Now that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida has ironed out its kinks (or the most part, from what I’m hearing), plans are being revealed to expand the Potter experience to the West Coast with a second attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Sources tell The Wall Street Journal that the Southern California park will closely resemble the Florida facility, with a replica of Hogwarts Castle, rollercoasters, and themed restaurants that take their cue from J.K. Rowlings’ award-winning novels.

And if the idea takes off, the sky’s the limit, as WSJ report that similar parks could be opened “in such foreign territories as Japan, Singapore and Spain.”

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Workers are putting the finishing touches on the official “Making of Harry Potter” studio tour, which will be housed in a facility outside of London, the AP reports. With assistance from Warner Bros., this museum of all things Potter will include authentic sets, props, costumes and more from the eight-film series. And all of it will be located in the site of the original filming.

“I get shudders down my spine every time I walk back in there,” said Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in all eight films. “Immediately, as soon as you go back it just fires up a decade’s worth of memories.

“I remember the first time I went in there — it was on camera. (Director) Chris Columbus specifically didn’t want us to see it before filming, because we were only 11-year-old kids,” Felton continued. “So, our reaction when we walked in there was pretty much genuine.”

Fans will be able to walk through the Great Hall of Hogwarts, the Ministry of Magic, the cupboard under the stairs that Harry called home, and several more cherished sets at the facility, which will open on March 31.

A Web site allowing fans to book tickets recently went online but experienced technical difficulties, which the studio blamed on high traffic.

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HollywoodNews.com: There’s a palpable sense of finality in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” and it’s not just because it’s the last film in the series. From start to finish, it’s virtually all resolution, catharsis, or some kind of closure, and “the end” hangs heavy in the air no matter how casual or even comedic the proceedings are meant to be. But with virtually no real heirs to the success and longevity of this series, the final installment of the “Harry Potter” saga is a film that’s almost more sad to watch because of its significance than its story, because it offers a necessary reminder of the beautiful connection series achieve not just over multiple chapters but through characters their audience grow to know, love, and when they’re gone, genuinely miss.

The plot details are of such enormous significance that they’re almost irrelevant. The bottom line is that a battle between Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has been a long time coming, and its outcome may determine the fate of Hogwarts, if not the world at large as we know it. After undertaking Harry’s quest to find the Horcruxes which hold the key to Voldemort’s power, Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) join the fray to protect Hogwarts and its students from the attacking forces of Voldemort’s evil armies. In the meantime, the destinies of Harry’s friends, teachers and classmates are revealed as they join the epic showdown, and are themselves forced to decide whether his life is worth more than any other’s, much less their own.

Although I saw this film’s immediate predecessor, I am largely unfamiliar with the mythology and lore of the “Harry Potter” world, which was absolutely a detriment to my appreciation of many of the film’s subtleties. (Thankfully, the capacity crowd at a midnight screening on opening day reacted with the appropriate awe to keep me abreast of the most significant emotional payoffs.) Interestingly, however, the only thing one really needs to know in order to enjoy the film is who the main characters are and how they behave. For eight films, Harry has been shuttled through a gauntlet of expectations based on the proclamation that he is important; Hermione is the most astute and intelligent of the three, but occasionally gets flustered when put in a tough situation; and Ron has dutifully played sidekick for years while pining for Hermione, but he is finally coming into his own. These details and a little empathy provide more than enough of a foundation to become invested in what happens, even if you’re not going to be sniffling through the film alongside your neighbor in the Gryffindor tie and knee socks.

Technically, the film solved some of the problems of its predecessor but picked up others. Where “Deathly Hallows: Part 1” featured a lot of scenes in which Harry and co. sat around in different locales waiting and hiding, “Part 2” feels like almost constant action, with the characters running, searching, or fighting for their lives at virtually every turn. Unfortunately, 90 percent of the story takes place at night, and a considerable amount of the film looks dingy and unclear, especially in several of the action scenes. (It doesn’t help that everything seems to be colored brown, grey or black, and that cinematographer Eduardo Serra shoots everything through a desaturated, muddy filter.) I was relieved to see the final showdown less because it was a dramatic culmination of eight films than the fact that their magic wands created enough light that I could actually see what was happening.

Also, where in “Part 1” there were a number of “oh that guy? He died” scenes, which seemed to undercut their importance in the overall saga, here they’re replaced by “oh, they’re dead, and here they are” scenes. Notwithstanding a few cutaways demonstrating character details, there are some significant character deaths in the film, and yet we only see the aftermath – namely, their bodies. While this isn’t especially gruesome, it feels like it slights these characters, and gives the entire narrative a feeling that the filmmakers are trying to wrap things up in terms of story, not bring them to a close in a more profoundly emotional way.

