Can you guess where I am?!? There’s not much that will inspire this stiff-upper-lip WASP to dissolve into hysterics of joy, but here I am sobbing, “It’s real!” Such a spontaneous expression of raw emotion had never previously happened in my life. But that was me stepping through the brick wall behind London’s Leaky Cauldron into Diagon Alley on a top secret, exclusive set tour of the upcoming #HBOMax #HarryPotter series, now filming at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.
At Leaky, we usually point the camera outward to share with you the sights and sounds of Potter-related events, interviews, exhibitions, theme parks, etc. We don’t typically turn the camera on ourselves. It was hard for me to post this video; I cannot watch it without reliving that feeling and tearing up. But I wanted to share my unfiltered reaction with you because seeing Diagon Alley upended my expectations for this adaptation of the wizarding world. The movies took liberties with the books, but they were visually spectacular and I could not imagine anyone reenvisioning the magical world so well. After spending one of the most amazing days of my life touring the Harry Potter series set, thanks to HBO Max’s generosity, watching the filming (they were doing the scene where Hagrid takes Harry into Gringotts, more on that later!), meeting the producers, designers, actors, and crew, I was astonished and impressed by the assiduous faithfulness of the adaptation, and the deep love and dedication of every individual involved in the production.
As that incredible day unfolded, I went from cynical sceptic to true believer in the quality and verisimilitude of HBO’s series. Their attention to detail will leave you agape with wonder and delight. To avoid spoiling the surprises in store when the series airs, I cannot show or tell you everything I saw on set (at least not yet!). But everything I am allowed to reveal I will be sharing with you over the coming months.
Come with me as I take you through that unforgettable, magical day:
Although it looked like a typical British fall day—chilly, rainy, and grey—it felt anything but typical as my insides did somersaults of anticipation on the drive from London to Leavesden. I’ve not yet been able to make a much-longed-for trip to the Studio Tour, so this was the first time I’d been there. The entrance gate had two driveways. The sign on the left directed people to the Studio Tour entrance; the sign on the right indicated that the other driveway led to the active filming lot. Pre-HBO Harry Potter series, my excitement would have focused only on the lefthand driveway, but now I felt unbelievably privileged to be heading down the other one and through the security gate.
I was greeted by Executive Producers David Heyman and Ruth Kenley-Letts. Heyman radiated delight at still being involved in the magical world after over two decades and spoke enthusiastically about the opportunities this series presents that the time and technology constraints of the original films lacked. His joy at still being on this magical adventure spoke to the limitless possibilities of this magical world and how lucky we are to have it reenvisioned for new fans and old.
But at that point, I still wondered how Heyman or anyone involved in this production was going to recreate Harry’s story as beautifully as the films did. Enter Production Designer Mara LePere-Schloop to talk me through her concept art and scale models for the sets. I wanted to ask questions, which I am usually quite good at, but I was gobsmacked and just gibbering in awe of the meticulous planning and detail. I cannot show you photos yet, but I have a word that sums it up for you, a word to hold in your mind until you see it for yourselves: connection.
First, there is a physical connection amongst the sets, so that they look and feel real. One of the many ways a film/TV set differs from reality is that the locations are disconnected. When Harry and Hagrid walk through the door into Gringotts Bank in the first film, they are likely walking off the Diagon Alley set into a green screen. For the HBO series, they are trying something new and awesome: HBO has commandeered a significant portion of the Leavesden lot for the Harry Potter series so they can connect the sets to one another. That video of me walking through the brick wall in the courtyard of the Leaky Cauldron into Diagon Alley? It really connects those two locations. Likewise, when Harry and Hagrid go through the doors into Gringotts, the bank set has been constructed right there, same with Madam Malkin’s (which you are going to love, OMG, the gowns and handbags and dress robes!) and Ollivander’s. When students move around Hogwarts castle from classrooms to dormitories (I cannot wait to show you the girls’ dormitory, which we finally get to see!) to The Great Hall…you get the idea, they all connect. There’s an internal logic to how the castle would function as a boarding school, full of students always on the move from common room to breakfast to Potions and so on throughout the day, that is reflected in HBO’s deliberate design. That’s part of why I was so awestruck by how real it felt. One can feel the kinetic energy of students rushing out of multiple classrooms when the bell rings and crowding the staircases, little first years getting jostled and shunted aside by older students. This isn’t all sound stages and CGI trickery; it’s tangible, as if the magical world has come to life off the pages of the books.
Next, there is a connection between the magical world and the natural one. Magic grows out of science and natural phenomenon, works with them, incorporates them. Hogwarts is designed so that you are reminded it is situated in the Highlands of Scotland and connected to the native flora and fauna and landscape of that region. Costumes are made from local, natural fibres, like Scottish wool, and reflect the ethnic heritage of each character.
Finally, and most importantly, there is a deep connection with the books. The films adapted the books to fit the medium, the budget, the time and technological constraints, and to enable the filmmakers to put their own identity and creative stamp into them. For the HBO series, the time is more accommodating, technology has advanced, the budget is huge, and the production crew are dedicated to expanding the world of the books without changing them. We will see things that were hinted at in the books. I am thrilled to report, for example, that we will see Hermione receive her Hogwarts letter! I wonder which professor will deliver it to her house and explain it all to her parents? I want it to be McGonagall; she has experience living with Muggles and I feel she is a fitting representative of the magical world for Hermione, but I have no idea – it has not been revealed yet. Could be a professor we have not met yet, like Sinistra. If it were Snape, oh, that would be hilarious. One would think that Dumbledore had the sense not to make him the school’s ambassador to apprehensive Muggles!
And speaking of the books, THIS TIME WE GET PEEVES!
Not only Peeves, but SO much more the movies left out. We will get Dumbledore’s backstory and meet his dear friends, Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel. What, you didn’t think Dumbledore was ignoring that break-in at Gringotts? He was dealing with it, and now we will see how. And the memories from the Pensieve? We will see all of them, in order! We will see Ron bored senseless as Professor Binns drones on about goblin wars in History of Magic class! I can hardly bear the wait myself but, rest assured, Leaky will be posting much more behind-the-scenes content and exclusive reveals from HBO just for our fans.
Stay tuned here and follow @HBOmax and @harrypotter for updates on the series!