Latest news with #Gryffindor
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Ed Sheeran enlists Rupert Grint for another music video
Ed Sheeran has reunited with Rupert Grint for an "utterly bonkers" new music video. The 34-year-old singer previously enlisted the Harry Potter star to appear in the promo for his 2011 single Lego House and he's revealed they have made a sequel to accompany his new single A Little More. In the Lego House video, Rupert played Ed's lookalike and stalker, who is arrested after breaking into the singer's tour bus and attempting to impersonate him on stage. A teaser for A Little More seemingly sees him reprise the role, though it picks up from the stalker being released from prison. Ed shared a clip for the video - which will be released in full on Thursday (07.08.25) - on Instagram and wrote: '14 years later me and @rupertgrint are reunited. I had this wild idea after writing the song, and thankfully rupert was up for it. It's an utterly bonkers video for a very upbeat, fun, but angry song. Think this one is gonna be a lot of people's fav song from Play. Out Thursday, watch out for more stuff coming x.(sic)" Rupert has previously claimed he often gets mistaken for his fellow redhead. Speaking in 2017, he said: "It's kind of 50/50 now. It's like if someone stops me, it could go either way. I could be Ed or I could be me." The same year, the 36-year-old actor released a spoof video in which he claimed the Galway Girl hitmaker is really his alter ego. In the clip, Rupert readied himself to sing before breaking off to admit: "The truth is, Ed isn't real!" Rupert then ripped open his blue plaid shirt - which has become synonymous with the real-life Ed - to reveal a Gryffindor top from the Harry Potter series. The flame-haired star explained: "My name is Rupert Grint. After Potter all I wanted to do was stretch myself ... create some real magic. "So I created a character. He had the voice of an angel ... and possible wispy facial hair, a guitar, a bunch of flannel. I call him Ed. Ed Sheeran. Such a weird name, right?" Rupert's on-stage antics are met with screams of denial from the watching audience. But the actor continued: "I didn't expect everyone to think he was real. He became my best achievement and bane of my existence." Then, the show's host asks Rupert: "Was anything real? The adorable klutziness, cat photos?" And the British actor responds: "I hate cats! I can't balance it anymore. Ed is no more!"
The National
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Five tips for a magical visit to Harry Potter: The Exhibition in Abu Dhabi
A touring exhibition celebrating Harry Potter's Wizarding World has opened in the UAE, making its first visit to the Middle East. Harry Potter: The Exhibition opened on Thursday at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi and will run until September 21. The global tour opened in Philadelphia in February 2022, and has travelled to major cities across North America, Europe and Australia, including New York, Atlanta, Vienna, Paris and Melbourne. The immersive experience brings to life the magical universe in the book and film series. It has already attracted 3.7 million visitors worldwide – making it a must for Potter fans in the Emirates. Whether you are a lifelong Gryffindor or a curious Muggle, here is what to expect when entering the world of Harry Potter in Abu Dhabi. Dress up for photo opportunities Harry Potter fans are some of the most passionate in the world, and the exhibition awards such dedication early on. To start the experience, guests are given an armband and asked to sign up for an account, adding in key fandom details such as their favourite Hogwarts School house, magic wand and chosen Patronus – akin to a spirit animal or guardian. Each armband then activates activities throughout the attraction's 25 rooms. Before the fun fully begins, guests have the opportunity to capture their excitement in a photobooth. They can preview the images against different Potter-themed backgrounds and then collect them after the exhibition. Maximise the photo opportunities by dressing for the occasion, by wearing your Hogwarts house uniforms or movie merchandise, or perhaps as characters that feature throughout the tour. Search out your favourite characters Everyone who has watched the Harry Potter films likes the main trio of Harry, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. But there are plenty of other characters who are fan favourites, despite only having limited screen time. As you explore, it's worth keeping an eye out, as just about every memorable character from the films is represented in the exhibition, be it the whimsical Luna Lovegood, the dastardly Severus Snape or the beguiling Remus Lupin. Also a Twilight fan? You'll be glad to know there is plenty of Robert Pattinson's character Cedric Diggory on show too, despite his short run in the movies. The