Having been a huge fan of the “Lord of the Rings” films, I felt like that saga earned its 40 endings, and created an emotional throughline that built so steeply that the ending was just devastating emotionally. What I felt here was a sense that I, or probably more accurately, the rest of the fans in the audience with me, were coming to terms with the end of a film series that has meant something very significant to them, and although there’s a value to that sort of emotional catharsis, it doesn’t come from where it should – meaning the actual story. As emotional as some moments were, they were the sorts of cues that signaled that this character or that one’s story had come to an end, a payoff or resolution had been achieved, but seldom did they feel like they bore the weight of eight films of setup, buildup, escalation, or just plain narrative momentum. Admittedly, this reaction may or may not be influenced by my unfamiliarity with much of the secondary storytelling, but cinematically, “Harry Potter” has ended because it was going to – there are no more books! – and not because it absolutely had to.

Still, I think that the film is well-assembled, notwithstanding its dingy appearance, and well-acted, with Radcliffe, Watson and Grint effortlessly falling not only into the rhythms of their own character, but their position in the threesome’s longtime friendship. And moreover, the film is completely successful at giving its audience the feeling that they have shared an experience with these characters for almost ten years, and that their farewell is bittersweet. But ultimately, it’s both the exclusivity of its mythology, the minutiae of the world the filmmakers created, and the finality of its narrative which gives the film its resonance. In which case, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” is a serviceable, well-executed epic that should satisfy fans of its predecessors, or the franchise as a whole, but it’s one that isn’t meant for newcomers.

Check out Daniel Radcliffe Photos: Hollywood Movie Photo Gallery of the Day

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HollywoodNews.com: The media circus surrounding the release of the final Harry Potter film has sparked a huge interest in people wanting to look like J.K. Rowling’s characters, according to a leading online fancy dress company.

Daniel Radcliffe returns to play the lead role of the bespectacled wizard for the eagerly-anticipated eighth and final instalment when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 hits UK cinemas from July 15. With Potter fever sweeping the nation once more, costume company Fancy Dress Ball is being inundated with orders for costumes and accessories associated with the highest-grossing film series of all time.

“It has been a magical last few weeks,” said Fancy Dress Ball’s Paul Howcroft, who also revealed that sales of 70s fancy dress and 80s fancy dress items are rivalling the amount of Potter paraphernalia flying off the shelves at present.

“The Harry Potter films appeal to a wide variety of people of all ages and it’s no surprise really that so many people are choosing to get dressed up like somebody straight out of Hogwarts.

“We expect sales to increase further over the coming month or so as the new film hits the big screen and, given the success of the franchise already, I think I can confidently predict that becoming ‘Harry Potter’ for a few hours at least will be a timeless classic on the fancy dress circuit for years to come.”

Photo by All Movie Photo

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The tour, which debuted in 2009, has traveled to Chicago, Boston and Ontario. In August 2010 it was announced that Seattle would be the final stop of the North American tour.

NEW YORK, March 10, 2011 — Harry Potter fans in New York City can rejoice, as they will soon have the chance to step inside the famous wizard’s magical world with Harry Potter: The Exhibition, which opens at Discovery Times Square on April 5, 2011. The previously unscheduled stop in New York City will serve as the tour’s final North American destination before going international. Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased online at DiscoveryTS.com, at the Discovery Times Square box office (226 West 44th Street) or by calling (866) 987-9692.

In partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Global Experience Specialists, Inc. (GES) created the 14,000-square-foot experiential exhibition, where visitors will be able to visit dramatic displays inspired by the Hogwarts™ film sets and see the amazing craftsmanship behind authentic costumes and props from the films. Original artifacts from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ – Part 1 and the highly anticipated finale, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ – Part 2, will be on display, along with hundreds of original props and costumes from all of the previous Harry Potter films.

“From the moment they step inside, visitors to Harry Potter: The Exhibition are immersed in the fantastic world brought to life in the blockbuster films,” said Brad Globe, president, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “New York is the perfect location for our last stop in North America. We think fans will be thrilled to have one more opportunity to experience firsthand the magic of this incredible exhibition.”

Harry Potter: The Exhibition offers fans a firsthand view of hundreds of authentic artifacts displayed in settings inspired by the film sets – including the Great Hall, Hagrid’s hut, the Gryffindor™ common room – and more.

“We are pleased to offer east coast fans this bonus destination of the exhibition, all housed within the perfect venue,” said Eddie Newquist, chief creative officer for GES. “There is no better way to celebrate the imagination and creativity of the Harry Potter film series than to actually walk among the iconic costumes and props that helped bring the world of the films to life.”

“We are excited to present New York residents and visitors with this special presentation of Harry Potter: The Exhibition designed specifically for a venue of this magnitude. We’ve saved the best for this last stop – this finale will be the biggest and most magical,” said James Sanna, president of Discovery Times Square.

