’s played all the time. I knew when I wrote it that it was going to be a popular thing. It’s not often you can tell, but I thought people would like this. I could tell by the producer’s reaction. This melody will have legs.

Harry in Winter: ‘I knew when I wrote it that it was going to be a popular thing. It’s not often you can tell, but I thought people would like this … this melody will have legs’.

HPFZ: When I heard Harry in Winter played by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra recently it was an absolute highlight. There’s nothing like hearing a live orchestra.

PD: Well I’m very envious! If it ever comes back [to Australia] I may come over. What’s interesting about Harry in Winter — and the score — is that there was a very literal adaptation done of the orchestration. What you hear in the soundtrack is in fact what you can hear on the stage. At lot of film music has to be readapted for live concerts but I write music 95% of the time that can be played in concert. Fortunately that’s how I write.

‘It was a real opportunity to write contemporary symphonic and contemporary concert music. It’s a very symphonic score … I enjoyed writing it’.

HPFZ: Did you have the chance to follow Harry’s musical journey after Goblet of Fire?

PD: No, to be honest. Unfortunately I’m a very busy composer and I do concerts as well, so there’s no time really to keep your eye on things. You do your job and your best and move on and wish the following composers the best of luck with the series. No disrespect to the other composers, I’ve just got other work.

HPFZ: Well, it’s been a decade-long dream for me to be able to break the score down with you and talk about the musical processes. Congratulations again on a wonderful job.

PD: You’re very welcome. I’m very proud of this score. I really delved into some very modern harmonies and it gave me a wonderful opportunity and Mike was great. He gave me a wonderful opportunity to experiment. Especially the Voldemort cue at the end — it’s a nine-minute cue. And the underwater cue. It follows the action in a very operatic way. It was a real opportunity to write contemporary symphonic and contemporary concert music. It’s a very symphonic score. I’m glad you like it because I enjoyed writing it.

***

Fans of Patrick’s music can hear his Harry Potter score performed to film by a live orchestra as part of the Harry Potter Film Concert Series. For more information and tour dates, click here.

Wizarding World Gold premium service available for pre-order

2019-10-15T00:00:00+11:00

Wizarding World Gold is a premium Harry Potter subscription service from Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling.

The new Wizarding World Gold premium subscription service is now available to pre-order in the US and UK. Wizarding World Gold is an official annual premium Harry Potter subscription from Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling offered under the magical (pink) Wizarding World umbrella — a joint venture between the ‘Potter’ movie makers and Rowling. It was announced earlier this year but details have thus far been scarce.

Wizarding World Gold will give ‘Potter’ fans access to exclusive video content, early access to Wizarding World events and experiences, discounts and priority bookings, plus a number of collectible gifts including badges and an interactive journal. Those premium features will start rolling out early next year. They include:

Wizarding World Gold subscribers can collect these Harry Potter pins.

An interactive Harry Potter journal called Keys and Curios, designed by MinaLima, the graphic designers of the ‘Potter’ films.
A new Wizarding World original video series which will ‘unravel the mysteries and uncover the secrets from all corners of the Wizarding World’ and includes behind the scenes content and profiles of those involved with making Harry’s magic a reality.
Access to the seven Harry Potter eBooks on the new Wizarding World mobile app.
A collectible welcome gift pin and access to other pins at Cursed Child theatres, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour and Harry Potter shop at King’s Cross Station.
Access to Harry Potter special events, including the Wizarding World Christmas Party in the Great Hall at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London later this year.
Discounts at Wizarding World shops and theme parks.
Priority booking for Wizarding World experiences, including the Cursed Child play, Studio Tour and theme parks.
Early access to Wizarding World merchandise and collectibles.

The new interactive Keys and Curios journal is designed by Harry Potter graphic designers MinaLima.

Wizarding World Gold is another puzzle piece in the larger Wizarding World tapestry — a consolidation of ‘Potter’ properties under a single brand. In an increasingly fragmented magical universe, Wizarding World is the J.K. Rowling stamp (wand swish?) of approval. Earlier this month, an official Wizarding World mobile app and free Harry Potter Fan Club were announced, alongside a digital Wizarding World passport — a sort of one-account-to-rule-them-all ‘Potter’ profile with an augmented reality sorting quiz and Patronus test.

The Wizarding World Gold service will begin early next next year and pre-orders are available from today.

Interestingly, today’s announcement coincided with the redirection of all Pottermore content to the WizardingWorld.com domain. Launched in 2012, Pottermore was J.K. Rowling’s digital publishing platform where (among, er, clickbait and first-party features) she was able to expand on the ‘Potter’ stories and characters. In September, the Cursed Child play shed its original branding to align itself with the more recognisable Wizarding World iconography.

The Wizarding World Gold subscription will begin early next year and a 12-month subscription can be pre-ordered for $74.99 in US or £59.99 in UK. Other locations and options for gifting subscriptions are set to follow soon.

A Wizarding World Gold subscription will cost $74.99 in US or £59.99 in UK.

