The Weasley family from the Harry Potter franchise reunited at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London this week, marking 25 years since the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The exhibition space hosted Bonnie Wright, James and Oliver Phelps, and Mark Williams, known for playing Ginny, Fred, George, and Arthur Weasley, respectively.
Reunion Highlights
The four actors first appeared on screen together in November 2001, four years after J.K. Rowling's first book was published in 1997. They posed on Platform 9 ¾ and in the Burrow's kitchen, reliving their time on set and surprising visitors. They also wielded wands for photo opportunities, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the filmmaking process.
Mark Williams, who played Arthur Weasley, said: 'I love coming back to the wizarding world, and the new summer feature is a real delight. It was an enormous part of our experience filming the Harry Potter film series to be involved with the amazing work of the design department. To be reminded of that has made my day.' Oliver Phelps added: 'Being back on the set reunited with Bonnie and Mark has been absolutely superb. It’s like coming into a time warp, like no time has passed at all since we were last together.'
Box Office Success and Fan Favorites
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone broke box-office records for the highest opening weekend ever when released in 2001, grossing $974 million (£715 million) at the box office and over $1 billion (£734 million) in total. The reunion coincides with research ranking the scene where Harry meets the Weasleys on Platform 9 ¾ as the third most-loved moment in the film. The top spot went to Harry receiving his Hogwarts letter at Number Four Privet Drive, followed by his visit to Ollivanders for his wand.
The Weasley family was joined by behind-the-scenes filmmakers, including head prop maker Pierre Bohanna, art director Gary Tomkins, storyboard artist Nick Pelham, and sound designer Glen Gathard. Gary Tomkins said: 'My main role on the first film was to help create the drawings for the Hogwarts castle model that you can still see today at the Studio Tour. It feels fantastic to see so many of the crew and actors back on the sets we all worked on all those years ago that everyone knows and loves so much. I always love coming back here. It really keeps the magic alive and is such a great opportunity to show the close-up details of the film.'
New Summer Feature
The tour launched a new summer feature titled 'First Year at Hogwarts: Where the Filmmaking Magic Began,' bringing classic moments to life. From Thursday, visitors can relive the Sorting Hat ceremony, the moment first-year students tossed their hats in celebration of Neville Longbottom winning the House Cup, Hermione Granger casting Petrificus Totalus on Neville in the Gryffindor common room, flying lessons, Quidditch matches, and a new Wizard's Chess photo opportunity with moving pieces.
Harry Potter TV Series Updates
The Harry Potter TV series, confirmed last year and based on J.K. Rowling's books, is being produced by HBO and Warner Bros. It will depict a new iteration of Harry's story at Hogwarts. Apple Maps inadvertently shared images of the top-secret sets, including overhead shots of Hagrid's hut, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, and Privet Drive, angering show bosses. The series is currently filming at Warner Bros. Studio in Leavesden.
Producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod praised the casting of Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout, and Arabella Stanton as Harry, Ron, and Hermione. A body double, Isaac Geut, has also been hired to cover for the main star when needed. Confirmed cast members include John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.
Rumors about casting Lord Voldemort have circulated, with Paul Bettany emerging as a fan favorite after Cillian Murphy ruled himself out. Social media scooper Daniel Richtman claimed Paul is the 'favourite' among HBO bosses. Fans responded enthusiastically, with one writing: 'He would be the perfect choice!' Another joked: 'I guess you could say they SEE THE VISION.'
