How to use this Page

With the heavily anticipated and exciting launch of ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ due to hit screens this November, Leaky was not only present at the San Diago Comic-Con event, but also lucky enough to get some behind the scenes action from our two representatives watching the live cast interviews unfold, from the Great Hall at Leavesden Studios in London!

Prior to the Live interviews commencing at Comic-Con, across the pond in London, we eagerly awaited the main event of the evening and took time to appreciate the Harry Potter Studios in all it’s glory! From famous sets to beautifully executed props with a magical aesthetic, the evening consisted of everything J.K. as we able to indulge in ultimate wizarding fan entertainment!

After a fantastic tour, fans were guided to a private screening, showing us the newly released trailer of ‘Fantastic Beasts’. Watch the trailer here! (If you havent’t seen it already–it’s amazing!)

Finally the Great Hall doors were opened, and along with some limited edition, ‘Newt Scamander’ wands gifted by Warner Bros, the audience was seated ready to go live with everyone at the SDCC exclusive event! The interaction with the cast was brilliant, with Ezra Miller and Dan Fogler receiving a particularly cheerful response from our London audience as they made the interview even more fun amongst their talented co-stars.

As a perfect round off to the already magical evening at the Warner Bros Studios, we were given a glimpse at the extraordinary 1920’s costumes used in the movie. The wizarding world felt very much present as fans took a good look at the very individual looks presented, but they definitely emitted something fresh and original to keep everyone on their toes for the latest Rowling installment!

Over in San Diego, Carianne and Tabitha met up with Warner Bros to take seats across from the Fantastic Beasts cast, as everyone prepared for a live Q&A with the cast of one of the most anticipated films of the year. Carianne, a proud Hufflepuff (just like Newt!) from San Diego, and Tabitha a proud Gryffindor, with a lot of Hufflepuff qualities mixed in, wrote about their experience at the events unfolding at SDCC 2016.

Carianne described what it was like behind the scenes, saying:

Being in the room in San Diego during the livestream was an incredible experience. The Fantastic Beasts group was so close to me that I couldn’t even fit them all in one picture! When they entered the room, the cast was buzzing with excitement over how well their Hall H presentation had gone (that room holds 6,500 people, so it’s a pretty big deal). Their energy was electrifying and contagious and an absolute joy to watch!

Then the host announced “2 minutes till live!” and the room suddenly became still and silent with anticipation. To lighten things up again, Ezra Miller started cracking jokes, such as giving us signals to follow during the live stream: He said if he tugged his ear we were supposed to laugh, and if he scratched his nose we were supposed to cheer! He was kidding, of course, but he got everyone laughing and really livened the room up again. He was such a riot! (Ezra also made a few hilarious quips after the Leavesden host said she wanted to “Take an Ezra Miller home,” but those might be the kind of things he would rather I did not share with the internet.)

After the livestream, they stood on the stage talking to each other for a few moments, looking just like a group of friends rather than co-movie-stars. It was clear that this cast really gets along well with each other. Their was a friendly and supportive demeanor among all of them. It honestly just made me even MORE excited for the film to come out! November can’t come soon enough

As the even ended, a few of the cast members gave a little bit of attention afterward to the fans that were in the room. They didn’t have a lot of time (as they were running late to make it to their next event), but just a “thank you for your question!”, a high-five, or a quick photo went a long way. They were in no way obligated to do any of those things — they just did it because they are nice. My only regret is that I couldn’t spend more time talking with them! Maybe someday…

There was a great spirit of camaraderie between all of the writers/interviews there. I talked a bit with a couple of writers there, one representing Snitchseeker and the other MuggleNet. We got to know each other a little before the interview, and we all expressed how excited we were for this opportunity. 

To me, as someone who has never been behind-the-scenes for something like this, it was fascinating how something as seemingly simple as an interview takes so much preparation by a host of different people. All of the camera operators had to prepare their equipment and test it extensively; other members of the crew had to test the live-feed between San Diego and Leavesden to make sure it worked properly; and of course, there were quite a few people dedicated solely to making sure the actors were ready. 

On a light note, the room the interview took place in was *tiny*! It was maybe a fifth of the size of the Great Hall shown in Leavesden. The stage took up about half of the room, and there was hardly any free space for people to move around in. 

Unfortunately, the cast couldn’t stick around for long after the interview. They were rushed out pretty much immediately afterwards to go sign autographs at Comic Con. 

Thank you to Georgia, Gemma, Tabitha and Carianne for attending the Fantastic Beasts Live Q&A events both in London and SDCC 2016. The video of the event can be seen here.

Tomorrow, The Leaky Cauldron will join the Fantastic Beasts team at San Diego Comic-Con and Warner Bros’ special event at Leavesden Studios in London. Leaky will be involved with an exclusive Q&A with the cast and crew of the film, so listen out for us!

The Fantastic Beasts Facebook page also shared some new movie art celebrating their appearance at Comic-Con, and gave the username of the new Harry Potter Snapshat account (wizarding_world), which will be shared by Pottermore, Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts teams. A special message will be delivered via the app tomorrow, so be sure to add them and check it!

The Wizarding_World has arrived on Snapchat… Add us for something special coming tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/0yBVbeQ7sh

— Fantastic Beasts (@FantasticBeasts) July 22, 2016

Be sure to add wizarding_world on snapchat and watch the Q&A at 10:10pm BST/ 2:10pm PT/5:10pm ET tomorrow via the Fantastic Beasts Facebook page (here) and Twitter (here), and listen out for Leaky’s question!

A team of worldwide creators set to market Fantastic Beasts over the coming months was introduced this week at VidCon. As this is one of the biggest fan conventions based around the power of online video, (originally conceived by YouTube’s Vlogbrothers, Hank and John Green), it was only fitting that Youtubers led the panel and the new marketing strategy!

The event starts with the amazing trailer of Fantastic Beasts, of course (which you can find here)

The panel is then introduced by Youtubers Tyler Oakley and Ingrid Nilsen, telling us that more teasers are coming up in the next few months, let by ‘worldwide creators’ chosen by Warner Bros to market the film.

These worldwide creators are introduced on the Fantastic Beasts set, and give us a tutorial on correct posture and pronunciation of spells in the Wizarding World.

The panel of creators then introduce their houses, and kick off by answering a question by J.K. Rowling, who asks what it was like to be on set. Of course, most appreciate the level of detail behind the scenes of the film, and say how exciting it was to be on set!

