And we’ll be skipping the print version and going right to film, thank you very much! Given that this is for a Universal Studios Amusement Park, that seems appropriate. Officially a “mini-movie,” no details have been released about the story other than that it features the regulars and that it’s being filmed with other clips-for-rides before the Deathly Hallows double feature.
The story was broken by the Sunday Mirror (UK) under the title: J.K Rowling’s New Harry Potter Story Set to Become Mini-Movie.
J.K. Rowling has penned a brand-new Harry Potter story which is being turned into a mini-movie.
The film will be shown at a new theme park called The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida.
All the regulars, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint are shooting the movie at Leavesden, Herts, before starting two films based on final Potter novel The Deathly Hallows.
A source said: “They are also working on extra sequences and clips which will be part of the rides.
J.K. Rowling has been involved in everything. She wrote the story.”
So what?
Knowing as little as we do about the story (Harry, Ron, and Hermione are in it), there’s not much to be said for this story as evidence that Ms. Rowling will or will not be returning to Wizarding World stories. She has written at least one that we know of now, this one in support of the Theme Park, a new extension of the franchise. I expect the Warner Brothers monster will not be satisfied with a mini-movie to go with a roller coaster and will do everything possible for a real book, preferably a series, to make even more money.
That’s their job, right? Your thoughts, please.
John,
Some of the webmasters at the various major HP Fansites are stating to treat this report from the ‘Sunday Mirror’ as rumor at this time.
However, I don’t see how the Hogwarts super trio would not be involved in some way with the theme park even if Jo did not write a story line for them.
I agree that Warner Brothers will do all it can to get the movie actors involved in the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park. I believe J K Rowling
will inform Warner Brothers/Universal if she is desiring to write a movie script
that would be part of Harry’s saga to tie into the theme of the park. Not the other way around.
I see Jo being very protective of any additions to Potterverse in textual form or film. I think with her it’s not about money or recognition any more.
She already has both.
J K Rowling will be the sole determiner of where and when any thing in Potterverse or Potterfilm goes from here.
She loves keeping her fans on the edge of their seats doesn’t she?
First the Waterstones Prequel now the Theme Park saga!
Stay tuned HogPro Fans.
My guess is that it’s along the line of the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland in California. While you wait in line there is a short (very short) movie that sets up the ride with a vague story and shows how to enter the ride and buckle up. Then you see Indy at the beginning and end of the ride (well, and once in the middle) but those are all audio animatronics. The Indy ride itself is a combination of the first two movies with this vague story line that was done for the ride.
I can’t imagin that they would actually do a full length movie that is outside of what we have in the books or the movies to date. But it makes it more fun on the ride if it’s more than just another coaster ride with a few scenes from a movie. Sounds to me like Universal is trying to take their cues from something that has been very successful for Disney. And so far, from what I’ve seen at other parks, Disney still does the best at using the details to make it super special. I hope that Universal can pull this off.
Pat
Here is an update from an Orlando newspaper with an official “no comment” rather than denial from Universal Studios. If it is true, they don’t want the cat out of the proverbial bag this soon; if it isn’t true, there’s no harm in a news creating rumor about their theme park this early in the game.
I think I’m going to file this under “Elvendork News from the Daily Prophet.”
Hat-tip to David G for the link!
It could also be a ride like the “Star Tours” ride at Disneyland (and, I presume, Disney World?). A ride centered around a 6 or 7 minute mini-story that makes you feel like you’re in the action. If I were designing it, I’d have the “audience” board “brooms” and “fly” around Hogwarts (including through a Quidditch game), with brief appearances from the principals and overall narration from another character (say, Hagrid) as the “tour guide.”
And they won’t need another real book to back it up. Believe me, they’re going to be able to merchandise the hell out of the “Wizarding World” no matter what. And, sheep that I am, I expect I’ll be there as soon as I can catch a flight, credit card in hand… sigh…
It’s official, says the Daily Prophet: no film for Theme Park and no filming of Prequel story.
Anyone lose any sleep over this?