Latest news with #MinistryofMagic
USA Today
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Meet your new Harry Potter: HBO series casts Harry, Ron and Hermione
Meet your new Harry Potter: HBO series casts Harry, Ron and Hermione Show Caption Hide Caption Take the Metro-Floo at Universal Orlando's Ministry of Magic Universal Orlando's Epic Universe theme park will bring the iconic Ministry of Magic to life, fans will be able to go to 1920s wizarding Paris. We have a new Harry Potter. HBO has cast three newcomers in the roles of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley for its upcoming "Harry Potter" TV series. Producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod said the iconic casting decision followed an "extraordinary search." "The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen," they said in a statement. "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." 'Harry Potter' TV show cast: Meet Arabella Stanton, Alastair Stout and Dominic McLaughlin Dominic McLaughlin is set to play Harry, while Arabella Stanton will play Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout will play Ron Weasley. Along with the announcement, HBO released a photo of the three actors posing while crouching in grass. The studio previously put out a casting call seeking actors between the ages of 9 and 11 for the parts. 'Harry Potter' series cast announced: Here's who plays Dumbledore, Snape HBO's "Harry Potter" series will be a new adaptation of the original books by J.K. Rowling, which were already turned into the hit film series starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. Rowling serves as executive producer on the show. The series had previously cast several of its supporting roles, with John Lithgow set to play Dumbledore, Nick Frost starring as Hagrid and Paapa Essiedu playing Snape. It has not yet been announced who will play Voldemort, the series' overarching villain portrayed in the movies by Ralph Fiennes. Fiennes himself has backed the idea of Cillian Murphy getting the role. 'Harry Potter' HBO TV series casting children for roles of Harry, Ron, Hermione When the "Harry Potter" series was announced in 2023, Rowling said that HBO Max's "commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me," adding that she is "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." New 'Harry Potter' cast With the central trio set, here's what the cast of the "Harry Potter" show looks like thus far: Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid Luke Thallon as Professor Quirrell Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch When is the 'Harry Potter' series coming out? HBO has not set a premiere date for the "Harry Potter" TV series. But according to Deadline, HBO CEO Casey Bloys said the show will likely debut in late 2026 or early 2027. Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
From nifflers to demiguises: These magical creatures make Epic Universe's Wizarding World
From nifflers to demiguises: These magical creatures make Epic Universe's Wizarding World Show Caption Hide Caption Take the Metro-Floo at Universal Orlando's Ministry of Magic Universal Orlando's Epic Universe theme park will bring the iconic Ministry of Magic to life, fans will be able to go to 1920s wizarding Paris. ORLANDO, Fla. – There has been a lot of hype for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, the most in-demand attraction at the new Universal Epic Universe theme park in Orlando. Rightly so, because the queue is an attraction unto itself – jaw-dropping, built to scale and packed with details from the films. However, it's not the most magical part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. Most of this world – one of five at the park – is set in 1920s wizarding Paris, like the 'Fantastic Beasts' franchise. And just like in those films, the magical creatures steal the spotlight. From the big stars of the show 'Le Cirque Arcanus' to the wide-eyed mooncalf at the door of the Oculus Regulus shop to the tiny bowtruckle animatronic in the locksmith's window, these adorable creatures are everywhere. Some only appear when visitors cast spells with interactive wands, like the mischievous spitting grindylow in the fountain by the Battle at the Ministry entrance or the mysterious demiguise in a window near Bar Moonshine. Many others are woven into the world's decor, like the golden nifflers adorning old-fashioned cash registers and the stunning mosaic tilework in Café L'air De La Sirène. The more you look for them, the more you'll find. The reporter on this story received access from Universal. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.
Business Insider
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
I spent a day at Universal's new Orlando theme park. These 6 things impressed me most — and 2 left me disappointed.