Cast portraits for San Francisco production of ‘Cursed Child’ revealed

2019-10-13T00:00:00+11:00

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will debut later this month in San Francisco, the second US and fourth worldwide location for the ‘Potter’ stage play. Today, we have our first look at the principal cast in costume.

Cursed Child San Francisco: Angela Reed (Ginny Potter), Benjamin Papac (Albus Severus Potter) and John Skelley (Harry Potter).

The Potter family

Benjamin Papac (Albus Severus Potter)
Angela Reed (Ginny Potter)
John Skelley (Harry Potter)

The Granger-Weasley family

David Abeles (Ron Weasley)
Folami Williams (Rose Granger-Weasley)
Yanna McIntosh (Hermione Granger)

The Malfoy family

Lucas Hall (Draco Malfoy)
Jon Steiger (Scorpius Malfoy)

Cursed Child will begin showing at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco from 23 October. Tickets are available from the official website.

Review: the gorgeous new ‘Goblet of Fire’ full-colour illustrated edition

2019-10-08T00:00:00+11:00

The Goblet of Fire illustrated edition contains over 115 new illustrations from artist Jim Kay. Read on for a detailed look at what’s inside.

It’s been 735 days since the last Harry Potter illustrated edition hit shelves — just over two years since illustrator Jim Kay beautifully rendered Harry’s third story with brush and ink. And while two years seems an excruciatingly long time between Butterbeers, Kay was justifiably given the time needed to complete a task of Triwizard proportions: translating J.K. Rowling’s fourth and second-largest ‘Potter’ novel, Goblet of Fire, into an illustrated tome. With over 115 new illustrations, it’s Kay’s finest Wizarding World contribution to date.

Back in late 2013, publisher Bloomsbury announced their intention to republish the seven Harry Potter books with immersive full-colour portraits of characters, scenes and locations to complement Rowling’s now-famous words. Kate Greenaway Medal winner Jim Kay is the talented mixed-media illustrator awarded that epic and exciting responsibility, and he unveiled the first of his artistic creations, the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, in 2015. Like magic, the artist worked at a staggering pace to illustrate Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban to meet yearly publication deadlines in both 2016 and 2017, respectively.

The Goblet of Fire illustrated edition is only slightly thicker than its predecessor thanks to thinner paper and smaller type.

Justifiably, Kay was given an additional year to illustrate 2000’s Goblet of Fire, a novel twice the size of its predecessor and a book that caused Rowling herself much difficulty (working at lightspeed against significant publisher pressure, a plot hole forced the author to rewrite a large proportion of the book). What Rowling eventually produced was a meticulous and comprehensive novel which greatly expanded the Wizarding World: witches and wizards from different nations are introduced, Quidditch goes global and the evil Lord Voldemort rises again. Nearly two decades later, Jim Kay has captured the novel’s darker tone and breathes new colour and life into some of the most memorable scenes and characters in the ‘Potter’ universe.

While anticipating publication, there was a legitimate concern that I’d need to conjure a second bookshelf to accomodate the gargantuan Goblet of Fire release. Surprisingly, the book is only ever so slightly larger than Prisoner of Azkaban. My first impression is that Bloomsbury has achieved this by printing on slightly thinner paper and rendering Rowling’s text with smaller and tighter type. The paper difference isn’t noticeable (it doesn’t feel like you’re going to accidentally tear the thing apart) and the type perfectly readable, so the decision is, I feel, perfectly justifiable given there are three lengthy novels to come (and we don’t all have access to Hermione Granger’s bottomless bag). However, it’s also worth noting that another contributor to the reduced size is — rather disappointingly — three chapters without a single illustration (more on that later).

The Goblet of Fire illustrated edition has a wealth of immersive new artwork. Watch out Mr. Weasley.

Of course, fans will flock to the Goblet of Fire illustrated edition for the staggering breadth of new artwork which Jim Kay has spent the best part of two years sketching, painting and assembling. Bloomsbury promises over 115 new pieces of artwork from the illustrator and the wealth of new material does not disappoint. Like the three earlier editions, illustrations vary in size, technique and placement; and the balance of illustration and text feels both subtle and, when necessary, bold. Interspersed throughout the book are prominent character portraits (Mad-Eye Moody, Rita Skeeter, Ginny Weasley); full-page paintings (the foreign school arrivals, Priori Incantatem, the Yule Ball); an encyclopaedic exposé (dragons); and small embellishments and decorations nestled amongst text (‘Potter Stinks’ badges, spiders, Weasley sweets). Similarly, the book’s general art direction — stylistic chapter titles and embellished textured page borders — all feel polished.

Goblet of Fire introduces a wealth of new characters and Kay has done a fantastic job of interpreting and merging Rowling’s incredibly descriptive words with his own artistic influences (fun fact: he based Hermione on his niece). Worth mentioning specifically are Kay’s versions of Durmstrang champion Viktor Krum who is much more aligned with the thin, hunched and sallow-skinned character Rowling describes in her books, and the one-eyed and weathered (imposter) Mad-Eye Moody who Kay initially struggled to ensure was not ‘too frightening’. Fleur Delacour and Cedric Diggory are appropriately attractive, while Barty Crouch feels suitably bureaucratic and journalist Rita Skeeter as ‘enchantingly nasty’ as described in the text. To me, Kay’s character illustrations feel like a nice bridge between what’s in my head and what Warner Bros. brought us onscreen — faithful to Rowling’s words and with authenticity and detail the films often gloss over, while still anchored in an established universe.

