Giant animatronic dragon from Harry Potter roams London streets
A colossal dragon, familiar to Harry Potter fans from a popular film in the series, caused quite a stir in London today as it roared its way through the city streets. The 25-foot-long animatronic beast was seen 'trapped' in a box, journeying past renowned landmarks such as Westminster Bridge and King's Cross Station, en route to Warner Bros. Studio in London.
This dramatic display was part of the celebrations for the launch of 'Triwizard Tournament – Making of Champions', a new exhibit at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, marking the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire.
Weighing in at a hefty 1.3 tonnes, the Hungarian Horntail recreates the memorable scene from the much-loved film where Harry faces off against the daunting dragon during the first task of the 'Triwizard Tournament'.
The lifelike creature, designed by Harry Potter filmmaker and animatronic designer Joe Scott, boasts moving head, mouth and eyes, along with sound effects.
Constructed over 750 hours, this masterpiece features a 3D printed head, 25kg of fibreglass, and 119 individually attached spikes. Its jaws are fitted with 38 resin teeth, meticulously designed to replicate the film's terrifying appearance in detail.
Scott consulted original drawings, CGI drafts, and scans of the actual film prop to inform his design strategy. Reflecting on the project, he commented: "Revisiting the creation of the Hungarian Horntail 20 years on from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire has been magical."
He continued: "Creating the dragons for the Triwizard Tournament was no mean feat, with engineers, animatronics, designers and the special effects teams all working together to bring them to life.
"It's fantastic to see the craftsmanship that went into this on display at the new feature - inspiring visitors with the magic of our filmmaking secrets."
'The Triwizard Tournament – Making of Champions' exhibit is set to run from 15 May to 8 September 2025 at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter.
Fans will be able to step behind the scenes of the iconic Triwizard Tournament, discovering how the thrilling magical challenges were realised.
The Studio Tour's latest summer feature offers guests a chance to step onto the all-new Backlot Stage to delve into the Secrets of Special Effects. This dedicated indoor area features a digital screen, tiered seating and live demonstrations that unveil how filmmakers conjured the magic.
Key attractions include a reimagined arrival of the Beauxbaton and Durmstrang students, complete with costumes and choreography. Visitors can also learn about the techniques used to depict Harry holding his breath underwater during the second task.
Geoff Spooner, senior vice president at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, expressed: "We're excited to launch our brand-new summer feature, Triwizard Tournament – Making of Champions, where visitors can learn behind-the-scenes secrets of the fourth Harry Potter film.
"To celebrate and bring the magic of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London to the streets of the capital, we recreated the iconic moment of the escaped Hungarian Horntail dragon 20 years on from 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Review Geek
3 hours ago
- The Review Geek
Resident Alien Season 4 Episode 1 Preview: Release Date, Time & Where To Watch
Resident Alien With an inspired Alan Tudyk in the driving seat, Resident Alien revolves around a crash-landed alien called Harry who takes on the identity of a small-town Colorado doctor. He's on a secret mission on Earth but finds himself wrestling with his own moral confliction over this. Season 4 picks up in the aftermath of season 3, with the Mantid pretending to be Harry on Earth, while the main Harry attempts to escape the Greys' Moon base. Will he be successful though? We'll have to wait and find out. If you've been following this one over, you may be curious to find out when the next episode is releasing. Well, wonder no more! Here is everything you need to know about Resident Alien Season 4 episode 1, including its release date, time and where you can watch this. Where Can I Watch Resident Alien Season 4? Resident Alien Season 4 is available to watch exclusively on SyFy and USA Network in the US. However, new episodes are then available to stream on Peacock TV a week later. For Canadians, this one's streaming on CTV and should release episodes pretty closely after the US release. For those in the UK, previous seasons of Resident Alien are available to watch on NowTV, but there's no word on when the new season will drop unfortunately. Resident Alien Season 4 Episode 1 Release Date Resident Alien Season 4 Episode 1 will release in the US on Friday 6th June at 11pm (ET)/(PT) on the Syfy channel. The show is available on Peacock a week later after they've aired on cable. That means episode 1 will drop on Friday 13th June over there. Resident Alien should drop with subtitles available when it drops on Peacock and on catch-up. All episodes are also expected to be roughly 45 minutes long, consistent with the time-frame for the rest of the series. How Many Episodes Will Resident Alien Season 4 Have? Season 4 of Resident Alien has been scheduled as a 10 episode series, so there are 9 more episodes to go after this one. Expect the drama to continue heating up as this story develops across the season. Is There A Trailer For Resident Alien Season 4? There is indeed! You can find a trailer for Resident Alien Season 4 below. What do you hope to see as the series progresses over the weeks? What's been your favorite moment of Resident Alien so far? Let us know in the comments below!