exhibition offers the chance to get a close look at the details of your favourite character's original costumes. Come ready to engage with every activity Passing through each room, visitors will notice pads that are activated by their armbands. These might generate something simple and cute like seeing your name on the Marauder's Map, or something more elaborate, such as being given a house by the Sorting Hat. Some activities are more playful, such as mixing potions or scoring at Quidditch – and the points matter. At the end of the tour, there is a screen that displays the amount of points each house has accumulated, so represent your house well and ace those challenges. Come with enough time and energy to make the most of each activity. Budget for the gift shop Don't have any Harry Potter gear? Don't fret, there's a large merchandise and gift shop at the end of the experience. The selection is comprehensive, so plan ahead to get gifts for your Potter-loving friends. From film-accurate Hogwarts uniforms to mugs and key chains, there's something for every fan. Sample butterbeer The Harry Potter books and films have introduced audiences to many peculiar and tasty foods and snacks, as well as the wizard's drink of choice – butterbeer. At the exhibition, fans can savour a real-life version of the frothy, sweet beverage enjoyed by Harry and his friends at the Three Broomsticks Inn in Hogsmeade. Non-alcoholic and served chilled, it blends butterscotch and shortbread flavours. Keen fans can choose to enjoy it in special butterbeer glass that they can take home.
Tom's Guide
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Character.AI is absolutely bonkers and gets weirder the more you use it — here's how to get started
I honestly thought I'd seen peak internet weirdness until I discovered Within five minutes of signing up, I was deep in conversation with Edward Cullen who kept telling me he loved me, before beefing with Draco Malfoy after being sorted into Gryffindor. It's like those bizarre Episode mobile games, except somehow more unhinged — and you're the one making the choices that lead to increasingly absurd conversations. The scenarios get progressively weirder the longer you stay, like some kind of fever dream you can't wake up from. We've all gotten used to the polite, helpful world of ChatGPT, Gemini, and (my favorite chatbot) Claude — chatbots designed to be your productive AI assistant. But they've paved the way for something far more entertaining: completely unfiltered AI characters with zero interest in helping you write emails or summarize documents. Here's how to get started using and embrace the madness. is essentially a playground for chatting with AI versions of fictional characters, celebrities, historical figures, or completely original creations. Unlike traditional chatbots that focus on being helpful assistants, these AI characters are designed to stay in character and create entertaining, often completely absurd interactions. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. When I first tried it, Edward Cullen started asking me personal questions within minutes of our conversation starting. But that's just how works — it throws you into these weirdly intimate conversations with fictional characters who somehow feel more real than they should. It adapts to your responses and keeps the conversation going in ways that can be surprisingly engaging, hilariously off-track, or occasionally both at once. So proceed with caution, but if you're interested in getting started — here's how to do it. Go to and create your account using your Gmail address or another email option. The sign-up process is straightforward and takes just a few minutes. Once you're logged in, you'll be taken to the main interface where you can start exploring different AI characters and conversation options. interface displays a selection of characters you can immediately start chatting with. These featured options include various personality types, fictional characters, and helpful assistants. Simply click on any character that interests you to start a conversation right away. Type in the prompt box and click the send button to begin chatting. You can also take the conversation one step further by selecting the phone icon to have a "call" with your chosen character. If you want to find particular types of characters, click the search option in the top left side of the page. Then type keywords related to the character you're looking for. You can search for specific fictional characters like "Edward Cullen", or go broader with phrases such as "The Walking Dead". This helps you find characters tailored to your specific interests or needs, rather than the ones defaulted to the Discover page. Then click the one you like the look of to start chatting. If you've exhausted all the characters provided, or want to add to the list of characters available, click "Create" in