Sci-Fi Storm

Universal Orlando Resort is finally telling the world some the details about the expansion everyone knew was going – the expansion of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Some of the details we basically knew, but others are a surprise – and the expansion is so big, they haven’t even revealed all the details yet, so there will be more surprises yet to come.

In advance of their “A Celebration of Harry Potter” event which starts tomorrow and goes through the weekend, Universal spilled the beans on details about the expansion, which brings the Harry Potter experience over to its other park, Universal Studios Florida, and connects the two via a ride on the Hogwarts Express. They even kicked it off with a webcast, featuring some of the stars of the movies: James Phelps (Fred Weasley), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), and Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood):

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This was just an amazing performance by the OSU band at halftime, performing a movie-themed set from this past weekend, featuring Superman, Lord Of The Rings, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park and Pirates Of The Caribbean.

I even said at one point, “If they make it eat somebody, it would be AWESOME!” I wasn’t disappointed. 🙂
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We knew she couldn’t keep away from the world she created for long…it appears that Warner Bros and J.K. Rowling have agreed to develop a new film series set within the magical world first seen her highly successful Harry Potter series.

The films would not be related to Harry Potter specifically, or for that matter Hogwarts – but rather will follow the adventures of the fictional author of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”, Newt Scamander. Warner Bros actually approached Rowling with the idea, and she has decided to write the script herself.

“It all started when Warner Bros. came to me with the suggestion of turning ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ into a film,” she said. “I thought it was a fun idea, but the idea of seeing Newt Scamander, the supposed author of ‘Fantastic Beasts,’ realized by another writer was difficult. Having lived for so long in my fictional universe, I feel very protective of it and I already knew a lot about Newt. As hard-core Harry Potter fans will know, I liked him so much that I even married his grandson, Rolf, to one of my favourite characters from the Harry Potter series, Luna Lovegood.

“As I considered Warners’ proposal, an idea took shape that I couldn’t dislodge. That is how I ended up pitching my own idea for a film to Warner Bros.”

Could Episode VII of Star Wars be filmed in Ireland? It looks that way.

It appears that J.J. Abrams Bad Robot has been talking with the Irish Film Board about shooting some scenes in North Clare, Ireland, as well as Donegal and Sligo, after Abrams and his wife Katie McGrath (not the Merlin actress, but like her is Irish) vacationed in the area in 2011.

In addition, a biopic about Irish king Brian Boru would also likely film in the same area, notable at the Cliffs of Moher, which may seem familiar – they are the cliffs where scenes from The Princess Bride and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows were filmed.

[Borrowed from WDW Untangled, our sister site]

It’s been known to be coming, but it was never official, until today: Universal Studios Orlando have finally announced the expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, to be built over at the Universal Studios Florida park, with a connection to the existing section via the Hogwarts Express!

Being dubbed “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley” (with the existing section being redubbed “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade”, the new section will recreate the Diagon Alley and from the movies, as well as part of London, which would likely serve as the gateway. The big attraction will be a ride based on Gringott’s Bank, likely some form of coaster reminiscent of the travel system to the vaults as seen in the final movie.

How they’ll resolve that some elements of Diagon Alley – notably Ollivander’s Wand Shop, were transposed to Hogsmeade for the park, remains to be seen – but they could easily do with expanding it, and perhaps put in something else in the original location. No details on how the Hogwarts Express will handle the transportation backstage between the parks, although some sort of virtual component is expected. Also remaining to be seen is how they handle park tickets, since visiting both parks in one day requires their equivalent of a Park Hopper ticket.

Here is the full release:
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It seems that J.K. Rowling wishes she spent more time on a couple of her Harry Potter novels – and she may do something about it.

Currently doing publicity for her first adult-aimed novel [asin=0316228532]The Casual Vacancy[/asin] (released tomorrow), she spoke with BBC arts editor Will Gompertz, and mentioned the desire to re-work a couple of the books, saying she didn’t spend enough time on them.

“There were a couple of the Potters and I definitely knew that they needed another year,” she said. “I had to write on the run and there were times when it was really tough. And I read them, and I think ‘Oh God, maybe I’ll go back and do a director’s cut’, I don’t know. But you know what, I’m proud I was writing under the conditions under which I was writing, no one will ever know how tough it was at times.”
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Syfy has just announced that it will air the mini-series Treasure Island, which aired in the UK earlier this year, as a one-night-only special event.

Presenting a fresh, new spin on the classic tale, Treasure Island, featuring an all-star cast led by Eddie Izzard (Oceans 12, and just yesterday announced to star in The Munsters), Elijah Wood (The Lord Of The Rings, The Hobbit) and Donald Sutherland (Pride and Prejudice among many, many other roles_. Robert Louis Stevenson’s swashbuckling adventure story about fantastical treasure, youthful courage and murderous greed will premiere Saturday, May 5 from 7-11PM (ET/PT) on Syfy.
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Forget the Oscars – the 2012 Saturn Award nominees were announced today by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, and the complete, long list of nominees are below. Hugo and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 each received 10 nominations to lead in the movie nominations, while AMC’s Breaking Bad led the TV categories with six nominations, one ahead of Fox’s American Horror Story.
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J.K. Rowling will finally write another book – but not only will it not be part of her massively successful Harry Potter franchise – it won’t even be a kids book.

It was announced today that the writer as signed a new deal with publisher Little, Brown, who will publish her next book, for an adult audience, in both the U.S. and U.K. The Harry Potter books were published by Bloomsbury in the U.K. and Scholastic in the U.S.

Details about the book are being kept secret, but Rowling’s statement only mentions that it “will be very different to the Harry Potter series.” We don’t know if she’ll still draw on the fantasy genre, or if it will be something more mainstream, but it will be interesting if she can at least recapture the “magic” of her previous efforts in a whole new direction.

Seems like casting rumors have run rampant lately about various movies. First up, the David Yates-led Doctor Who movie that Steven Moffat insists isn’t happening? Well, apparently Daniel Radcliffe had been associated with the role – which was an absolute surprise to him, and he seemed taken aback that anyone but Matt Smith would be playing the role:
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