I visited Universal's newest theme park, Epic Universe, which opened on Thursday. The unique meet and greets and creative food and drink options really blew me away. However, I wish the park had more shade and didn't rely as much on mobile ordering for restaurants. Epic Universe, the newest major theme park in Central Florida in years, opened on Thursday. The Universal park consists of five themed worlds: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, and Celestial Park. After a full day in the park, I was blown away by how immersive it felt. I rode every attraction, tasted some of the many food and drink offerings, and met iconic characters. For those wondering if a visit is worth it, I've put together a list of things that impressed me most at Epic Universe — plus two of my biggest disappointments so far. I love how open and immersive the main corridor of Epic Universe is. After walking under the Chronos, the park's main entry structure, you're inside Celestial Park. This themed world is packed with star imagery, plus tons of greenery and flowers. I loved how wide the sidewalks are and how open this area feels. The floral landscaping and water features really do make it feel like a park or garden. All of this gave me a great first impression of Epic Universe as a whole. The park's meet and greets have some incredible characters. I love meeting characters from my favorite movies and franchises, and all around the park, there are opportunities to meet icons like Princess Peach and the Invisible Man. The one character you must see is Toothless, a dragon from the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. The interactive animatronic is impressively cute and lifelike. I liked how interactive the new Harry Potter-themed world is. There are several Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter throughout the world in places like California and Japan. Even so, the newest Orlando addition focused on the Ministry of Magic is exceptional. There are so many small details and interactive areas inside the world that you could really spend all day enjoying it. Even the queue for the ride Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry was breathtaking. Between the giant wizard banners, intricate statues, and lighting design, I felt like I was inside the movies. I also appreciated that this land had many spots where guests can use special wands to interact with "magical" objects and buildings. Dark Universe ended up being a hit for me, mostly because it's packed with entertainment. I typically don't like spooky, scary, or intense things, so I was surprised I really enjoyed Dark Universe. It's themed after famous monsters and creatures, from Dracula to Wolf Man. It has two rides, and I found myself especially impressed by how much walk-around entertainment was packed into this land. As I walked through, I passed tons of storytellers and characters ready to interact with guests and take photos. I especially loved meeting Gregor, a funny monster hunter who hangs around at the land's Burning Blade Tavern. I appreciated how easy it was to get to the park from my room at Universal Helios Grand Hotel. I stayed at the newest Universal Orlando hotel, Universal Helios Grand Hotel, during my visit. It opened earlier this year and has its own entrance into Epic Universe. Staying here meant it was incredibly easy for me to walk to the park. I was able to get from my room to Epic Universe in under five minutes. For me, it's always a win when theme parks have hotels just steps away. The inventive and fun food and drink options impressed me. I've been to many theme parks over the years, but I still found myself impressed by the creative and delicious culinary options at Epic Universe. My favorite sweet treat ended up being the DK Crush Float from Super Nintendo World. It's pineapple-and-banana-swirl soft serve in a waffle bowl topped with caramel popcorn and chocolate pieces that's loaded into a cup filled with pineapple soda. However, I wish the park had more shaded areas. As I walked around Epic Universe, I noticed it didn't have many shaded spots. This felt especially unbearable when the day was at its hottest in the afternoon. Light-colored paths throughout the park seemed to reflect the Orlando sun. Although there are some air-conditioned restaurants and attractions in Epic Universe, I could see this sun exposure being especially tough for young guests or those who struggle with the heat to navigate. I also didn't enjoy the fact that nearly every restaurant relies on mobile ordering. Most quick-service restaurants at Epic Universe rely on mobile ordering instead of having guests wait in line. Although this seems like it could be time-saving and efficient, I struggled to use this system during my visit. My phone wasn't able to get a strong enough signal for my order to go through or for me to input my table number in many spots throughout the park.
