It seems that there is no such person who would not hear about Harry Potter. Many (even adults) read books, and especially watched movies. However, as often happens, most of the filming process remains off-screen for even the most dedicated fans. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to refresh the memory of the entire franchise, at the same time learning new interesting facts about Harry Potter.
The beginning of the film adaptation
Now it’s hard to believe, but when Joan Rowling sold the rights to the adaptation of her books, she received only a million pounds of bonus. Then it seemed a worthy price, since the "potteriad" has not yet become a worldwide phenomenon. However, even then, Rowling achieved great control over the shooting. In particular, she insisted that all the actors in the film be of British descent. For this reason, many performers came to the franchise from the stage.
Chris Columbus was appointed director of the first two parts , but Steven Spielberg has long claimed this place. But the eminent director did not agree with the studio. He wanted to make a cartoon, while this did not suit the company and the author.
Philosopher's Stone
The role of Albus Dumbledore for a long time was vacant due to the fact that Richard Harris, who was invited to the project from the very beginning, fluctuated noticeably in his decision. He refused the role three times until his eleven-year-old granddaughter found out about it. She read Harry Potter and was delighted with Rowling's novels. The girl threatened her grandfather that she would never speak to him again if he did not act in film. In the end, Harris still agreed to become Dumbledore.
Interesting facts about Harry Potter are primarily associated with the huge success of this franchise. This is especially noticeable in Britain, where Joan Rowling herself came from. For example, after the first film, it was noted that the British began to buy a huge number of owls in order to care for them as pets. In the story, Harry has Bukley, who delivers mail letters and lives in a special room in Hogwarts. But real owls are not at all adapted to life in domestic human conditions, so many birds bought in the wake of "potteromania" eventually surrendered or let loose.
Interesting facts from the filming of Harry Potter were supplemented by the same release. In Warner Brothers, having released the film in the USA, they gave it a non-original name. This was due to the first edition of the book in the West under the title “Harry Potter and the Magic Stone” (“Sorcerer's” and not “Philosopher's”).
Chamber of Secrets
For the second part, the Hogwarts Castle was “rebuilt”. Interesting facts about Harry Potter can be found here. In some scenes, a high-quality model of large size was used. For this, 40 specialists were employed, who worked for 7 months. The layout was changed in the following parts, depending on the plot twists. For example, in the third film, the prison tower was added. Natural shooting was carried out against the backdrop of Enik Castle. Next to it is a playground where they recreated the Quidditch field. Now this place is actively visited by tourists, so many decorations are not specially cleaned.
In the second film, the ghost of Crybaby Miter, a Hogwarts student who died tragically several decades ago, appeared. The spirit retained the appearance and voice of a 13-year-old. However, Shirley Henderson, who played this role, was an order of magnitude older - she was 37.
"Prisoner of Azkaban"
The film became a turning point in the sense that the director of the first two parts left the project. Instead, Alfonso Cuaron was appointed. He was known for his unconventional approach to the filming process. For example, the director instructed the three main actors to write autobiographical essays on behalf of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Radcliffe and Watson completed their assignment, while Rupert Green refused. When the director asked the actor why he would not write an essay, he replied that Ron would never have done that in his place. For this, he received the praise of Cuaron, who said that Green feels the character of his character well.
Unfortunately, on the eve of filming, Richard Harris , the performer of the role of Dumbledore, prematurely passed away. His place was taken by another Irish actor - Michael Gambon. This role was in great demand due to the success of the series. One of the candidates was Christopher Lee. The role was also offered to Ian McKellen, but he refused, arguing that he had already played the wizard Gandalf in the adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. Interestingly, Christopher Lee was also a sorcerer Saruman in the same place. Another failed castling was an invitation to take the place of director Guillermo Del Toro. The eminent director decided to take on another project - “Hellboy”. As a result, Alfonso Cuaron was invited.
Other interesting facts about Harry Potter actors are that it was in the Prisoner that several important new characters appeared. For example, the godfather of the sorcerer Sirius Black. He was played by the famous Gary Oldman, known for such tapes of the 90s as "Dracula" and "Leon".