The creators share stories on how they were introduced to the books and films, memories of being a part of the Potter fandom, why Eddie Redmayne is the perfect Newt Scamander, questions they have about the Fantastic Beasts storyline, and answer many more questions surrounding the new, expanded wizarding world we have been introduced to through Fantastic Beasts.

Be sure to watch the panel below to get to know the creators who will be marketing Fantastic Beasts – more teasers are soon to come!

This event came shortly after Warner Bros. release of another Fantastic Beasts poster, which you can find here.

Watch the video of the panel below!

Fantastic Beasts will be in attendance at VidCon this year – one of the biggest fan conventions based around the power of online video, originally conceived by YouTube’s Vlogbrothers, Hank and John Green.

In the run up to the convention, the film’s Facebook page released a brand new poster, featuring Newt Scamander, and a message teasing at something FANTASTIC set to occur at VidCon:

“A new piece of art to celebrate a new era of the Wizarding World! And stay tuned because something FANTASTIC at ?#?vidcon2016? is being announced soon… ?#?FantasticBeasts?“

This new poster is absolutely beautiful – we can’t wait to see what they’ll be up to at VidCon! Watch the official trailer here!

LeakyCon recently posted an exciting – yet mysteriously vague – letter to Minerva McGonagall to their Facebook page. The letter came from Ana Rodriguez – Director of Magical Gatherings and Celebrations at the US Department of International Magical Cooperation all the way in New York City:

The letter hints at an exciting event being planned, and LeakyCon posted this letter with the caption “Magical things are happening…”:

“I personally reviewed your recent proposal and am happy to inform you on behalf of MACUSA and the Quahog Administration, that we are excited to work with Hogwarts and the British Ministry of Magic to make this exciting and historic event a reality.

I have already alerted my counterpart at the California DOIMC office as well as our embedded contact within the Consulate General in Los Angeles to begin coordinating the logistics. Representatives from Ilvermorny are also excited to help in whatever way possible.

…

We are thrilled to have a hand in making this celebration a truly international affair”

The exciting integration of new knowledge of North American magical institutions – thanks to Fantastic Beasts – and the incorporation of our beloved Professor McGonagall (maybe hinting at Cursed Child links?). Who knows! We’re glad to hear that Harry’s legacy is still going strong in the wizarding world!

LeakyCon is also now looking for programming proposals for presentations on magical subjects:

“We are looking for a select number of knowledgeable witches and wizards to present on their favorite magical topics at LeakyCon 2016. If you have a burning desire to share your ideas and research on the Harry Potter universe, this is the place to tell us about it so we can help you make it happen!”

What do you think it all means? Find out more and buy tickets at the LeakyCon website, here!

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending Dallas Comic Con. James and Oliver Phelps, or sometimes more well known as Fred and George Weasley, have attended Dallas Cons quite frequently in the past few years. Two years ago, I was actually fortunate enough to meet them. This year, however, I only got to see them from afar as they took the stage for a Q&A session. Along with their Q&A session, they had a couple photo ops and were out on the floor for autographs in their down time.

When I met James and Oliver, they were both very kind and inviting. I got a photo op and an autograph with them both. As the line in front of me progressed and I finally made it into the photo op room, I was struck by how happy they both looked. It was one of the very first times I got to meet people at Comic Con, back when I was still treating them like gods instead of humans and acted like the human disaster I am when I met them. Despite my awkwardness, they greeted me with grins and didn’t force me to be too sociable as they placed their arms around me and we took the photo. The autograph was much the same except I had a little more time to greet them and ask them how they liked Texas.

Here’s the aforementioned photo from two years ago:

This Con’s Q&A was particularly entertaining. The Phelps Twins are always entertaining. I was quite impressed by the fact that they chose to stand the entire time, I definitely do not have the energy to stand for 40 minutes while being interrogated by fans of varying degrees of craziness. No offense, I do believe I have quite a high degree of craziness myself.

They ran onstage after the interviewer announced them, greeting the cheering crowd, but then ran off again with a quick “hang on.” They came back a few seconds later, James wearing a Texas Rangers baseball cap and Oliver in a ridiculous cowboy hat. The crowd loved it.

As I mentioned before, James and Oliver are very polite people. Right off the bat, they thanked everyone for being so kind to them and pointed out how glad they were that no one had collapsed at their signing table yet.

Just to clarify for the crowd, the interviewer tried to name which twin was which, but he ended up getting them wrong the first time! To be honest, the only way I could tell is I knew that James was standing on the left and Oliver on the right…

Now, since it was a forty-minute long panel, I’m not going to write about the entire thing. I will, however, put the video that a friend of mine took at the end!

To start, I’d like to kill a rumor that circulates through the fandom quite a bit. “I heard that y’all would sometimes switch roles, sometimes, on set. I was wondering, what is the longest stretch of time that y’all went without getting caught.” This question has come up at both of their panels that I’ve been too. Sorry to burst your bubble, but they never switched roles. They knew that, if they had done, it would have taken a lot of time and money to refilm those scenes and they didn’t want to be a nuisance to the other people working on the film. They did admit to doing it during rehearsal though.

Fan questions at Q&A panels aren’t always the most entertaining. They can be very repetitive and, sometimes, a bit stupid. But occasionally you get that fan who has thought long and hard about their question before asking it, making sure it was unique and interesting.

“If you could do anything besides acting in the film industry, what would it be?” This is a question I had never heard before! And since I am a film student I was very curious to hear their answers. There are hundreds of people with hundreds of different jobs that work on a single movie. Cameramen, video editors, sound editors, directors and assistant directors, producers, etc. You have an encyclopedia of options for working in the film industry. James said that he’d want to be “Grip”, or a person who mounts and moves the camera on a track. Oliver, on the other hand, seemed quite content with acting, but did say he was interested in the makeup department.

“What one scene from the books do you wish they would have put in the movies?” As fans, we all have several different scenes from the books that we were quite upset weren’t put in the movies. Not only scenes, but characters as well. The actors had to put up with the differences without complaint but they must have had opinions too, right? Well, James and Oliver both agreed that they wanted the swamp scene from the fourth book to appear in the movie, but they knew there was a chance it wouldn’t show up.

