Universal Studios Orlando held a grand-opening celebration for its new $200 million-plus attraction The Wizarding World of Harry Potter on Wednesday night. The event included a fireworks display over Hogwarts castle set to music from all six Harry Potter films, performed live by legendary composer John Williams (Star Wars, Jaws) and the Orlando Symphony Orchestra.
Among the franchise suits in attendance were the film’s stars Daniel Radcliffe, Tom Felton, Rupert Grint, Bonnie Wright, Michael Gambon, Mathew Lewis, twins Oliver and James Phelps, Warwick Davis, and Potter creator and author J.K. Rowling.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter features attractions, shops, and restaurants themed after the Potter films.
Rides include the Dragon Challenge, a twin high-speed roller coaster set to a Triwizard Tournament backdrop, Flight of the Hippogriff, a family coaster set to simulate a Hippogriff training flight over Hogwarts Castle, and the state-of-the-art interactive attraction Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, located inside Hogwarts castle.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens to the public on June 18.
The first trailer for 20th Century Fox and Walden Media’s adaptation of Christian author C.S. Lewis’ third Chronicles of Narnia novel, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, has hit the web.
The eagerly anticipated sequel finds Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy Pevensie (Georgie Henley), along with their cousin Eustace Scrubb (Will Poulter), joining Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) and his noble mouseketeer Reepicheep (Eddie Izzard) on a high seas mission to find Narnia’s seven lost Lords.
Take a look:
Voyage of the Dawn Treader is directed by Michael Apted (Nell, Gorky Park) and features Liam Neeson as the voice of Asian, the Lion creator of Narnia.
The first two films in the Narnia saga, 2005’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and 2008’s The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, were distributed by Walt Disney Films.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader arrives in theaters in digital 3-D this Christmas.
Guardians of the Ga’Hoole is the best-selling 14-book series by children’s author Kathryn Lasky. It tells the story of a young orphaned barn owl named Soren and his quest to escape a group of war-mongering owls by seeking refuge on the island of Ga’Hoole among wise and virtuous owls. The film adaptation is based on the first three volumes in the series: The Capture, The Journey, and The Rescue.
Legend of the Guardians is produced by Warner Bros./Village Roadhouse and Oscar-winning Australian animation house Animal Logic (Happy Feet).
