25 Harry Potter fun facts
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Since its debut in 1997, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series has captivated readers of all ages, transcending borders and enchanting millions around the world.
Magical universe
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The magical universe of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, coupled with the remarkable journey of the young wizard Harry Potter, has left an indelible mark on literature and popular culture. In a 2017 tweet, J.K. Rowling disclosed that she initially penned the names of the iconic Hogwarts houses (Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Gryffindor) on an airsickness bag given to her during a flight.
Diverse
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During a 2003 interview with 60 Minutes, Rowling shared that the diverse names of the magical plants in her universe were influenced by a genuine botanical book. She drew inspiration from Culpeper’s Complete Herbal, a botanical guide authored by the 17th-century herbalist and physician, Nicolas Culpeper.
Daniel Radcliffe
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In a 2013 interview with Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed Harry Potter, Rowling revealed that she had contemplated the idea of killing off a key member of the beloved trio in the franchise. She admitted to seriously considering the demise of Ron Weasley, Harry’s loyal companion and best friend. Additionally, Rowling mentioned that she had also played with the notion of Hagrid, the cherished gamekeeper at Hogwarts, meeting a tragic end.
Stephen King
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Stephen King, renowned for his work in horror literature, expressed fear of Dolores Umbridge while critiquing the fifth book in the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. King described Umbridge as the most formidable fictional villain since Hannibal Lecter, highlighting her disarming smile, girlish voice, toad-like appearance, and grasping, stubby fingers.
Green eyes
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In the Harry Potter series, Harry’s distinctive green eyes inherited from his mother are frequently mentioned. However, in the films, Daniel Radcliffe’s natural blue eyes were showcased instead of the character’s green eyes. Initially, the production tried to use colored contact lenses for Radcliffe, but due to an allergic reaction, they decided to keep his natural eye color and match it with the actress cast as his mother.
Rik Mayall
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Originally, the mischievous poltergeist Peeves was supposed to appear in the Harry Potter films, with British comedian Rik Mayall set to play the role. Mayall filmed scenes for the first movie, but director Chris Columbus ultimately decided to cut them due to his dissatisfaction with how Peeves appeared on screen.
Shirley Henderson
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Shirley Henderson, the actress who played Moaning Myrtle, the ghost of a troubled 14-year-old girl, was actually 36 years old during the filming of The Chamber of Secrets. Despite her convincing performance, Henderson was significantly older than the character she portrayed.
Eight films
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Over the course of shooting the eight films in the franchise, makeup artists adorned Daniel Radcliffe and his stunt doubles with Harry’s distinctive lightning bolt scar over 5,000 times.
J.K. Rowling
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In 2010, J.K. Rowling revealed during an interview with Oprah Winfrey that Michael Jackson had expressed interest in creating a Harry Potter musical. Despite declining Jackson’s proposal, the Harry Potter series eventually made its way to the stage with the production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in 2016.
Ron Weasley
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Throughout the early Harry Potter films, Rupert Grint, who portrayed Ron Weasley, became known for his character’s red hair, clumsy comments, and intense fear of spiders. Interestingly, Grint shares this arachnophobia with Ron, as he has never watched any of his scenes involving the giant spiders in the movies.
Gilderoy Lockhart
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Initially auditioning for the role of Gilderoy Lockhart, the self-absorbed Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in “Prisoner of Azkaban,” Jason Isaacs was later offered the role of Lucius Malfoy, the cunning and icy father figure. Isaacs hesitated to accept the role, worried that playing the villainous Lucius would be too reminiscent of his previous portrayal as Captain Hook in 2003’s “Peter Pan.”
Dobby
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There were claims that the design of Dobby the House Elf in the film was inspired by Russian President Vladimir Putin, although these rumors were never confirmed. This alleged resemblance angered Russian lawmakers and led to discussions of potential legal action against Warner Brothers Studios for what they perceived as an insult.
Fantastic Beasts
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Before landing the role of Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts movies, Eddie Redmayne auditioned for the part of Tom Riddle. Despite his later success in the Wizarding World franchise, Redmayne shared in 2016 that he did not receive a callback for the role of the young Voldemort.
Securing the role
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Robbie Coltrane was the first actor to be cast in the Harry Potter series, securing the role of Rubeus Hagrid, Hogwarts’ lovable gamekeeper, even before the casting for the lead role of Harry Potter had been finalized. In the Harry Potter books, Harry’s scar is depicted as being situated in the middle of his forehead on the original covers, while in the films, it appears slightly above his right eyebrow.
Production team
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In the early stages of planning for the Harry Potter movies, the production team considered giving Hermione Granger buck teeth to align with her description in the books. However, after trying out prosthetic teeth on Emma Watson, who played Hermione, they decided against it as it hindered her ability to speak properly. Fred and George Weasley, known for their mischievous antics, were born on April 1st, which also happens to be April Fool’s Day, adding to their playful nature.
Hufflepuff
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J.K. Rowling has revealed that she would have been sorted into Hufflepuff if she were a student at Hogwarts. Despite Hufflepuff sometimes being underestimated among the four houses, Rowling’s own House preference adds a unique perspective to its qualities.
Inspired
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Rowling paid tribute to her grandfathers by naming the conductor and driver of the Knight Bus after them. Stan Shunpike and Ernie Prang’s first names were inspired by Rowling’s grandfathers in real life.
Filming
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During the filming of scenes where Harry, Ron, and Hermione were shown doing schoolwork, actors Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson decided to immerse themselves in their roles by actually completing real schoolwork while shooting the scenes. Hedwig, Harry Potter’s loyal owl, was portrayed by seven different owls named Swoops, Oh Oh, Elmo, Bandit, Oops, Gizmo, and Kasper.
Feared
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There was one question that J.K. Rowling feared being asked. She was always anxious about someone inquiring about the material of Dumbledore’s wand, which was made from an elder tree. Rowling was concerned that revealing this detail, given the association of elder trees with death in folklore, would give away Dumbledore’s fate to readers before it happened in the series.
Dementors
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Rowling has mentioned that the Dementors in the Harry Potter series symbolize her battle with depression. These eerie beings, known for their “kiss” that sucks the soul out of a person, leaving them in a state similar to acute depression, are like a representation of the struggles she faced with the condition.