The full-page illustrative spreads — some of which Bloomsbury shared as part of their pre-release marketing campaign — are where Jim Kay’s incredible artistic talents really shine. The eclectic and pell mell Quidditch World Cup campground is painted with a gorgeous sunrise colour palette (and, undoubtedly, loaded with easter eggs), while Voldemort and Harry’s graveyard wand duel is emblazoned with lightning-like streaks of golden light — an aesthetic that was sorely missing from the 2005 film adaption. The two-page Yule Ball illustration perfectly captures the simultaneous beauty and total awkwardness of that chapter, while pared-back pencil sketches of World Cup spectators and black-and-white illustrations of both Death Eaters and Moody’s unmasking establish striking variety and contrast.

Kay uses contrast most effectively in the novel’s darker chapters where the text and background colours are inverted and illustrations bleed seamlessly into the glossy black paper. This is a technique that I feel was used particularly well in 2016’s Chamber of Secrets, and Jim Kay again uses the combination here to great effect. So striking is the effect that the book actually opens with a chapter told entirely in this style: the mysterious Riddle House and Muggle caretaker Frank Bryce are set against dark vines and shadows for an appropriately creepy aesthetic. The style is again used during Harry’s descent into the underwater Blake Lake and, of course, during Voldemort’s graveyard rebirth.

As the Harry Potter novels became increasingly darker and deviated from their cinematic counterparts (Goblet of Fire the first big example with story omissions), it’s wonderful to see Jim Kay’s rendition of characters and scenes never properly realised on screen. Ludo Bagman is suitably cheerful and chubby, while Winky the house-elf, the elves of the Hogwarts kitchen and the Weasley fireplace fiasco are all given lovely artistic treatment. The addition of Egyptian Quidditch referee Hassan Mostafa adds a nice touch to that chapter, and Kay’s cute illustration of Rita Skeeter as a bespectacled beetle made me smile. As an aside: I do hope future illustrated editions continue to do justice to the wealth of character and location (I’m looking at you St. Mungo’s Hospital and Gaunt family) never given the cinema time they deserved.

Ludo Bagman was cut entirely from the Goblet of Fire film (but receives a wonderful portrait in the illustrated edition).

There are few drawbacks in a publication of this magnitude worth mentioning. Undoubtedly, the length and expanse of Rowling’s story (and unavoidable publication pressures) likely determined the final number of illustrations Kay was reasonably able to undertake, as well as those scenes deserving of the most artistic attention. As noted previously, there are three chapters devoid of any artwork. In the Harry Potter film world, Warner Bros. made the decision to cull later-book subplots and storylines less crucial to the main story. There are some parallels in this illustrated edition, where those — I hazard to use the term ‘less interesting’ — chapters are artwork-free. Bloomsbury market these editions as fully-illustrated and immersive reading experiences, and that immersion feels a little broken when you encounter page after page sans-pictures. A couple of small chapter illustrations or tiny artistic accents would certainly have helped to make these conscious omissions less striking.

Similarly, Jim Kay clearly has an affection and affinity for drawing animals. A quick flick through the Goblet of Fire release (and its three predecessors) and Kay’s talent for drawing cats, dogs, dragons and an assortment of creepy crawlies is obvious. And while the artist’s detailed depictions of dragons, Merpeople, Grindylows, spiders and winged horses are nothing short of stunning, I feel the book — like Prisoner of Azkaban before it — relies a little heavily on fauna and decorative flora in favour of some of the human characters and scenes I would have loved to see the artist imagine. Whether or not a conscious decision to leave some key moments to the reader’s imagination, I would have loved to see the Prefects’ Bathroom and courtroom scenes given illustration, likewise neither Cedric, Fleur, Krum, Maxime nor Karkaroff are honoured with portrait-size illustrations.

Rita Skeeter as a bespectacled beetle.

Minor gripes and personal preferences aside, Jim Kay’s Goblet of Fire illustrated edition is nothing short of a stunning artistic achievement and an absolute must-have for collectors of Rowling’s work. As someone who grew up with the Harry Potter series, seeing Kay reimagine some of my favourite people and places makes me feel incredibly nostalgic. For generations of new fans, experiencing J.K. Rowling’s words alongside equally impressive illustrations must be a wonderful first experience. While there’s likely going to be another lengthy wait for Order of the Phoenix (Instagram tells me Kay is already hard at work illustrating the Thestrals and sickeningly-pink Dolores Umbridge), fans will have to stick by Goblet of Fire a little longer when the 20th anniversary house editions drop in January.

Truly, there’s never been a better time for fans to discover or revisit Rowling’s magic. Thanks to Jim Kay, there’s now an added splash of colour.

***

The Goblet of Fire illustrated edition with artwork by Jim Kay is available in stores and online from today (UK, US). A deluxe slipcase edition is also available.