The Harry Potter Studio Tour experience is going to China
The interactive experience is expected to open in 2027 in the existing Jinjiang Action Park. Currently, there are two Harry Potter Studio Tours: the original in London and another in Tokyo.
'The Harry Potter Studio Tour will take visitors on a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour,' Jinjiang said in the post, 'allowing them to gain a deep understanding of the magical world of Harry Potter.'
Details on the upcoming studio tour in China are still sparse. However, if the original London location of the attraction is anything to go by, the tour will include some of the most famous set pieces from the Harry Potter films, including Diagon Alley, Platform Nine and Three Quarters, Privet Drive, the Hogwarts Express and the Ministry of Magic, as well as opportunities to sample butterbeer, chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.
The project is expected to cover an area of about 53,000 square meters, including a soundstage and a backlot, according to a statement from WBD posted on Wechat. WBD is the parent company of CNN.
'This will be the first tour of its kind in China,' WBD said, adding it will take about half a day for people to visit the whole project.
The amusement park is located in the southwest of the city and has a strong nostalgia factor for many Shanghai natives. Its location is convenient for tourists, as it is about 20 miles from Hongqiao International Airport (SHA).
The amusement park is currently going through a major renovation. The park closed to the public on January 26, with operators saying it could 'no longer meet the new needs of tourists.' It will reopen in 2027 with the Harry Potter experience as a centerpiece, according to Jinjang.
Until now, the park's rides and attractions have focused on Chinese characters. Harry Potter is hugely popular in China, where there are many Harry Potter-themed bars, coffee shops and restaurants, plus the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Beijing. The books' hero is called 哈利波特 (Hali Bote) in Mandarin.
The movies were some of the only foreign films released in China that faced little censorship, and the characters are still popular in the country across different age groups.
China has been pushing its domestic consumption, as well as inbound tourism, amid the slowing economy.
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NEED TO KNOW HBO announced the stars who will be portraying Ron's siblings in the new Harry Potter TV series Tristan Harland, Gabriel Harland, Ruari Spooner and Gracie Cochrane are set to join the cast of the highly anticipated series, which is an adaptation of J.K. Rowling's beloved book series The series is set to premiere in 2027 The Weasley siblings are making their way to the small screen. On Aug. 19, HBO and HBO Max announced the stars who will be portraying Ron's siblings in the new Harry Potter TV series. Tristan Harland will take on the role of Fred, Gabriel Harland as George, Ruari Spooner as Percy and Gracie Cochrane as Ginny. 'The Burrow is nearly full,' the network shared. 'Joining our very own Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, we warmly welcome Tristan Harland as Fred Weasley, Gabriel Harland as George Weasley, Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley, and Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley to the HBO Original Series Harry Potter.' The post also included a picture of a quintet smiling for the camera while sporting their signature red locks. 'Charlie's in Romania at the moment but will be joining us soon enough...' the network teased in the caption, referring to the Weasleys' second eldest son, who traveled to Romania to study dragons after graduating from Hogwarts. The casting of Ron's older brother Bill, who was originally played by Domhnall Gleeson, has also yet to be announced. In the original films, Ron Weasley was played by Rupert Grint. He was joined by James and Oliver Phelps as Fred and George Weasley, respectively, while Bonnie Wright took on the role of Ginny Weasley. Chris Rankin portrayed Percy Weasley. The group starred in all eight of the original Harry Potter films. The casting news comes one day after Dominic McLaughlin, who is set to play Harry, and Nick Frost, who will play Rubeus Hagrid, were spotted in costume on set. McLaughlin, 11, wore Harry's signature round glasses and was dressed casually in jeans, a collared sweater and a coat, along with a backpack, while Frost donned a signature Hagrid look: corduroy pants and a few layers of jackets under a long khaki coat, along with the character's signature long hair and matching curly beard. Production started on the series in July, with HBO sharing a photo of McLaughlin in Hogwarts robes as he held the clapperboard to commemorate the first scene of the series. The same month, Rory Wilmot was announced to be playing Neville Longbottom (originated by Matthew Lewis), Amos Kitson was cast as Dudley Dursley (originated by Harry Melling), Louise Brealey was cast as Madam Rolanda Hooch (originated by Zoë Wanamaker) and Anton Lesser joined as Garrick Ollivander (originated by John Hurt). Harry's two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, will be played by Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton, respectively. Stout inherits the role from Grint, and Stanton takes the mantle from Emma Watson. John Lithgow will play Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer will play Professor McGonagall and Paapa Essiedu will play Professor Snape. Rounding out the cast are Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley (originated by Julie Walters), Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy (originated by Jason Isaacs), Lox Pratt as play Draco (originated by Tom Felton), Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley (originated by Fiona Shaw) and Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley (originated by Richard Griffiths). Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The Harry Potter series will premiere in 2027 on HBO. Read the original article on People