But this does not end with interesting facts about the film "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban." Also, Rimus Lupine, a professor of defense against the Dark Arts, appeared here. The role was entrusted to David Thewlis. The funny thing is that he was already trying to get into the "potteriad" during the casting for the first film. Then he tried to replace Professor Quirrell, but the place went to Jan Hart. And after a few years, Tulis nevertheless ended up in the project, while receiving the role of a more important and long-lived character.
Hogsmeade village appears in the film, where students go on weekends. She was filmed in the town of Gotland, in North Yorkshire.
Goblet of Fire
Many interesting facts about Harry Potter from the book did not make it into the film. This was due to the large volume of the novel. For example, the house elves from Hogwarts did not get into the film. However, the director decided to make a small scene with them.
So continued Harry Potter. Interesting facts about the actors can be supplemented by the fact that Joan Rowling herself flashed in the film adaptation. She played the cheerleader who sat behind Hagrd during the first assignment.
Order of the Phoenix
The filming process was disrupted for about a month, because Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson had to take final exams at their schools. Warner Brothers had to rewrite the schedule, because of which the studio lost about $ 5 million.
Particular attention of all spectators was attracted by the fate of the new odious character Dolores Umbridge. Even the legendary Stephen King responded to her, calling the teacher "the greatest fictional villain comparable to Hannibal Lecturer." Ian McKellen also appeared in a cameo , appearing as a shadow in False Moody's Developer.
Half-blood prince
As in previous films, Oxford University, the oldest in England, was used to shoot a large number of scenes inside Hogwarts. For example, in one of his colleges, the same hall was found where students were selected. Scenes with stairs were filmed there, while about two hundred “magical” paintings were specially painted, which were later revived with the help of visual effects. Some of them feature direct members of the movie crew.
In general, Hogwarts locations are scattered throughout the UK. For example, Hagrid's hut was filmed in Scotland, in an isolated valley with amazing nature. For the giant himself, a tall understudy was found. But the Forbidden Forest (where Snape escapes in the finals) is located very close to London (32 kilometers).
Deathly Hallows: Part One
The latest Harry Potter book was filmed in two parts. This decision was made in order not to cut out important scenes and storylines. The result was two full-fledged films with a very intense development of events.
Interesting facts about the film "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" are met by the audience already in the Ministry of Magic, where three friends get incognito to steal a crucifix medallion. Russian viewers can find in these halls the Moscow metro, whose decoration served as an inspiration for specialists in charge of visual effects and filming pavilions.
In particular, the main production designer later admitted that when creating the scenery, he focused on the architecture of the Stalin era. Just in these years, the first metro lines were launched, they were made in a pompous style. There are other references to Soviet culture in the film, for example, propaganda posters against the Mudbloods resemble propaganda against the bourgeoisie.
Deathly Hallows: Part Two
In the scene, when Harry found Ravenclaw Tiara, he ran into Malfoy and his friends. According to the book, one of them - Vincent Crabbe - died from an inadvertently cast hellfire spell. However, in the film, this happened to another Slytherin student, Gregory Goyle. Crabbe was not in the scene at all. The reason for this was the arrest of Jamie Waylett - the actor who played Vincent in all previous parts. He was jailed for illegally growing hemp. The team that made the film decided not to look for a replacement for Crabbu, but to “kill” another character similar to him.
The last film successfully went to cinemas around the world. Today it is the seventh tape in the list of the highest grossing premieres. The eighth film was the only one in the "Potteriad", which raised more than a billion dollars.
The scale can be confirmed by other facts. For example, on the set of the final battle, more than 400 extras were used. These were scenes with death eaters and besieged Hogwarts students.
Interesting facts about Harry Potter in this part relate to the main actors. For example, the performer of the role of Draco Malfoy has ensured that in the epilogue the role of his wife went to his own real girlfriend. As you know, the final scene shows the future in 19 years. What other interesting facts about the heroes of Harry Potter? So, for example, the effect of "aging" was achieved by makeup and visual effects. And much more - you can’t list everything.