“What was your favorite book and movie?” I always feel that a persons favorite Harry Potter installment can tell you a lot about their personality. That and I am a very nosy person and just like to know these things about people. James knew immediately that his favorite book was the Prisoner of Azkaban. He informed the crowd that it was the book he was reading when they were cast as the twins. He seemed to add as an after thought that his favorite film was the Goblet of Fire and Oliver picked it up there saying that was his favorite book. James and Oliver like to tease each other quite a bit, which is evident when Oliver informs the crowd that his favorite film is The Deathly Hallows Part 2.

I guess I should stop boring you with my perspective on their panel. But watch the video of the full thing below! You don’t want to miss any of their bickering or stories of pranks they pulled on and off set!

If you’re not in Florida for GeekyCon’s exclusive Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two scriptbook release party, you may be in luck!

Barnes & Noble will be throwing a whole month of parties in the lead up to the midnight release of the Cursed Child Rehearsal Edition scriptbook (June 30th), beginning June 24th.

Business Wire reports:

“Barnes & Noble, Inc., the nation’s largest retail bookseller and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced that it will host a month-long celebration in advance of the publication of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One & Two. The events will kick off on Friday, June 24, at 7 PM when all stores nationwide will feature activities designed to give participants of all ages the opportunity to relive the magic of Harry Potter, and enter the Barnes & Noble exclusive Harry Potter Limited Edition Cover Prints Sweepstakes for a chance to win a set of 7 Harry Potter Limited Edition Cover Prints, available exclusively at Barnes & Noble, up until the July 30 Countdown to Midnight Party. On Saturday, July 30, starting at 8PM, customers can visit their local Barnes & Noble for the fan-favorite Countdown to Midnight Party leading up to the midnight release of the epic eighth story, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One & Two. At the Countdown to Midnight Party, two customers from each store who entered the sweepstakes will be chosen at random. Then, on Sunday, July 31, customers can return to their local store to share their perspectives on the new book and participate in additional Harry Potter-themed events, with activities and giveaways.”

Customers can enter sweepstakes (once entry per store, per day) up to the midnight release party, where two winners per store will be chosen at random. If you fancy entering the sweepstakes, just ask a local Barnes & Noble bookseller to find out more details, Official Rules and information on events and activities taking place at nearby stores:

“At the June 24 event, Barnes & Noble stores across the country will set up a coloring station where participants will have the opportunity to color various Harry Potter-themed materials including the 4 House Crests (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin) and a special Owl Post Postcard exclusive to Barnes & Noble that they can send to friends to invite them to the Countdown to Midnight Party. In addition to trivia and activities for Harry Potter fans to enjoy, many giveaways will also be available at the event while supplies last, including Harry Potter vintage posters, bookmarks and more. Stores will also host a robust Harry Potter trivia event. In addition, the Barnes & Noble Café will be offering special Harry Potter-themed treats including The Cheesecake Factory Bakery’s^® fun and delicious Chocolate Witchout Cupcake (a Barnes & Noble Café exclusive), The Decorated Cookie Company’s delightful Witch Hat and Cauldron Decorated Shortbread Cookies, and the Passion Potion Iced Tea, a bewitching shaken blend of brewed passion tea, raspberry and vanilla flavors.

All stores nationwide will also host a Wrebbit 3D™ Harry Potter™ event, in celebration of Harry Potter’s arrival at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, during which Harry Potter fans of all ages are invited to participate in the assembly of Wrebbit 3D™ Hogwarts™ Astronomy Tower, an 875-piece 3D puzzle. In addition, Barnes & Noble will put on display a fully-built, first-to-market Wrebbit 3D™ Hogwarts Express™ 3D puzzle in all stores for customers to marvel in and enjoy.”

Business Wire also report on the midnight release schedules:

“Harry Potter is back, and on Saturday, July 30, at 8PM, Barnes & Noble stores nationwide will host a special Countdown to Midnight Party leading up to the release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One & Two, a special rehearsal edition script book, which goes on sale July 31 at midnight. The party will feature a special Muggle Wall where customers can share their favorite memories of Harry Potter as well as several amazing giveaways. On Sunday, July 31, customers can return to their local store to discuss the new book and participate in special Harry Potter-themed events and activities, as a follow-up to the Countdown to Midnight Party the night before.”

It’s set to be an exciting month, coinciding with preview performances of Cursed Child in London!

Find out more and pre-order the Cursed Child scriptbook over at the Barnes & Noble website (here), and read the full Business Wire article here.

If you can make it to Florida and you want to join a night of old-school Potter book release festivities for only $20 (which includes a ball, costume contents, sorting, quid ditch, wizard chess, special guest appearances and more), find out more about GeekyCon’s midnight release party here!

We know you have all been waiting with anticipation for the return of your favorite podcasters…and it’s time! There is a new Pottercast available on iTunes. Episode #257 talks about the upcoming fan convention unlike any other–GeekyCon.

Pottercast and Leaky will take part in hosting GeekyCon and its Harry Potter events, including the Cursed Child midnight release party!

Also wondering why PotterCast disappears for long periods of time? Have no fear, the Potter podcasters talk about their plans to get Pottercast back on track again!

Thanks to our amazing listeners for sticking with us!

(If the newest Podcast isn’t showing up in the Feed, refresh your iTunes several times. Go to “My Podcasts,” “Pottercast,” “Feed,” and refresh. For those of you who haven’t subscribed to PotterCast it may take a couple of days for the newest episode to appear on the iTunes page. Sorry for any inconvenience.)

This morning, Pottermore released the list of special guests that will be attending the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Hollywood.

Among those in attendance are Harry Potter stars, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Evanna Lynch, James Phelps and Oliver Phelps for the red carpet Grand Opening on April 5.

For this Wizarding World, they are bringing in the most magic they can. The actors will be joined by very special guest, the brilliant John Williams. The Oscar Award-winning composure of Hedwig’s Theme and other movie scores we know and love so much, will be joining the others on the red carpet. We certainly hope a full orchestra will be following in toe, and Mr. Williams will take up the baton to provide the music for the night!

Pottermore reports:

“A new magical world is lying in wait. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens on 7 April at Universal Studios Hollywood.

“And to celebrate, Harry Potter actors…will be on the red carpet at the Grand Opening on 5 April.

“They’ll also be joined by a very special guest: Oscar-winning composer John Williams, who scored the first three Harry Potter films, including the iconic Hedwig’s Theme.

“Following in the footsteps of Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Japan, the Hollywood attraction will bring back some of the fans’ favourite rides, as well as a few new surprises.