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Emma Watson looks effortlessly chic in a black mesh top and light-blue denim jeans as she steps out in Paris
Emma Watson looked effortlessly chic as she left her hotel in Paris for a night out on the town on Friday. The actress, 35, turned heads in a black mesh top paired with light-blue barrel-leg jeans, flashing a warm smile for the cameras. To ward off the evening chill, she layered an oversized beige jacket with a black leather collar over her shoulders. Emma completed the look with black leather boots as she confidently strutted down the street. She styled her light brown hair in a voluminous blowout for the evening and opted for minimal makeup to highlight her natural beauty. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Emma's outing comes after her dad warned the parents of the new Harry, Ron and Hermione of the 'impact of fame on children' as filming for the HBO Harry Potter TV series begins. The latest leading trio were finally announced this week after months of speculation - with Dominic McLaughlin landing the title role, while Arabella Stanton is set to play Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout will portray Ron Weasley. Emma played Hermione for ten years in the Harry Potter film series, and now her dad Chris has told of how he worked hard to keep her 'grounded.' He told Times Radio: 'As a parent, you have to be scared... This can be a very difficult thing for a parent and child to handle, or not. 'It certainly helped that I don't actually watch movies, it's not a big thing in the house, and so it was easier for us to keep her feet on the ground.' He added: 'Normal life continued as far as possible: her homework would go back to school on motorbikes, admittedly, but she had to do her homework and check in.' Filming for the new HBO series started this week in France with cast and crew setting up on the Île de Sein off the coast of Brittany where they are thought to be re-creating the famous moment that Hagrid said, 'You're a wizard Harry!' JK Rowling gave her approval to the trio cast as the new child stars of the multi-million-pound TV adaptation - after previously giving short shrift to racists complaining about producers' picks. There has been some online backlash against what has been branded ' woke ' reinterpreting of the wizarding franchise based on the seven bestselling books by Rowling, 59, which prompted eight movie versions. But the multi-millionaire author yesterday gave her first public response to the new Harry Potter television casting announcement, with showbusiness insiders suggesting she would have a key role in the new productions. One fan took to X, formerly known as Twitter, asking the bestselling author to inform the new recruits the wizarding franchise's creator felt about their casting. And Rowling responded by declaring: 'All three are wonderful. I couldn't be happier.' The writer was replying to a tweet which said: '@jk_rowling @streamonmax @harrypotter Please tell Dominic, Arabella and Alistair that they are already loved by the fandom and we can't wait to see the show! We wish them all the best and that they have a magic time.' The new adaptation will be spread across seven seasons, equal to the number of books - although there were eight films with the final Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows split into two parts. The HBO TV show is said to be costing £75million per episode - and the three child actors taking the lead roles have been tipped to land themselves even bigger fortunes than the original stars. Producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod praised the 'wonderful' talent of the three newcomers when making Tuesday's casting announcement. Emma played Hermione for ten years in the Harry Potter film series, and now her dad Chris has told of how he worked hard to keep her 'grounded' (Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma pictured in the first film) They said: 'After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron. 'The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen. 'We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It's been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there.' Rowling released the first Harry Potter novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997, followed by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets the following year. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released in 1999, followed by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2000. Three years later Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was published and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in 2005. The final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released in 2007. The first movie was released in 2001 and the final one came out in 2011. They played their roles for a decade.