the top-left side of the screen. Here you can select whether you want to create a "Character" or a "Voice", the latter of which can be used during calls with existing characters. This allows you to create AI companions that match your exact preferences or serve particular purposes you have in mind. If you're going for the "Character option, you can provide a name, tagline, description and greeting. This is defaulted to Public, so others using the platform will be able to access your character. If you want it to be private, choose this option from the drop-down menu. You don't just have to spend your day chatting with virtual anime characters and fictional crushes, you can actually use to be productive. If you scroll down on the discover page you'll find a variety of useful categories that go beyond mindless chatting. These practical applications mean you can actually use as a learning and development tool rather than just entertainment. There's options such as "Practice a new language", "Practice interviewing" and "Plan a trip", among others. I was actually quite surprised to see that you can do something genuinely useful instead of just arguing with a virtual Socrates for hours. You can use these features to improve your skills and prepare for real-world situations. There's real learning potential buried here. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a very important debate about pizza toppings with Hamlet. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Now you've learned how to use Character AI, why not check out some other models that are flying under the radar? Don't miss how to use Google Flow — the new AI video generator made for filmmakers and forget Excel — this new AI tool for charts and graphs is a game changer. And did you know you can use AI to make your own Wordle-style games? Here's how.
News18
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Emma Watson's Driving Ban Sparks Meme Fest: ‘Gryffindor Loses Points'
Last Updated: Some fans were shocked to see Emma, who has maintained a clean and positive image for years, making headlines for a legal offence. Emma Watson is back in the headlines, not because of her new project, but for a legal offence. The 35-year-old British actress, known for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series, has been banned from driving for six months. As caught on camera, she was seen driving her car at 38 mph in a 30 mph zone in Oxford, England. The court ruling comes a year after the incident, which happened in July 2024. The latest development has become a topic of discussion among people on the internet, sparking mixed reactions. Some fans were shocked to see Emma, who has maintained a clean and positive image for years, making headlines for a legal offence. Another section praised the court for treating each citizen equally, regardless of their popularity and status. Many users also pointed out that Emma was penalised after repeated traffic violations, while others supported the decision, calling it an example of justice. On Wednesday, July 16, the magistrate officially suspended her license. Before her latest offence, the Beauty and the Beast actress already had nine penalty points on her driving record. This resulted in a six-month automatic driving ban. In addition to the ban, she has been ordered to pay a total of £1,044 in fines by the High Wycombe Magistrates' Court. Although Watson did not appear in person for the brief five-minute hearing, her lawyer, Mark Haslam, was present and confirmed that the actress had the means to pay the fine. 'She is in a position to pay the fine," he told the court. The incident also sparked a meme fest on social media, with one even referencing the Harry Potter films, saying, 'Gryffindor loses 12 points! Emma Watson banned from driving for six months due to speeding." Gryffindor loses 12 points! Emma Watson banned from driving for six months due to speeding 格蘭芬多扣12分！女星愛瑪沃森超速駕駛 被判停牌6個月 — DotDotNews (@dotdotnews111) July 17, 2025 Another showed Emma riding a broomstick. The user wrote, 'Emma Watson for those 6 months." Emma Watson for those 6 months 😭😭 — The Immortal (@TheImmortal007) July 16, 2025 A different fan added, 'If she were paying attention in Madam Hooch's class, this wouldn't have happened." If she was paying attention in madam Hooch's class this wouldn't have happened. 😂— Turnbuckle Telegram (@TurnbuckleTG) July 16, 2025 'If driving over 8 mph, the speed limit gets a ban from driving, I'd be in prison for life in the UK. Joke country," said another user. Emma, who is currently pursuing a master's degree in creative writing at the University of Oxford, has not released any statement regarding the court's latest ruling. First Published: July 17, 2025, 18:16 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
1st photos of Harry and Hagrid revealed for HBO's 'Harry Potter' series as filming begins. Meet the full cast.