“For example, the ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – which is featured at both the Orlando and Japan theme parks – will bring new state of the art 3D-HD technology for the first time in the US, promising visitors a trip with a, well, whole new dimension. The Flight of the Hippogriff will be Universal Studio Hollywood’s first outdoor rollercoaster.

“Until the opening day, you can obsessively check for updates on Universal Studio Hollywood’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages while you wait.”

Grimsby Telegraph reported today that amongst other guests, Michael Henry (a Gringotts Goblin in Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2), Jon Campling (a Death Eater in Dealthy Hallows Part 1) and Simon Fisher-Becker (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone) will be attending a Grimsby Comic Con event.

Grimsby Telegraph reports:

Chelsey [co-organiser of the event, and part of Daydream events], who lives in Grimsby, said: “We are so excited to be able to bring something like this to Grimsby and especially as we will be raising money for the flood victims in the UK. We have been attending these sorts of events for some time now and they are so much fun to be a part of! We are very excited to be working with our guests, we want this to be a fun-filled day.”

This is the first of many events we are planning to run in the UK and we would love to run more of them in Grimsby.”

Grimsby’s February Strikes Back Comic-Con event will be held on Sunday February 7th, from 10am to 5pm at Oasis Academy Wintringham. Tickets for the event can be purchased from www.daydreamevents.uk – they are £3 for early bird entry (10am) and £2 for general admission (11am). Read more here!

A Celebration of Harry Potter 2016 is approaching fast!

The event will be held at Universal Studios Orlando from January 29th – 31st 2016, and is not only set to feature an amazing guest line-up, but various familiar exhibits and features will also be there, including:

• Harry Potter: The Exhibition: An exhibit of props and pieces of worldwide Potter-mania
• MinaLima: Prints and reproductions of 10 years’ worth of Harry Potter art, created for the films
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour London — The Making of Harry Potter: An interactive mini-tour experience of the world famous London-based tour that gives guests the chance to see the behind-the-scenes talent that went into creating the Harry Potter films

Even more excitingly, some new features will also be available at the event, as reported by Orlando Informer:

• Behind the Scenes: Harry Potter Film Talent Q&A – Enjoy a fascinating and interactive question and answer session featuring some of your favorite actors from the Harry Potter™ films. Discover what it was like to work on one of the most successful film franchises in history.

   

• The Global Impact of Harry Potter: The Exhibition – Join us in celebrating the touring attraction that’s visited 13 cities in 9 countries and hosted almost 4 million guests. Harry Potter: The Exhibition is in a unique position to reflect on the global impact of the franchise. Get an exclusive look at the exhibition’s creation and the excitement it continues to deliver to fans around the world. Panel will include exhibition creators, film producers, and film actors who have participated in the openings.

   

• Harry Potter Props Showcase with acclaimed prop maker Pierre Bohanna – Ever wondered how long it takes to make a wand? Or the inspiration for the hundreds of wand designs in the Harry Potter film series? Warner Bros. Pierre Bohanna will answer these questions and many more. Remember to bring along your wand as there may be a masked visitor or two during the showcase.

   

   

• Dance Like a Beauxbatons & Battle Like a Durmstrang – If your younger Harry Potter fans are entranced by the dances performed by Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students in the Harry Potter films, they’ll love this demonstration. A Universal Orlando choreographer, working with Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students who perform here at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, will explain the movements and techniques behind the mesmerizing dance routines.

 

• Harry Potter Film Trivia – How well do your children (or you) know the Harry Potter films? Test your knowledge during this fun audience-interaction game inviting younger fans to shout out the answers to film-specific questions. Perhaps a Harry Potter film marathon is in order before trying your luck?

Check out more information about the event here! No need to worry if you can’t make it – there are loads of other events set for this year, so take a look at our 2016 Harry Potter events calendar. 

Leaky was honored to earn a seat at the press table at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London’s Dinner in the Great Hall. Seated with MuggleNet, SnitchSeeker, Time Magazine, and the Pottermore Correspondent (yes, the mysterious PMC…who will remain a mystery by gag order), the dinner was everything a Potter fan could dream: good company, good food, and endless magical moments.

The evening started off with being whisked off to the studios on a Harry-Potter decked out double decker bus. (*Click on all pictures to enlarge*)

Dinner guests were shuttled to the door of Warner Bros. Studio Tour, where each guest was checked in, given a souvenir tickets, and free drink and professional photo passes. The check in desk was decorated in wizardly fashion, with quills, antique type writers, and guests names in large Gringotts-like registers.

After check in, guests enjoyed complimentary hors ‘derves,  champaign, and juices, as they congregated in the lobby and got to know one another. In addition to the usual profile shots and Mr. Weasley’s flying car suspended above, the lobby was decorated for Christmas, with a large tree as a center piece. The first sign that the Studio Tour was still decorated for Christmas from it’s Hogwarts  in the Snow event.

Not knowing his new girlfriend was one of those crazy fans who would queue for hours for the midnight release of a book, this young gentleman, was fully converted to be one of us. They are now married and enjoying a special dinner together in the Great Hall!

Emma, Dan and Rupert’s hand prints have been commemoratively frozen in cement, on display in the lobby of the studios in which they spent ten years of their lives.

Though the Dinner was advertised as a black tie event, WB gave the all clear for some very dedicated fans to come in cosplay–and those who did were fabulously costumed. Above, Fenrir Greyback takes Bellatrix to dinner rather than having her for dinner.

Others chose to adorn beautiful Gryffindor embroidered tuxes, and bring a Slytherin as their date.

Before entering the Great Hall, guests were immersed in the usual Studio Tour process; first held in a small theater/holding room (Theater J), where Harry Potter film posters from around the world and an introduction video from the producers were displayed, and then ushered in a larger theater (Theater K…see what they did there?) to watch a welcoming video from the Trio. When the movie was finished, the screen raised to reveal the magnificent doors to the Great Hall.

Beyond the lobby is a vestibule where lines form to enter the two theaters that begin the tour. In the vestibule, fans are able to see the set used for Harry’s cupboard under the stairs at Number 4 Privet Drive and learn how the franchise came to be. Below, an excited fan poses in front of Harry’s first “bedroom.”

Examples of the Harry Potter film posters from around the world that are shown in holding room (small theater, J). An introduction video by David Heyman, telling of how the movies came about, is shown across these small screens before fans are ushered into the auditorium (theater K).

