Latest news with #TheMakingofHarryPotter
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Harry Potter-obsessed teen given magical surprise of her life at Warner Bros
Saffron Crickley from Blackpool was whisked on a magical trip to London for her first ever holiday A Harry Potter-obsessed teenager who lives with a rare genetic condition got the surprise of her life when she was whisked to the Warner Bros Studios in Watford to see how her beloved films were made. Saffron Crickley, who was born with the incredibly rare chromosomal disorder Mosaic Turner Syndrome, lives with hearing and vision loss, scoliosis and ADHD. Despite her challenges, the 14-year-old from Blackpool remains upbeat and full of life, says mum Lianne. 'She's a miracle baby,' says Lianne. 'Everything she goes through she faces with a smile. She just wants to be part of the world, to belong, to laugh, to experience everything.' Saffron was taken on a once-in-a-lifetime trip by charity Dreams Come True, which organised for her to travel with her family to London for a three-day holiday - the first time Saffron had ever left her home town. She and her family - brothers Kyron, 15, and Greyson, 11; dad Lee, grandma Gail, 18-month-old foster brother Noah and mum Lianne - were treated to a slap-up meal at Frankie & Benny's, where they feasted on Saffron's favourite: burgers, without the bun! The next morning they were taken to the world-famous toy store Hamley's in central London, which pulled out all the stops with entertainers, high tea and a private tour of the seven floors of toys, games and fun. And that wasn't the only surprise in store for the youngster, who has loved Harry Potter since watching the very first film when she was four. Saffron found herself standing outside The Making of Harry Potter, home to hundreds of thousands of props, sets and costumes that were all used during the filming of every Potter film. And just to top it all off, two of her heroes - David Ricardo-Pearce and Thomas Aldridge, who are currently playing Harry and Ron Weasley in the stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - had recorded a special video message just for her. 'She's absolutely Harry Potter obsessed, this is something she's talked about for years,' says Lianne. 'To finally go to London, and not only visit The Making of Harry Potter but also to receive a personalised message from the stars of the stage, Harry and Ron themselves, is beyond anything we could have imagined. It's truly magical.' Her favourite film is The Chamber of Secrets, and her favourite character is Harry's best friend Hermione, 'because she's brave and bossy - just like me with my brothers,' laughs Saffron. Her mum agrees. 'Hermione keeps the boys in line and under her thumb, and so does Saffron,' smiles Lianne. One of her highlights of the trip was trying Butterbeer, which in JK Rowling's magical universe is a slightly alcoholic butterscotch-tasting drink. In Muggle land, however, it's not boozy at all. 'I had it all over my face,' Saffron laughs. 'It was like a moustache!' But the ultimate highlight was walking into the room containing the 50-foot model of Hogwarts Castle, which was painstakingly built and painted by the art department for the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. 'It took Saffron's breath away,' says Lianne. 'She couldn't believe her eyes. It was the real Hogwarts, right in front of us.' The one scary moment came when Saffron found herself face-to-face with a roaring dragon, which in the Harry Potter series lives deep underground the wizarding bank Gringotts - until it is freed by Harry, Ron and Hermione. 'It was so loud I had to turn off my hearing aids,' says Saffron. But she left happily in possession of Hermione's very own wand, all the better for keeping her brothers in line. It comes as research finds more than half of families with children who have disabilities live beneath the poverty line. Dreams Come True is a wish-granting charity focused exclusively on children living in the highest areas of deprivation with serious medical needs or disabilities, and chief exec Lisa King OBE says: 'This is what it's all about: creating unforgettable experiences for children who deserve the world. For Saffron and her family, this is more than a holiday. It's hope, joy, and magic brought to life.'
Scotsman
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Where to see the Harry Potter Dragon in Edinburgh: Hungarian Horntail flies into the Capital for two days only
The mythological creature will be in the city centre after breaking out of its theme park home. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Harry Potter fans will have the chance to get up close and personal with a ferocious beast from the world-straddling franchaise at the end of May as part of a UK tour. The 25-ft-long animatronic Hungarian Horntail has wowed crowds in London and is now on its way to Edinburgh. | Will Ireland/PinPep A replica of the Hungarian Horntail dragon, which featured in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, is coming to Edinburgh. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Complete with a moving head, mouth and eyes, the hydraulic dragon roars and bares its teeth to visitors and was created to celebrate the new Triwizard Tournament - Making of Champions feature at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. The dragon, which weighs 1.3 tonnes, brings to life the fan favourite, nail-biting scene where Harry Potter's Hungarian Horntail breaks free of its chains during the first task in the Triwizard Tournament. The skilled recreation of the famous dragon was carefully crafted over 750 hours, using materials that included 40 metres of fiberglass The team first created a series of detailed sketches and CGI mock-ups, before sculptors, carpenters and scenic artists meticulously built the dragon's head, which was 3D printed using a scan of the original Hungarian Horntail from the film. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A total of 119 spikes were individually applied to garnish the dragon's head and tail, taking 265 painstaking hours, whilst 38 razor-sharp teeth create bite in the creature's animatronic mouth. You'll be able to see the dragon, and have the opportunity to win tickets to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, on Edinburgh's Castle Street on Friday, May 30, from 1-9pm and then on Saturday, May 31, from 9am-8pm
Wales Online
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Giant animatronic dragon from Harry Potter roams London streets
Giant animatronic dragon from Harry Potter roams London streets A 25-foot-long animatronic dragon made its way through London to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 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. The giant dragon stunned fans in London today (Image: (Image: Joe Pepler/PinPep/SWNS) ) 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. Article continues below 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." It celebrates the new 'Triwizard Tournament – Making of Champions' feature (Image: (Image: Joe Pepler/PinPep/SWNS) ) '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. Article continues below "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."
Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Harry Potter fans stunned as Hungarian Horntail dragon roars through London
The 1.3-tonne dragon, measuring 25 feet in length, was seen roaring its way around Westminster Bridge and King's Cross Station in the capital city today Londoners were left stunned as a colossal dragon, instantly recognisable from one of the beloved Harry Potter films, made its way through the city's streets today. The 25-foot-long animatronic creature was spotted 'trapped' inside a box, passing some of the city's most iconic landmarks like Westminster Bridge and King's Cross Station, en route to Warner Bros. Studio in London. This dramatic stunt marked the launch of 'Triwizard Tournament – Making of Champions', a new attraction at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. The Hungarian Horntail, weighing an impressive 1.3 tonnes, recreates the heart-stopping moment in the fan-favourite film where Harry battles the beast in the first task of the 'Triwizard Tournament'. Designed by Harry Potter filmmaker and animatronic designer Joe Scott, the incredibly lifelike creature boasts a moving head, mouth, and eyes, accompanied by sound effects. Taking over 750 hours to craft, the dragon features a 3D-printed head, 25kg of fibreglass, and 119 hand-applied spikes. Its intimidating mouth is lined with 38 resin-printed teeth, painstakingly recreating the film's fearsome appearance in minute detail. Joe drew inspiration from original sketches, CGI mock-ups, and scans of the original movie model to guide the design process. He remarked, "Revisiting the creation of the Hungarian Horntail 20 years on from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire has been magical." "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," he added. "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 will run from 15 May to 8 September 2025 at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter. Fans will be transported behind the scenes of the iconic Triwizard Tournament, discovering how the thrilling magical challenges were brought to life. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London's latest summer offering invites lucky visitors into the all-new Backlot Stage to explore the Secrets of Special Effects. Within this new indoor arena, incorporating a digital screen and stepped seating, are live demonstrations showcasing how filmmakers captured the magic. One of the standout features will be the reimagined arrival of the Beauxbaton and Durmstrang students, complete with original costumes and choreographed moves. Visitors can also uncover the tricks filmmakers used for scenes like Harry Potter's underwater breath-holding in the second task. Geoff Spooner, senior vice president at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, said: "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."
Scottish Sun
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Giant 25ft-long Harry Potter dragon stuns onlookers as it roars through London's streets
The 25ft animatronic made its way through central London FLAMIN 'ELL Giant 25ft-long Harry Potter dragon stuns onlookers as it roars through London's streets Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A GIANT dragon which fans will recognise from a classic Harry Potter film stunned Londoners today as it roared its way through the capital's streets. The 25-foot-long animatronic creature appeared 'captured' in chains, snarling past iconic landmarks like Westminster Bridge and King's Cross Station. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 A 25-ft-long animatronic 'Hungarian Horntail' dragon makes its way through London en route to Warner Bros. Credit: Joe Pepler/PinPep 4 The animatronic stopped off at St Pancras Credit: Simon Jacobs/PinPep The theatrical stunt was staged to mark the launch of 'Triwizard Tournament – Making of Champions', a new feature at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of the cinematic release of Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. The Hungarian Horntail, which weighs in at a hefty 1.3 tonnes, recreates the jaw-dropping moment in the fan-favourite film, where Harry battles the beast in the first task of the 'Triwizard Tournament'. Replicating the drama of the film, the dragon's chained journey mimicked its on-screen escape before heading back to Warner Bros. Studio Tour via the Houses of Parliament and a quick pitstop at St. Pancras. Giant 25ft-long Harry Potter dragon stuns onlookers as it roars through London's streets Designed by Harry Potter filmmaker and animatronic designer Joe Scott, the lifelike creature features a moving head, mouth and eyes, and sound effects. Crafted over 750 hours, the dragon includes a 3D printed head, 25kg of fibreglass, and 119 hand-applied spikes. Its menacing mouth is lined with 38 resin-printed teeth, recreating the film's fearsome look in painstaking detail. Scott drew on original sketches, CGI mock-ups and scans of the original movie model to guide the design process. He said: 'Revisiting the creation of the Hungarian Horntail 20 years on from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire has been magical. '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.' 4 The animatronic was crafted over 750 hours Credit: Joe Pepler/PinPep 4 Laura Sinclair-Lazell, Head of Show Experience at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Credit: Simon Jacobs/PinPep The Triwizard Tournament – Making of Champions exhibit will run from 15 May to 8 September 2025 at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter. Fans will be transported behind the scenes of the iconic Triwizard Tournament, discovering how the thrilling magical challenges were brought to life. The Studio Tour's new summer feature invites visitors into the all-new Backlot Stage to explore the Secrets of Special Effects. The dedicated indoor space includes a digital screen, tiered seating and live demonstrations revealing how filmmakers created the magic. Among the highlights is a reimagining of the Beauxbaton and Durmstrang students' arrivals, complete with costumes and choreography. Visitors will also discover the techniques used to show Harry holding his breath underwater during the second task. Geoff Spooner, senior vice president at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, said: "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."