HBO has released a sneak peek of its upcoming Harry Potter TV series with the first photos of actor Dominic McLaughlin in his Harry Potter costume and Nick Frost dressed as Rubeus Hagrid. The show has started production at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the U.K., which is where the original movie franchise was filmed from 2000 to 2010. The network has also made a few more casting announcements for supporting characters, including Harry's cousin Dudley Dursley and fellow Gryffindor Neville Longbottom. The show is set to premiere in 2027 and will be based on the original story but with major plot changes, and each season will focus on one of the seven books in the internationally popular literary series. The episodes are being written and executive-produced by Francesca Gardiner; Mark Mylod, who worked as an executive producer and director on the HBO drama Succession, will direct several episodes, according to Warner Bros. In December, Variety reported that Discovery global streaming chief JB Perrette said the show is expected to be a 10-year project. Here's what we know so far about the cast. McLaughlin will be playing the iconic role of Harry Potter. Daniel Radcliffe starred as the character from 2001 through 2011. The Scottish actor, who is about 11 years old, is also set to appear in the BBC's Gifted series, which is expected to premiere sometime in late 2025, and Sky's new original film Grow. Eleven-year-old Stanton will play Hermione Granger, one of the brightest witches of her generation. The character was previously played by actress Emma Watson in all eight Harry Potter films. This is Stanton's first onscreen role, having previously starred in Matilda on London's West End in 2023. Stout will play Ron Weasley, the sixth and youngest son in the Weasley family. English actor Rupert Grint originated the role, starting when he was just 11 years old. According to Stout's online actor profile, this will be his first onscreen acting role after previously being cast in a commercial for Albert Barlett potatoes. Pratt will play Slytherin antagonist Draco Malfoy, who was originally portrayed by Tom Felton in the films. The young British actor is also starring as one of the lead characters in the BBC's upcoming adaptation of Lord of the Flies, the 1954 novel by William Golding. Lithgow will play Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts. The character has previously been played by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon in the Harry Potter franchise and Jude Law and Toby Regbo in the Fantastic Beasts series. 'Well, it came as a total surprise to me,' Lithgow told ScreenRant in February. 'I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival for yet another film, and it was not an easy decision because it's going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I'm afraid. But I'm very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter. That's why it's been such a hard decision. I'll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I've said yes.' The British actor has been cast as Severus Snape, the potions professor at Hogwarts. Alan Rickman played Snape in all eight Harry Potter films. Essiedu earned several nominations for his role in the BBC's I May Destroy You and costarred with Saoirse Ronan in The Outrun, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. McTeer will play Professor McGonagall, the head of Gryffindor House and the deputy headmistress under Dumbledore. Actress Maggie Smith played McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies, while Fiona Glascott played her in Fantastic Beasts. McTeer has won multiple theater, film and TV awards and nominations and will also star in the upcoming Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning with Tom Cruise. Frost has been cast as Rubeus Hagrid, a half-giant who works as the groundskeeper at Hogwarts. Robbie Coltrane originated the character in the Harry Potter movies. Frost is most well known for his involvement in the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, which includes Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and World's End. Whitehouse will play Argus Filch, the caretaker at Hogwarts. He was portrayed by David Bradley in every Harry Potter film. While Filch did not appear in the last two Harry Potter movies, the character does appear in every book. The British actor was one of the main stars of the BBC sketch comedy show The Fast Show, which ran from 1994 to 2014. The British stage actor will play Quirinus Quirrell, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for the first book and movie, which means Thallon will only be in the first season of the show. Ian Hart played Quirrell in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Thallon has played the lead for multiple major stage productions in London. Flynn has been cast as Draco Malfoy's father, Lucius Malfoy, previously played by Jason Isaacs. Flynn starred in Netflix's sitcom Lovesick and is