When the introduction movie ends, the auditorium’s screen rolls up to reveal a red carpet leading to the glowing Great Hall doors, adorned with wreaths for Christmas. A guide invites guests to gather in front of the doors.

In honor of those celebrating special occasions with this very special dinner, those who were celebrating birthdays had the chance to place their hands on the Great Hall doors, and push it open to reveal the splendor within.

The Great Hall was decked with more than just balls of holly (fa la la la la). Guests were seated at tables of ten, that were set with floral candle center pieces, Christmas crackers, menu cards, and place tags. Red wine, white wine, sparkling and still water were provided for the table to share throughout dinner (and if tables ran out, wait staff were happily to oblige your goblets of wine with a good top-up!).

Leaky was seated at the press table alongside MuggleNet, SnitchSeeker, Pottermore, Time Magazine, and the winners of the WB Dinner in the Great Hall Contest. (The Pottermore Correspondent’s identity shall not be revealed, and there for their face shall remain obscured from the images.) With the love Harry Potter, and journalistic experiences in common, it wasn’t long before the press table became the most fun, most excited, most vocal and loudest-cheering table in the Hall.

From left to right (front row): SnitchSeeker, PMC, MuggleNet, Time Magazine. The winning couple are pictured behind the news correspondents.

The adorable couple who won tickets to Dinner in the Great Hall were celebrating their two-month wedding anniversary, still beaming like newly weds!

Time Magazine snapped a shot of the Harry Potter fan sites united as one, including Pottermore.

Before the arrival of a truly fabulous dinner, the Great Hall doors suddenly burst open. Special affects smoke and fog streamed through as a trio of Death Eaters made their entrance. They never broke character as they mingled with and terrified the guests. No amount of provocation could force them from their silent and frightening presence.

One brave fan stood and tempted a Death Eater in a duel.

Before dinner concluded, the props and costumes around the hall were given explanations and back stories. All costumes on display throughout the Tour were worn by the actors in the films. Guests whipped out their cameras to snap a photo as the Christmas Pudding props briefly burst into flames.

The Christmas Puddings burst into (fake) flames.

Daniel Radcliffe’s last set of robes and Neville’s Battle of Hogwarts outfit are among the costumes that represent Gryffindor House.

Robert Patterson’s Tri-Wizard Tournament stands among the robes and costumes representing Hufflepuff House.

Included in the Ravenclaw House collection is Moaning Myrtle’s ghostly robes, worn by Shirley Henderson.

As Draco Malfoy is the ultimate representative for Slytherin students, Tom Felton’s robes, featuring an Inquisitors Badge given to him by Umbridge,  from Order of the Phoenix are displayed for Slytherin House. 

Tables of guests were dismissed from the Great Hall to explore the rest of the Studio Tour at their own pace (or until set-up for the dance had been completed at 11:00, and guests re-congregated to give their best Luna Lovegood interpretive dances). The Studio Tour is full of amazing props and costumes. It is exhilarating to be so close to the authentic Harry Potter materials, and it would be impossible to include in this article coverage all 433 photos that were taken.

One of the main first features of the Studio tour is the gates of Hogwarts, currently guarded by Death Eaters.

Across from the Hogwarts gates is the one and only Leaky Cauldron–a place where people of all characters are free to kick back, and hangout.

Decorated for the Hogwarts in the Snow feature, which runs until January 31, the sets were garnished with Christmas decorations.

The Hogwarts in the Snow feature also included new prop displays, such as the Goblet of Fire. The outer casing around the Goblet is intricately carved wood, with inset beads and ruins etched in, and mechanically enhanced to melt away and reveal the Goblet. The Goblet itself, also made of wood, spews blue steam, that turns red before shooting out a piece of burnt paper with Harry’s name on it.

With a focus on snow, the Tour also set up a demonstration booth where fans were able to come see (and feel!) how fake snow and fire were created for the films. Buckets of four different types of snow materials were available to finger (salt for snow that crunches, and shredded paper for making good snow balls were two examples). Fire effects were simply created with steam and LED lights.

The Studio Tour begins and ends with displays that were originally apart of the tour when it opened its doors in 2012. In the middle of the tour, three editions have been added throughout the years–a room specifically dedicated to the Dark Arts, a room with booths that allow fans to ride a broomstick or drive the Weasley car in front of a green screen, and the Hogwarts Express, which was revealed earlier this year.

The hall leading to the grand Hogwarts Express exhibit are adorned with high-def images of important scenes that involved the scarlet steam engine–beginning with a tour part image of Harry’s first visit to Platform 9 3/4 in Philosopher’s Stone, and an image of Harry’s last film appearance on the platform, dropping off his son, Albus Severus.

Here, guests are able to take photos of pushing a cart through the wall, similar to King’s Cross Station, shop for Platform 9 3/4 related merchandise at the Railway Shop, or pick up a treat in the sweet shop next door. Dinner guests were treated to complimentary desserts and beverages on the Platform, half way through the tour.

The Hogwarts Express exhibit was designed to be viewed from the inside as well as the out, allowing fans to feel like Hogwarts Students boarding the train. Seven of the train compartments (one representing each film) were set up as if they had just been vacated by our favorite Hogwarts characters, who would be back to collect their personal items off the seats.

Departing Platform 9 3/4 and the Hogwarts Express, dinner guests were able to collect a complimentary mug of delicious Butterbeer, only available at the Studio Tour and Harry Potter theme parks.

A portion of the Studio Tour is outside, to accommodate large props, sets of important buildings and allow fans to touch and interact with them first hand. Leaky and MuggleNet decided to make a quick escape down the Hogwarts wooden bridge, and to our get-a-way vehicle, Sirius’s bike and sidecar.

Other interactive features included building fronts of Privet Drive, Godrick’s Hallow, the Knight Bus, the Weasley car, and larger-than-life stone wizarding chess pieces.

The Studio Tour contains more than props and sets. It is also home to special affects departments, who helped bring magical creatures to life on screen.

Interactive parts of the special affects room included repotting a Mandrake and watching a fetal Voldemort breath, and raise its head to new life, with the simple touch of a button.

Of course, every detail of the Harry Potter films took a lot of brainstorming, planning, drawing, painting, model building, and more before the sets and props were physically constructed. Much of this process adorns many walls of the next few rooms, allowing fans to immerse themselves in the creative process.