In addition to Harry Potter: The Exhibition’s additional North American tour stop, fans will also be eagerly awaiting the April release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 on Blu-ray™ combo pack and DVD and the much-anticipated theatrical release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in July.

The exhibition made its world premiere in Chicago in April 2009 before traveling on to Boston and then to Toronto and is now back on the East Coast due to popular demand following a wildly successful run in Seattle. The exhibition tours major cultural and entertainment venues, museums and institutions in the U.S. and internationally.

Harry Potter: The Exhibition opens at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, and runs through Monday, September 5, 2011. The exhibition requires a time-entry ticket and guests are encouraged to purchase their tickets early to ensure the best date and time. Tickets for the exhibition can be purchased at the Discovery Times Square box office, through the website www.DiscoveryTS.com or by phone at (866) 9.TSXNYC, (866) 987-9692. General public admission to Harry Potter: The Exhibition is $25 for adults; $22.50 for seniors (65 and over) and $19.50 for children (4-12); children under 4 years of age are free.

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London’s legendary Trafalgar Square will host the July 7 premiere. The red carpet festivities will take over Trafalgar before patrons shift to Leicester Square for the anticipated screening.

“For the last decade we’ve been gripped by the on-screen battle between Harry Potter and his arch enemy Lord Voldemort and this is one of the most eagerly awaited films in history,” said London mayor Boris Johnson in a statement. “As befits a great British triumph, I can think of no better venue than the iconic surroundings of Trafalgar Square in which to stage the most spectacular of send offs.”

It is going to be a massive party, a tremendous “farewell” and “thank you” to a once-in-a-lifetime movie franchise that has earned nearly $6.4 billion at the box office. The conclusion of “Deathly Hallows” promises the spectacular Battle of Hogwarts, as well as Harry’s final moments with … wait, I’m not spoiling it for you.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2,” directed by David Yates, opens in the U.S. on July 15.

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HollywoodNews.com: Fresh off of the December reshoots for the Epilogue scene in next summer’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, more casting has been revealed for younger roles in the series finale.

First, 14-year old Benedict Clark will play the role of a much younger Severus Snape, which seems to indicate that fans of the books will get to see scenes from Snape’s memories that will finally reveal his part in the Harry/Voldemort saga and just how deep his duplicity ran between the Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix.

The role of Scorpius Malfoy – Draco’s son – will be played by 13-year old Bertie Gilbert. Scorpius will be seen in the Epilogue scene, which takes place 19 years after the Final Battle at Hogwarts that determines the fate of both Harry and Voldemort.

The reshoot of the epilogue took place in December, after photos of the earlier shoot were released and fans complained about the look of the actors in the final scenes. In the books, the main characters are around age 35 for the final chapter; photos from the scenes previously filmed showed the actors looking more into their 40s and 50s, with receding hairlines and wrinkles.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 will be in theaters July 15, 2011.

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HollywoodNews.com: Anyone who has had the chance to visit Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of ‘Harry Potter’ knows that long, long lines are all a part of the experience, and no shop is more a testament to that fact than Ollivander’s Wand Shop. The powers-that-be at Universal must have also realized that, as it is being reported that a second Ollivander’s has been added to accommodate the massive crowds that are eager to find out which “wand will choose the wizard.”

According to Inside the Magic, the second wand shop has been converted from a former employee stock room, and will allow more visitors access to the vast array of wands and other Harry Potter themed merchandise within Ollivander’s. Guests to the theme park, which opened its doors this past June, have been known to stand in line for more than an hour for the experience of being able to choose a wand, just as Harry Potter himself did in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

The only drawback is that the second store does not allow for the 5 minute wand-choosing “ceremony” that is the draw for the majority of Ollivander’s customers. However, those who are willing to forego the interactive experience will spend less time in line to purchase a wand, which will allow for more exploration of other areas of the park.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter held its grand opening in June 2010. The visual representation of Hogsmeade village and Hogwarts’ Castle are from the Harry Potter film franchise, which has released seven films in the eight film series about a boy who discovers he’s a wizard, and is also “The Chosen One” who will defeat the dark lord that murdered his parents. The final film in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 will be released in theaters in July 2011.