also known for his performances as David Bowie in Stardust and George Knightley in Emma, an adaptation of the Jane Austen novel. Isaacs, who played Lucius in the original Harry Potter films, reacted to the casting in a post on Instagram on June 9, saying he was "thrilled to be passing the keys to Malfoy Manor" and called Flynn "a brilliant actor." Powley will be playing Harry's aunt Petunia Dursley, originally portrayed by actress Fiona Shaw. Powley, 33, earned a British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer nomination in 2015 for her role as Princess Margaret in A Royal Night Out. Her performance in the coming-of-age film The Diary of a Teenage Girl earned her the Trophée Chopard award at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. Rigby will play Harry's uncle Vernon Dursley, who was played by the actor Richard Griffiths in the original films. Rigby's acting history is a mix of stage theater, stand-up comedy, films and TV. On Instagram, the comedian said he was "thrilled to be playing the world's worst muggle, Uncle Vernon." Parkinson will play Ron Weasley's mom, Molly Weasley, who was previously played by Julie Walters. Parkinson broke out for her role in the British comedy series The IT Crowd, which earned her two BAFTA awards for Best Female Comedy Performance in 2009 and 2014. She also earned an Olivier Award nomination for her performance in the stage play Home, I'm Darling, in 2018. HBO unveiled more cast members on June 8, who will play minor — but still memorable — characters in the upcoming TV show. Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, originally played by Matthew Lewis. Amos Kitson is playing Dudley Dursley, who was played by Harry Melling in the movies. Louise Brealey as Madam Rolanda Hooch, previously played by Zoë Wanamaker. Anton Lesser is Garrick Ollivander, formerly played by John Hurt. Leo Earley is Seamus Finnigan, previously portrayed by Devon Murray. Alessia Leoni is Parvati Patil, originally played by Shefali Chowdhury. Sienna Moosah is Lavender Brown, played by Jessie Cave in the films. Bertie Carvel will play Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge, who was previously played by Robert Hardy. For now, no original cast members or producers from the movie series have been announced to be part of the upcoming show. Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry, told ComicBook in June 2023 that he supported the new show but was not interested in being involved. 'I'm definitely not seeking it out in any way," he said. "But I do wish them, obviously, all the luck in the world, and I'm very excited to have that torch passed. But I don't think it needs me to physically pass it.' Several actors involved in the film series — Rickman, Coltrane, Gambon and Smith — have since died. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said that he and HBO and Max executives Casey Bloys and Channing Dungey have met with author J.K. Rowling about the reboot. 'We spent some real time with J.K. and her team,' Zaslav said during a Warner Bros. company call in December. 'Both sides are thrilled to be reigniting this franchise. Our conversations were great, and we couldn't be more excited about what's ahead.' In a Warner Bros. press release in 2023, Rowling said, 'Max's commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and I'm looking forward to being part of this new adaptation, which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long-form television series.' Bloys told IndieWire in November 2024 that Rowling has 'been fairly involved in the process of selecting the writer and director' of the TV show and will 'have opinions on casting.' On the April 30 episode of The Town podcast, which covers Hollywood news, Bloys defended HBO's decision to continue working with Rowling on the show after some fans raised concerns over her political beliefs. "The decision to be in business with J.K. Rowling is not new for us," Bloys said. "We've been in business for 25 years. We already have a show on HBO from her called C.B. Strike that we do with the BBC. It's pretty clear that those are her personal, political views. She's entitled to them. Harry Potter is not secretly being infused with anything. And if you want to debate her, you can go on Twitter." Fan concerns about Rowling's involvement have popped up multiple times since the new series was announced. At the end of April, Essiedu, who was cast as Snape, along with Eddie Redmayne, who starred in Fantastic Beasts, and Katie Leung, who was in the original Harry Potter films, signed an open letter calling on the U.K.'s entertainment industry to protect the transgender community. While Rowling condemned the petition on X, she later responded directly to speculation she would fire Essiedu from the new series, writing: "I don't have the power to sack an actor from the series, and I wouldn't exercise it if I did. I don't believe in taking away people's jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine."