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Meghan & Harry keep cashing in by piggybacking off the royal family – it's disgusting, expert says
Despite trying to "reinvent themselves", the pair are yet to settle on a particular niche MONEY MAD Meghan & Harry keep cashing in by piggybacking off the royal family – it's disgusting, expert says MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry keep raking in money by "piggybacking off" the royal family, slammed a royal expert. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 and quit the UK. Advertisement 6 A royal expert accused the Sussexes of piggybacking off the royal family Credit: Getty 6 The Duchess, 43, saw her Netflix show With Love, Meghan in March this year Credit: Netflix 6 Meghan corrected Mindy Kaling on her name in the docuseries Credit: AP The couple have since been embroiled in a bitter feud with the Firm. Harry, alongside his wife, has continued to drag his family name through the mud, from their 2021 Orpah interview to his 2023 memoir Spare. And, the latest blow to their fractured relationship came when the Duke of Sussex dropped some extraordinary bombshells in a BBC interview last month. He filmed a rare sit-down chat after losing his appeal against the decision to remove his taxpayer-funded security. Advertisement But since turning their backs on the Royal Family, the Sussexes have also battled several stumbling blocks while trying to carve out their new identities. Meghan, 43, has this year released her latest Netflix series With Love, Meghan, in which she hosted Hollywood pals. Shortly after came the roll out of her brand As Ever, despite the company facing a series of setbacks. The mum-of-two then dropped her second podcast, Confessions Of A Female Founder. Advertisement Harry meanwhile has been busy working on his Polo documentary on Netflix, and as ever his Invictus Games. But despite trying to "reinvent themselves", the pair are yet to settle on a particular niche, experts blasted previously. I've dubbed Lilibet the 'jigsaw girl', Meghan's bizarre photos shows exactly why Speaking on The Sun's Royal Exclusive Show, esteemed former royal correspondent Charles Rae accused the Duchess of still using the Royal Family for profit. "I've got no objections to Meghan and Harry making money," he told esteemed royal correspondent Bronte Coy. Advertisement "None whatsoever. However they want to operate now is fine. "It's their royal connections that really irritate me. And they're piggybacking off of that a great deal. 6 Meghan is also dropping weekly episodes on her new podcast Confessions of a Female Founder Credit: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex/Instagram 6 The couple have launched a barrage of attacks on the Royal Family since quitting the UK Credit: AFP Advertisement 6 The pair stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk "But I think Meghan is the one who's driving everything. "And I think she will eventually come a cropper with all this. "I mean, she says, 'I don't want to annoy the public'. Well, why not? Advertisement "She's annoyed everybody else. You know, I mean, you know, she's. she's a very annoying person in my view." But fellow expert Sarah Hewson, added: "I think it is in everyone's interest if she is able to make a success of this and make money off the back of this, because we know they've got a very expensive lifestyle, not least the security costs. "And Prince Harry just having lost that court of appeal case, it is in everyone's interest, the Royal Family included, if they are able to be self-sufficient, if they're able to build a life, Prince Harry can do his philanthropy. "Meghan can launch the business. I mean, I think that suits everybody." Advertisement Royal experts previously slammed Meghan for using her royal title on a gift card, telling her "you can't have it both ways". Meghan and Prince Harry agreed they wouldn't use their HRH titles after they broke from the royal family - but the Duchess of Sussex seemingly still uses it with her friends. But, in a recent podcast interview, a photo showed a gift basket of ice cream and strawberry sauce Meghan sent to Kern Lima a year ago. With it came a note on monogrammed paper, signed: "With the compliments of HRH the Duchess of Sussex." Advertisement Sources said that while Meghan and Harry do still have their titles, they agreed not to use them for "commercial purposes". The source said the note was a "personal gift" but the couple don't publicly use HRH. Meghan also awkwardly corrected her Hollywood pal Mindy Kaling on her cooking show. A timeline of Prince Harry's