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By Pete Hammond

HollywoodNews.com: This week in movies there is one story and it looms large. Every conceivable “Harry Potter” record was broken by Warner Bros. massive worldwide launch of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I.” With an estimated $125 million total domestically and a whopping $330 million combined figure globally the box office spell has been cast . ‘Potter’ fans turned out in force starting at Midnight on Friday and gave this first part of the big finale an encouraging ‘A’ grade on Cinemascore. Of course this is the faithful talking, the can’t –wait-to-see-it-even-though-I-have-read-the-book-12-times-and-know-everything-that-is-going-to-happen bunch. To give you an idea of just how front-loaded this thing was there was a fairly significant drop from Friday to Saturday but in the scheme of things that drop was in a bucket. This is why Warner Bros has decided to get even deeper into the movie tentpole blockbuster business, threatening to unleash 8 biggies a year in hopes of catching lightning in a bottle. Not everything has the savvy magic of Harry P though. This is a true phenomenon. I only wish the film itself were not such a dark, overlong slog that basically serves as nothing more than a teaser to the main event, the big showdown between Voldemort and Harry coming with the 3D converted Part II in July. Can you just imagine what those grosses are going to be like? I actually think the HP filmmakers slavish attention to every dotted i in J.K. Rowling’s prose is what makes this one such a long sit, but it clearly doesn’t matter to fans. You would think they would at least miss Hogwarts, all but completely absent here. And the whole romantic triangle business between Harry, Hermione and Ron is just sooooooo ‘Twilight-lite’. Am I alone, here? Guess so. Can’t argue with cold hard cash.

Judging from the abysmal performance of the week’s only other wide release, “The Next Three Days,” it might be wise for any competitor to steer clear of Part II come summer. This pretty good Russell Crowe thriller about a nebbishy husband-turned-criminal in order to spring his wife (Elizabeth Banks) from prison posted a terrible 5th place estimate of $6.8 million failing to draw the hoped-for adult audience in. Writer/Director Paul Haggis smartly adapted a French film, “Pour Elle” and made it percolate with suspense and fine acting, not only from Crowe but also a cool supporting cast including Liam Neeson and Brian Dennehy who steals the film as his father. Unfortunately, the first three days of “The Next Three Days” do not augur well for a run through the holidays. It’s best and only hope is that the slow-to-move adult audience to which it is aimed keeps it in the mix over Thanksgiving or Russell will be eating Crow(e). And he thought Voldemort is going to have a tough time with Harry Potter! Still movies like “Red” and “Secretariat” have shown impressive legs, hanging in there week after week thanks to the slower movie-going habits of the older audience and the same could happen here. Or so Lions Gate can only hope.

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By Hanako M. Ricks

HollywoodNews.com: In anticipation of the November 19 release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, retail chain Hot Topic has announced the creation of boutiques dedicated solely for Harry Potter merchandise in their stores.

Details from the press release can be read below:

BURBANK, Calif., Nov. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) and its longtime retail partner, Hot Topic (Nasdaq: HOTT), have announced the creation of exclusive Harry Potter merchandise boutiques in anticipation of the Warner Bros. Pictures’ release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, in theaters November 19, 2010. These dedicated boutiques will feature all-new products inspired by the famous wizard at each of Hot Topic’s 680 locations in the United States and Canada. Additionally, an in-store mobile application will offer challenges and rewards to customers who participate through their iPhone and Android mobile devices.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/warnerbros/47063/

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101104/MM93025 )

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101104/MM93025 )

Beginning today, the innovative Harry Potter-themed boutiques at all Hot Topic stores will offer fans an extensive product line, featuring junior and young men’s and women’s apparel, including exclusive Gryffindor and Slytherin polo and tie combination tees, along with bags, throws, jewelry, key chains, stationery, posters and more — all just in time for the debut of the final title of the blockbuster film franchise.

“As fan excitement grows towards the climax of the Harry Potter films, we are delighted to once again team up with Hot Topic to create these unique boutiques,” said Karen McTier, Executive Vice President of Domestic Licensing and Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “The offerings are quite extensive and fans of all ages will be excited once they step inside the stores and immerse themselves in the film-inspired product.”

“Hot Topic has always been a premier destination for Harry Potter fans and we are thrilled to partner with WBCP on this latest venture,” said Betsy McLaughlin, CEO, Hot Topic. “The films resonate greatly with our customer base and we are fortunate to be able to provide exclusive product at all of our locations nationwide, as well as online.”

In conjunction with the product boutique launch, Hot Topic and WBCP will also offer the SCVNGR destination-based mobile promotional application, which will allow customers to unlock digital “badges” by visiting Hot Topic locations and participating in various challenges. Each of the five badges represents one of the four school houses in Harry Potter, along with one for Hogwarts. Customers are encouraged to visit the store weekly for a chance to collect all five and also to unlock the featured rewards: a mini-movie poster and 20% off any in-store Harry Potter item, redeemable at all participating Hot Topic stores.. Some of the whimsical challenges include dressing up as a favorite character and posing for the camera or describing their least favorite flavor of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans.

In addition to the merchandise boutiques, certain items will be exclusively available online at www.hottopic.com. The site is also set to host an online sweepstakes where Harry Potter fans can enter to win a trip to the star-studded U.S. premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, becoming among the first to see the final installment of the record-breaking film saga. The premiere event will be held in Summer 2011, with the city and exact date to be announced next year.

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