Thrill Geek
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Thrill Geek
What To Expect During Universal Epic Universe's Grand Opening
The moment thrill seekers and theme park enthusiasts from around the world have been waiting for is almost here: Universal Epic Universe, Universal Orlando Resort's groundbreaking new theme park, officially opens this Thursday, May 22. One of the most immersive and innovative theme parks ever created, Epic Universe transports guests to five imaginative worlds filled with extraordinary adventures: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe and Celestial Park. To celebrate this historic occasion, guests can virtually join the festivities and get a glimpse into some of the exciting activities happening this week via two live streams on Wednesday, May 21 from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Epic Universe Grand Opening Nighttime Celebration Event Guests can tune in and get a glimpse of this exclusive VIP nighttime event happening on the eve of the park's public grand opening. Viewers will see celebrity and special guest arrivals on the Celestial Carpet, first-ever footage of Epic Universe, interviews with some of the team who've helped bring the park to life, and more. And it all culminates with a spectacular moment to commemorate the park's debut. Thursday, May 22, beginning at 7:30 a.m. Epic Universe Grand Opening Day Live Stream Guests can tune in and watch live coverage of the excitement of opening day, including a brief celebratory moment to officially open Universal Epic Universe to the world. For more information about the live streams and Universal Epic Universe, guests can visit Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter/X, Instagram @iamcg83
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Epic Universe set for official debut Thursday: ‘It's a different world'
Jesse DeMello and his 8-year-old son, Liam, got a sneak peek of Epic Universe two weeks ago, and they left dazzled by Orlando's newest theme park. In Super Nintendo World, coins twirled as Mario's iconic soundtrack played. A school-bus-sized creature flew overhead at the Untrainable Dragon show. Frankenstein's monster and bride sprang to life in Darkmoor Village, the section of the park dedicated to Universal's classic monsters. 'It feels like you are in a different world,' said DeMello, a real estate agent from North Port, south of Tampa. Universal Orlando's Epic Universe officially opens on May 22, the first major theme park development in Central Florida in 26 years. After billions of dollars and eight years of planning and construction, its formal premiere sets a new standard for the 21st century theme park. Rather than transforming the experience, Epic Universe culminates recent trends in immersive surroundings, high-tech thrills, top-quality refreshments, and park-goer spending. It looks almost certain to extend Central Florida's reign as a tourist destination, luring millions of visitors to a must-see new offering while spurring competitors to even greater heights. The grand opening marks the realization of a lifetime of dreaming for Scott Verble, an executive producer who worked on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic section of the park. The 33-year-old Florida native grew up with midnight 'Harry Potter' book releases. He played RollerCoaster Tycoon, the computer game where users design and run a simulation theme park. He studied at the University of Central Florida and dreamed of one day designing a theme park in real life. Now he is part of an immense team, from civil engineers to culinary experts, who helped make Epic Universe a reality, starting with initial brainstorming in 2016. As a producer, Verble coordinated and worked across all those disciplines to execute the park's creative vision. 'We want to create memories for people to last a lifetime, and I think that's what Epic Universe does better than anything else we've ever done before,' Verble said. Universal started previews of Epic Universe on April 17, operating what it called 'technical rehearsals.' It is already getting rave reviews from many theme park enthusiasts, who praise its immersive qualities and Universal's attention to detail. Some say Universal's efforts are a compelling draw that will surely put industry leader Disney on notice, rivaling such blockbuster attractions as Pandora: The World of Avatar and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Verble said the team tackled such granular details as ensuring stones in wizarding Paris gave an aged appearance similar to what visitors would see if they were actually in the City of Lights during the 1920s. Team members visited Paris and the 'Fantastic Beasts' film sets for inspiration. It's those little details that transport visitors into another world, he said. 'We want to make sure that the deeper the guests look, the more they find,' he added. The theming even extends to toilets and urinals. In the area of the park dedicated to movie monsters, they are black. Karyn Locke, a theme park journalist from Pittsburgh, said Universal put together an experience that allowed her to leave her worries behind at the entrance gate. 'You want that magical theme park bubble where you don't have to think about anything else, and you're transported into that land,' she said. 