The tour comes to an emotional close, as fans walk up the set of the real Diagon Alley, turn the corner, and lay eyes upon a breath-taking model of Hogwarts, snow-covered and sparkling in the special-affects and lighting produced “evening starlight”.

Dinner guests exited through the gift shop as tour guests do everyday, and found themselves in a re-decorated lobby and vestibule. A chess-board dance floor had been laid, and lights hung, for guests to dance the night away into the wee hours of the morning.

This was Warner Bros. Studio Tour London’s first Dinner in the Great Hall event. There have been whispers of making such a magical experience an annual event, allowing the chance for more fans to have an enchanting night. With the success of their first attempt at giving fans such an experience, we do hope the Studio Tour is inspired to make this an annual tradition, and we encourage fans to attend. There is nothing like becoming a Hogwarts student, just for one night, and enjoying a great dinner in the Great Hall.

We would like to thank Warner Bros. Studio Tour and all the House Elves involved in making this night truly special, and providing this opportunity for us and for fans.

MinaLima, the graphic artists behind the splendor of the magical Harry Potter films is opening an exhibit in London. The Graphic Art of the Harry Potter Films exhibition will be open from Monday, November 30, to Saturday, December 19, at The Coningsby Gallery, Fitzrovia. Admission to the exhibition is free.

In the exhibition, fans will be able to get a close up look at the visual designs that brought the Harry Potter world to life on screen. Fans will be able to see details of the artworks as originally created for the films, as well as process of how these designs came to be and changes that occurred along the way. The artworks will be displayed chronologically.

As MinaLima designed the Daily Prophet, the Marauder’s Map, and many other graphic props, WB’s Leavesden Studio Tour will be loaning the exhibition original and authentic film props from Harry Potter Studio Tour. All artwork displayed was designed at Leavesden Film Studios between 2002 and 2010.

After the films finished, MinaLima continued their work with the Harry Potter franchise, designing the streets and stores of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The press release talks of MinaLima’s work, saying:

“As the designers of the Marauder’s Map, The Daily Prophet and every other graphic prop in the film series, Miraphora and Eduardo have an exceptional and passionate understanding of the Harry Potter films.

With the designs being an integral part of the storytelling, MinaLima’s attention to detail is paramount in their work. Much historical research and experimentation with techniques is employed, from finding the perfect ageing effects to scanning old typefaces and peculiar surfaces to enrich their visual reference library.“

 

Prints of artwork and other memorabilia will be available for purchase at the exhibition. The press release for the exhibition states:

“This exhibition showcases graphic designs from Warner Bros. Pictures’ Harry Potter films by Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, reproduced as limited edition art prints which will be for sale.”

“All printed in England, the prints use pigment inks on 300gsm Hahnemuhle fine art paper. Each print is edition numbered and embossed, and comes with a numbered certificate of authenticity. Some editions are embellished with hand finished metallic foiling. Artworks can be purchased either framed or unframed at the exhibition, and can be shipped worldwide. Also for sale at the exhibition will be Hogwarts prop replica notebooks and postcard sets from MinaLima’s collection.“

The Graphic Art of the Harry Potter Films exhibition is open every day from: Monday 30th November 2015 to Saturday 19th December 2015 inclusive. Free entry.

Check gallery website for opening times: www.coningsbygallery.com

Private view: Monday 30th November 6.30 to 9pm

The Coningsby Gallery: 30 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4RJ; Tel no +44 (0) 20 7636 7478

Universal Studios Orlando have released more details about their third annual A Celebration of Harry Potter, taking place at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando in 2016!

“Explore The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ – Hogsmeade™ at Universal’s Islands of Adventure®and Diagon Alley™ at Universal Studios®. Dine at the Leaky Cauldron™ and the Three Broomsticks™, see a wand choose a wizard at Ollivanders™, then ride Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts™, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ and other thrilling attractions. With your park-to-park admission, you can even ride between both lands of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ on the Hogwarts™ Express°” 

A Celebration of Harry Potter™ is an unforgettable event where the magic of Harry Potter™ continues, and it’s only at Universal Orlando Resort.

Behind the Thrills reports the guest list, who will be taking part throughout the event, and in Q&A sessions:

• Rupert Grint  (Ron Weasley)
• Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom)
• Katie Leung (Cho Chang)
• Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley)
• Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood)
• Pierre Brohanna (Head Prop Maker for the film franchise)
• Eduardo Lima and Miraphora Mina of MinaLima (established the visual graphic style of the films)
• Paul Harris (wand combat choreographer for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)
• The creators and talent that have made Harry Potter: The Exhibition a global touring phenomenon.

Guests will also be able to attend wand combat classes and take part in a huge Expo!

“Make your way through interactive displays in this one-of-a-kind collection of Harry Potter™ themed props, movie sets, artwork and more. This year we’re excited to welcome back Harry Potter™ The Exhibition, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, MinaLima, Pottermore and Scholastic as part of A Celebration of Harry Potter™ Expo.”

Universal have also announced details of various panels and demonstration events on their website.

The event will be held in Universal Studios Orlando from January 29th – 31st 2016. Read more and purchase tickets on the Universal Studios website here, and take a look back at last year’s event below!

As we reported previously, WB Studio Tour is hosting its first “Dinner in the Great Hall” event. Because tickets for this amazing opportunity have sold out so quickly, Warner Bros.’ is now offering the chance for one lucky winner to win a pair of tickets to attend with a guest. The competition and its rules are explained by WB Studio Tour, here.

When entering for a chance to win, fans must correctly answer a question about a behind the scenes Harry Potter studio feature, Hogwarts in the Snow. All fans who enter must be 18 years of age or older. The contest is open only to U.K. residents.

Over the past weekend (10th October), the Harry Potter Alliance celebrated its tenth birthday.

Their celebrations included a party at GeekyCon in August, and a month-long Indiegogo campaign (HPA10), through which they raised total of $106,545, well-surpassing their initial goal of $77,777.

NerdCon: Stories provided the venue for HPA’s birthday party, which featured important special guests such as Leaky’s own Melissa Anelli, (President of the Board), Paul DeGeorge (Co-Founder and Board member) and Hank Green and Maureen Johnson (long-term supporters of HPA), along with many more!

The event itself was full-Potter style (though the HPA itself now encompasses all manner of fandom). Harry and the Potters were the Wrock band for the night, and Hank Green played Accio Deathly Hallows, along with his other Harry Potter songs.

