First Photos: New Dark Arts Exhibit At The Harry Potter Studio Tour In London
If you're a Harry Potter fan, the Harry Potter Studio Tour is London is heaven. Located at Leavesden Studios, on one of the stages where all eight of the films were shot, almost every single prop, set and costume from the series is displayed like you were visiting Hogwarts itself. You can walk through the actual Great Hall where they shot big scenes, look into the Gryffindor common room, and see Hagrid's cabin, the Dursley home and so much more. I had the good fortune of going last month and was truly blown away. It honestly feels like every single thing that's in the films is there. However, I was wrong.
On October 14, the Harry Potter Studio Tour is embracing the dark arts. The full set of Malfoy Manor is being installed, giving attendees a glimpse into the sinister set from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. They're also adding props from Borgin and Burkes and a full replica of the snake Nagini. Below, see the first photos of the Dark Arts expansion of the Harry Potter Studio Tour.
The photos were posted on the official site. Here they are and click to see the bigger version.
And here's the official description:
This October, we're unveiling a new section devoted to the Dark Arts, encompassing Horcruxes and other sinister wizarding artefacts, in our first permanent addition since opening.
The current Malfoy Manor fireplace will be expanded to showcase the full set which became the headquarters of Lord Voldemort's followers, the Death Eaters, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. You'll be able to peer into the drawing room that features ornate chandeliers, an imposing fireplace and the long, grand table around which Bellatrix Lestrange, the Malfoy family and Voldemort sat, complete with mannequin of captured Muggle Studies teacher Charity Burbage and a life-like model of Voldemort's loyal 20-foot snake Nagini.
Officially launching on Tuesday 14th October, the new section will also include a variety of never-before-seen artefacts and props from Borgin and Burkes, the Knockturn Alley shop Harry accidentally stumbles into in Harry Potter and Chamber of Secrets, such as the mysterious Hand of Glory and the Vanishing Cabinet.
A section of Dolores Umbridge's Ministry of Magic office, including her garish kitten plates, perfectly putrid pink costumes and desk, will be on show as well as Defence Against the Dark Arts professor Remus Lupin's costumes, magical projector and gramophone.
Nagini
A model of Voldemort's snake Nagini will become the centrepiece of the original Malfoy Manor table. Prop makers from the Harry Potter film series recreated the snake using a painstakingly detailed two-week modelling process. They injected rubber into a mould to create the snake's outer shell and then painted each scale individually with a latex-infused coating. Finally, a metal skeleton was inserted to give the snake a life-like posture and the model was lacquered using the same outer coating that is used on most cars, giving it a reptilian sheen.
"The Dark Arts feature will be our first new permanent addition since opening in March 2012 and we're looking forward to unveiling it just in time for Hallowe'en. It will showcase the darkest parts of the films and include some props and costumes that have never been on public display before." – Sarah Roots, Vice President of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
Click here for more information on the space and honestly, I literally can't recommend it enough if you are a Potter fan.