family feud IN 2018, the Sun told how "simmering tension The first hints of friction reportedly came after William was introduced to Meghan when she was staying at Kensington Palace. Once she'd returned home to Canada, William and Harry sat down for a brother-to-brother chat. He knew Harry was already head-over-heels for her but it has been claimed he advised him to take it slowly. The younger prince reportedly didn't take too kindly to the advice, with one royal source saying he "went mental". Then in June 2019 Harry and Meghan officially split off from the charity they shared with William and Kate. The Royal Foundation will be divided between the Sussexes and Cambridges as the couples focus on their own separate charitable endeavours. Prince William and Prince Harry first established the Royal Foundation in 2009 before Kate joined two years later shortly after their engagement was announced. The trio would often appear together at events and the Foundation had huge successes with projects like the Invictus Games for injured veterans and the mental health Heads Together campaign. The Royal Foundation said the decision was made following the conclusion of a review into its structure - but added both couples will continue to work together in the future. Harry and Meg were living in close proximity to Kate and Wills within the Kensington Palace estate, but they switched to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor before baby Archie was born. The move further increased rumours of a fallout. Harry also hinted in his ITV documentary "Harry and Meghan, An African Journey" that he and his brother had grown apart. In 2021, Harry and Meghan give their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey where Harry accused his dad of cutting him off financially. Harry then jetted back to UK to join William in unveiling a statue to their mother Princess Diana in the grounds of Kensington Palace. But sources claimed William didn't want to attend the memorial amid their ongoing rift. In 2022, just before their grandmother the Queen died, sources claimed Kate acts as a "peacemaker" between the brothers. Harry claimed his brother "knocked him to the floor" during an argument about Meghan, in his memoir. In Spare, Harry said William branded Meghan "rude" and "difficult" during a row. Harry alleged William "grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and … knocked me to the floor". He said he was left with a visible injury to his back following the argument in 2019 at Nottingham Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace, where he was living at the time. In January 2024, Harry flew in to be with Charles after the monarch's shock cancer diagnosis. Harry flew back to the US the following day - without seeing Wills. Mindy said: "People wouldn't believe that Meghan Markle ate at Jack in the Box." Advertisement Meghan fired back with: "It's so funny, too, that you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know I'm Sussex now.' The late Queen Elizabeth II honoured Harry and Meghan the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their 2018 wedding. There have been calls for the couple to be stripped of the titles after blasting the royals on their Oprah Winfrey tell-all, six-part Netflix series Harry & Meghan and shock memoir Spare. The California-based pair have also attracted criticism for only visiting Sussex once when they held several engagements seven years ago. Advertisement This comes after the Sussexes were last night blasted for invading their own privacy after releasing a video of them twerking to induce labour. The mum-of-two posted a cringey hospital dance clip yesterday to celebrate daughter Lilibet's fourth birthday. It showed the former actress, heavily pregnant with their second child, making rowing movements and shimmying her shoulders beside a bed. Prince Harry also shuffles across in a hoodie to the strains of then-viral pregnancy hit The Baby Momma Dance. Advertisement Meghan shared the 80-second video with her three million followers on Instagram after earlier posting photos of her daughter. But royal expert Ingrid Seward last night said Meghan was a hypocrite as the couple regularly whine about a lack of privacy. She told The Sun: 'They can do what they like but why put it online? "Does Meghan have no boundaries? I think it's vulgar, unnecessary, attention-seeking. Advertisement 'They make such a point about privacy and security and then they put stuff out there. Meghan can't resist putting it out there. 'I think it's completely hypocritical for everything she stands for. It's very embarrassing.'