The NerdCon event page stated:

‘ On October 10th, 2005, the Harry Potter Alliance held its first-ever event in Somerville, Massachusetts. Now, ten years later – and with the support of many people in the NerdCon: Stories community – the HPA has grown to a global organization with accomplishments under its belt such as sending five cargo planes of disaster relief supplies to Haiti, donating over 250,000 books around the world, and getting Warner Bros. to make all Harry Potter chocolate ethically sourced.

Come celebrate ten years of the HPA using fandom to make the world a better place and learn how to get involved for the next ten. Recommended attire: dress robes and/or party hats.’

Geeky News reports:

‘Over the years, the Harry Potter Alliance amassed a strong base of supporters and many volunteers. For a long time, that was entirely how the organization was run – by volunteers taking time away from their evenings and weekends, away from day jobs and school, to help make a little non-profit make a difference. I was one of those volunteers for several years. And the HPA highlighted a couple of hundreds  of them during the party. Some, like Claudia Morales and Jack Bird, are now paid employees. Morales, on talking about her reaction to becoming a staff member of the organization she had come to love: “It was like getting my Hogwarts letter.”’

‘Their success is a testament to the power of fandom to change the world for the better. The HPA is the true illustration of what powerful communities united around the passion for a common love of story can do in the world. And it was abundantly clear as several hundred people gathered in the Minneapolis Convention Center, to celebrate the organization that had brought them together.’

The Harry Potter Alliance is a non-profit organisation with the slogan ‘The Weapon We Have is Love’, and its website states:

‘The Harry Potter Alliance turns fans into heroes. We’re changing the world by making activism accessible through the power of story. Since 2005, we’ve engaged millions of fans through our work for equality, human rights, and literacy.’

You can read more on the event and see more photos here.

Join Leaky in wishing the Harry Potter Alliance a very happy 10th birthday, and a huge congratulations on their success so far!

Salt Lake City’s Comic Con took place over the past weekend, and the Phelps twins led their own panel, answering questions and meeting fans in a very full ballroom.

Mugglenet reported on the event:

‘In Potter-related topics, James admitted he had seen a game of Muggle Quidditch and that he was surprised at how brutal the game could be. When asked what his strategy would be if he were the Snitch trying to avoid the Seekers, his answer was an amused, “I don’t know… run like hell?”

Oliver, meanwhile, admitted that he does have a few things from the set of the films, though not his wand (which he, like so many other members of the cast, wanted). Instead, he told the audience that he has a framed Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes bag on his wall and next to it, George’s ear!’

When asked about stories from the set of Harry Potter, the twins set straight the myth about them switching roles during filming and having to re-shoot scenes. They only switched seats for a rehearsal in the Great Hall, and switched back for filming so that the rest of the cast and crew wouldn’t have to waste time.

James and Oliver also told the audience that they would often visit the driving range set up behind their set, and try to hit golf balls at Wayne Manor on the Dark Knight film’s neighbouring set.

When asked about their potential Patronuses, James answered that he thought his would be a hedgehog (so he could avoid confrontation) and Oliver said he was a ‘chill guy’, so his would probably be a sloth.

The audience spent most of their time laughing as James and Oliver were coaxed into speaking in American accents. They also told a hilarious story about having to bleach their eyebrows to make them ginger, and an intern leaving Oliver’s bleach on for too long so set members ‘draw on his eyebrows for a couple of weeks’ because they were so white!

When asked by a fan what they thought of the The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s version of Butterbeer, they said it was a lot better than on the set of the films seeing as it ‘actually tasted nice’. Oliver revealed that the Butterbeer seen in the films was actually ‘orange juice with a bit of whipped cream on top’!

Oliver told the audience that he would love to feature in a Western film, so he could ‘shoot some things’ and wear a hat, whilst James said he used to love the cartoon ‘Doug’, so his ideal role would be to play ‘Skeeter’ in a live-action remake.

We hope those of you who attended had a lot of fun – it certainly sounded like a great weekend!

Thanks to Mugglenet for the heads up!

Fan Expo Canada 2015 took place over the weekend, and details of each panel are slowly being revealed.

Saturday marked the day of the Hogwarts Reunion panel – featuring Tom Felton, Rupert Grint and James and Oliver Phelps – and on Sunday the Harry Potter cast members took part in autograph and photo sessions. The convention was the first fan event that Rupert Grint had attended.

In his own panel on Friday, Tom spoke of his visit to Universal Studios in Japan. Tribute Canada‘s article reported:

‘He mentioned that he did try the butter beer and found it very sweet and felt like he was drinking a thousand calories. He told fans he enjoyed playing Draco, saying, “There’s something about playing a slimy little git that’s fun.”

He said that Rupert Grint (Ron) often got a case of the giggles while filming. He spoke of the transition from Richard Harris to Michael Gambon as Dumbledore, saying it was a smooth one. While Harris had a powerful voice, Gambon had everyone laughing and trying to keep the mood light. Fishing is still a big hobby for Felton, and he has fished by the St. Lawrence River and even in Vancouver. He expressed his love for Canada.’

You can read more about the various panels in Tribute’s article here.

SnitchSeeker also attended the Hogwarts Reunion panel event on Saturday.

Their article reported that the actors talked about various topics, such as their best and worst memories and characters, and Tom Felton spoke about a conversation with J.K. Rowling regarding Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them:

‘Tom Felton revealed that he spoke to J.K. Rowling about two months ago and tried to get information about Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and while she wouldn’t tell him much, she joked that he and other Harry Potter actors would have background roles.’

SnitchSeeker also gave a list detailing main points from the Hogwarts Reunion panel, which can be read at the end of their article here.  The panel sounded brilliant, and one of our favourite moments to read about in SnitchSeeker’s article was:

‘Oliver said his least favourite dead character was Hedwig because on set of the second movie there was a evil owl in the car’.

Videos of the panels will reportedly be released by SnitchSeeker soon, so keep posted at their website here!

Ice Cream Man (infamous Rupert Grint news source) were also reporting on the event based on visitor experiences, and gave a list of quotes from the panel in their article:

‘“We grew up on those sets. We kind of became the people we are today on those sets.”

“My Little Pony. A Brony. The Brony thing.” – On what Rupert would cosplay

“Yeah, I’d never get rid of that. It’s my prize possession.” – Rupert on his ice cream van. He also mentioned he doesn’t drive it around any more because ice cream men can be territorial and he doesn’t want to start a turf war

“I always say Rupert as the next Bond. The world is ready for a ginger Bond.” – From Tom’

Ice Cream Man also published a gallery of photos from the event, featuring the four cast members with various fans. The gallery can be seen here.