'They've done the job extremely well. I think everybody who are theme park fans, or even casual theme park admirers, will enjoy this park.' Epic's central hub is known as Celestial Park. It features dancing fountains and the 500-room Helios Grand Hotel, where a stay starts at about $370 a night, or $310 with a Florida discount. The luxury hotel offers a dedicated entrance to Epic, placing guests mere steps from the park's attractions. From there, tunnels, known as portals, transport visitors to different lands — Super Nintendo World, the 'Harry Potter' and 'Fantastic Beasts'-themed Ministry of Magic, monster-filled Dark Universe and Isle of Berk, inspired by the 'How to Train Your Dragon' movie franchise. So far, the Potter-inspired Battle at the Ministry ride is getting a lot of buzz for its elaborate storytelling and the meticulously crafted waiting queue that sets the stage for the main ride. Theme park fans have lauded other rides, too, including the Stardust Racers rollercoaster, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment and Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Madness. The food offerings — from mac-and-cheese cones to butterbeer crepes — have garnered praise for raising the bar for theme park cuisine. DeMello's favorites included cake pops and the Yoshi green smoothie. Another advance is the park's use of facial-recognition technology for lockers and express lanes. No more fumbling for tickets or keys. Early Epic visitors have shared a few gripes, too, such as a lack of shade and high demand for the marquee Battle at the Ministry ride. The virtual line has filled up in seconds, leaving some parkgoers frustrated. A single-day adult ticket starts at $139 and goes up to $199 for peak-demand days. An express pass, allowing quicker access to rides, runs another $130 to $330. Florida residents are eligible for a three-day ticket that includes a day at Epic Universe, starting at $119 per day for an adult. With Epic Universe's grand opening, the theme park wars in Central Florida are heating up, said Dennis Speigel, owner of International Theme Park Services, a consulting firm that advises attractions on design planning and operations. 'Make no mistake: Universal and Disney are in an armaments war of the greatest proportions,' Speigel said. 'It's a boxing match of the champions, and Universal has come on strong in that market in the last 15 years. … They are challenging Disney on every front.' The pressure will be on during opening day. Ride malfunctions plagued Universal's arrival to Orlando in 1990, prompting newspaper headlines of 'Opening Day Goes Bust.' In 2010, visitors waited six hours or longer to get inside a Harry Potter expansion to an older park. Epic Universe survival guide: What to pack for the new park Speigel, who has opened major theme parks in the United States and internationally, said he thinks Universal is on track for a smoother opening with Epic. 'I think what they realized is let's get ourselves better prepared, and they have,' he said. Walt Disney World has dominated since it opened in 1971, now attracting about 50 million visitors annually to its four theme parks, two water parks and more than 25 hotels. With Epic's opening, Universal offers three theme parks, a water park and 11 hotels. Universal's two existing parks — Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure — attract about 20 million visitors a year. Company officials are hopeful Epic will help them narrow the gap with Disney. 'Epic Universe doubles the size of our park footprint in Orlando, transforming our collection of resorts into a weeklong vacation destination,' Mike Cavanagh, president of Universal's parent company Comcast, said during an earnings call last month. Speigel projects Epic could draw as many as 8 million visitors during its first year of operation. That's about the same number as Disney's Animal Kingdom draws, according to the latest statistics from the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM. Disney World's flagship Magic Kingdom attracted nearly 18 million visitors, the most of any amusement park worldwide, according to the report. Disney is gearing up for its own expansion with plans to invest $17 billion over the next 10 to 20 years. Several projects are already in the works. An addition to the Magic Kingdom will have a villains theme and include two new attractions, dining and shopping, company leaders said in August. A 'Monsters, Inc.' land is also in the works at Hollywood Studios, along with a Tropical Americas project at Animal Kingdom that will feature 'Indiana Jones' and 'Encanto'-themed attractions. Economic Windfall Epic will benefit the entire region, including its competitors, by elevating Orlando's reputation as the world's theme park capital, said Jakob Wahl, CEO of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. 'We often see a rising tide effect when a major attraction opens,' he said. 'It drives increased tourism, hotel bookings and longer stays. It benefits surrounding attractions, restaurants, small businesses.' With a reported price tag of $7 billion, Epic Universe is one of the most expensive theme parks ever built, said Jorge Ridderstaat, a tourism economist at the University of Central Florida. That construction work created an estimated 65,000 jobs nationwide, he said. Pictures: A first look at Universal Epic Universe The park is expected to generate a $2 billion economic impact for Florida within its first year of operation and support 17,500 jobs nationwide, according to a Universal-commissioned study conducted by UCF economist Sean Snaith. He expects the park's benefits will go beyond the tourism sector, touching all parts of Central Florida's economy. 'Over time, you are going to see Epic Universe triggering a lot of development in that area,' Snaith said. 'It creates these additional business opportunities that will impact the economy and create additional jobs.' DeMello, a theme park aficionado, said he's already wanting to come back to Epic with his son. 'There's no other park I want to go to more right now,' he said. An Epic movie guide: What to watch before visiting Universal's new park Epic Universe: Say hello to new Helios Grand, theme park neighbor Epic Universe survival guide: What to pack for the new park Epic Universe: Exec blends arts, engineering in theme park roles Epic Universe preview: An early walk (and rides) in the park