Fan Expo Canada’s Twitter has been flooded over the weekend with photos, videos and live tweets from panels,  you can read the ones on the Hogwarts Reunion panel below (click to expand):

They retweeted some great photos from the event:

Tom, James and Oliver also tweeted their farewells and thanks to the Expo:

It certainly sounded like an amazing weekend, and we hope those of you who were lucky enough to attend had a great time!

Fan Expo Canada has confirmed that Tom Felton, Rupert Grint and the Phelps twins will be attending their convention this weekend, and taking part in a ‘Hogwarts Reunion’ panel running this Saturday (September 5th). This will mark the first fan convention that Grint has attended.

The actors will also be participating in autograph and photobooth sessions, and SnitchSeeker has confirmed that they will be attending and reporting on the actors panels.

The convention has a great guest list, with Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones), Jenna Coleman and Karen Gillan (Doctor Who), Hayley Atwell (Agent Carter) and Amy Acker (Angel) among the dozens of great names set to appear. Bonnie Wright was also in the line-up, but unfortunately will no longer be attending.

Fan Expo Canada will be taking place from the 3rd-6th September, in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. There is an on-site box office, and tickets can be purchased here until 16:00 EST today.

Thanks for the tip, Snitchseeker!

It came down to a classic and historic rivalry: the French versus the British. There were a few casualties–the French first string keeper broke his shoulder–but the “really tough, really intense” game ended on a fair Snitch snatch, leaving the French with the champion title after a 90-50 win.

Representatives from each team spoke to The Guardian, happy with the results of the tournament. All are hoping that the success of the first European Games brings Quidditch a higher profile and encourages involvement in the sport. The Guardian reports:

Dennis Jordan, captain of the French side, on Sunday said both sides played a “really tough, really intense game”. “Our main keeper was injured and broke his shoulder; he’s now in the ambulance. It was a legal tackle; both teams played aggressively but within the rules,” he said from the sidelines.

Speaking before the final, Jan Mikolajczak, one of four players from the University of Oxford, said the real-life game is surprisingly similar to the fictional version. “Other than the fact we’re not flying, it’s full contact and quite rough, just as it was in the books,” he said.

Despite the strict rules, Giulio Cioncoloni, a volunteer with organisers at the Cultural Association l’Ombrico, said the game is informal and incredibly fun. “It’s a beautiful sport because it’s one of strength. But at the end of the game, everyone hugs. It’s a great community. Quidditch is a sport for everyone,” he said.

Jordan agreed a jovial atmosphere dominated, despite injuries, with the French team celebrating alongside their British rivals. He hoped their win in Tuscany would help raise the profile of Quidditch in France: “We expanded a lot last year and we will continue next year. Winning the European games may influence people to get involved.”

After a successful European Games, all are looking forward to the bi-annual Quidditch Global Games next year. The site of the games has yet to be determined by the International Quidditch Association board. Though few new of Quidditch in the Italian country side, Italy now has 9 Quidditch teams across the country, and is hoping to continue growing. The home team (representing Italy) was knocked out of the tournament in an early defeat by the Belgians.

Over 18, live in Western Australia, and free on 27th June?

Enter Brisbane Times’ competition to win tickets to Supanova – a VIP event in a secret location in Perth, Australia. Members of the Harry Potter cast such as Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy) and Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) will be there, along side many others, as Brisbane Times reports:

‘Reminisce with Brady Bunch stars Susan Olsen and Mike Lookinland, flex your Futurama knowledge with Billy West and John DiMaggio or have a pint of butterbeer with Harry Potter’s Jason Isaacs… or any other star you can find.’

The full list of stars attending is here and features many exciting names, such as Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Dr Horrible, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), the people behind Mad Max: Fury Road and so many others! Brisbane Times’ detailing of the competition are as follows:

‘If you could ask any of the Supanova guest stars (the full list is here) any question you like, what would it be?

Email your answer, along with your name, age, address and contact number to [email protected]. Please include the word PARTY in the subject line.

Competition closes at 4pm Thursday 25 June 2015 and terms and conditions apply.’

Definitely worth a try if you meet the entry requirements!

It finally happened. After two years of construction, months of guessing at dates, and weeks of false positives, Universal Orlando has finally given us an official opening date. The Today Show aired the announcement this morning, ahead of the red carpet event happening tonight. It's finally official: Diagon Alley and the Hogwarts Express will open their doors on July 8th. The Today Show is broadcasting live from Diagon Alley with guests like Helena Bonham Carter and Robbie Coltrane in town for the red carpet event. Universal will be streaming the event here. To tide you over, here are three new photos of Diagon Alley, Borgin and Burkes, and the Leaky Cauldron from Inside the Magic: And, thanks to this user on Instagram, here's a look at how Universal has turned the concept art we've all been drooling over into a reality: We'll be bringing you all the Diagon Alley developments as they happen. You can find our previous WWoHP coverage here.

Earlier this month, the Harry Potter Alliance in Chicago had a read-a-thon for their Accio Books book drive. As many fans know, the Harry Potter Alliance (HPA) is an international non-profit organization, constructed by Harry Potter fans, that fights injustice using morals and themes found in the Harry Potter books. The HPA's Accio Books drive focuses on raising awareness for literacy needs world wide; in this specific event literacy needs close to home, in Chicago. 

LeakyCon was excited to announce the arrival of a new special guest, Hannah Hart, to LeakyCon 2014 in Orlando. Hannah Hart, an avid Potter fan, is most well known as a YouTube sensation with her series "My Drunk Kitchen." Ms. Hart will be leading a special edition of "My Drunk Kitchen" at LeakyCon 2014, with a Potions 101 class. You can read more about Hannah Hart and LeakyCon here and register for LeakyCon 2014 here.

Scholastic today announced a Fan Q&A with J.K. Rowling that will take place on the 11th of October at 12 noon ET and 5pm GMT. You can find out more information here on the Scholastic website for the newly launched Harry Potter Book Club!

Scholastic promises new commentary on the series from J.K. Rowling at the Harry Potter Book Club and no doubt we'll get a few tidbits (or more than a few, hopefully!) in the Q&A. Stay close as we find out more about the fan webcast, Rowling's first since 2007.