Category: Interviews

I have just added 2 new photos from the Harry Potter Exhibit Event Matthew attended last week.  See them both here in the gallery!

These photos also came with a great interview!

Q: In most of the films so far, Neville Longbottom is a supporting character with limited appearances. How do you establish the character so he is memorable?

A: I’m always in contact with (director) David Yates, and we talk constantly about what Neville would be doing and feeling, even when he is in the background…This is something David Yates is keen about, not just with Neville Longbottom, but with all the characters, to keep the whole scene alive.

Q: As someone who was a fan of the books since childhood, is there anything in the movies so far that you wish were different?

A: I was a little upset when the scene in the book “Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix” wasn’t included where Neville goes to St. Mungo’s Hospital to see his parents (torture victims of Bellatrix Lestrange, follower of Lord Voldemort). That scene was so crucial to Neville’s character. But due to the length of the film, we had to cut that sequence.

Q: The stories the books and films are told mainly from Harry’s point of view. Does this limit the ability to tell the story?

A: Obviously, the books are about Harry Potter how he was orphaned, how he grew up, how he thought at first that he was a Muggle (a person who cannot do magic.)…His interactions with the other characters really touched me a lot with Neville, he helps bring him out of his shell. His interactions with Neville have helped bring Neville along.

Q: Along with the main characters, it seems like nearly every supporting character, including Neville, has a fan base. Does that have an effect on how you play the character?

A: (Laughs.) People do say, “More Neville, please. It’s a shame there isn’t more of him in the film.” In the last film (“Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince”), Neville only had two lines. I would have liked more, but it is such a massive story that some characters had to take more of a backseat role. Also, there were new characters that had to be introduced.

Q: There are people who write fan fiction about characters, including Neville, with alternate endings and realities. Are you familiar with any of these stories?

A: I have been given some fan fiction by various fans. It is interesting. Some of it is downright strange. But if people like the character so much and write their own back stories, I think it is wonderful. If the fans feel they know the character enough to write a completely different story, then that is wonderful.

Q: Some fans also have a crush on Neville and on you. Did you ever expect that?

A: Definitely not for myself, but I wouldn’t begrudge it. (Laughs.) It’s cool for a 20-year-old guy to have that. When I got into “Harry Potter” that was never really the aim.

Q: What can we expect from Neville in the next film (“Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Part One,” to be released in 2010)?

A: I got the final script a few weeks ago. Neville has got a lot of stuff to do. The three main students (Harry, and friends Ron Weasley and Hermoine Grainger) have been away from Hogwarts, but Neville stays and takes charge of Dumbledore’s Army (which leads the charge against Voldemort and his forces.) He is leading an underground resistance. He gets beaten and is a bit bloodied.

Q: Are you satisfied with the role he will play?

A: I think the fans are going to love it. Neville really comes through. He’s got this older demeanor. Nothing scares him anymore.

There are a bunch of reports and new photos from the Harry Potter: The Exhibit event held on Thursday.  I will be adding the photos to the gallery after I post this and you can read all the articles here:

• MuseumNews
• NECN
• ABC Local
• WBZ-TV
• TLC
• MuggleNet
• The Boston Channel
• Boston Herald

Thanks to SnitchSeeker we have a lot of fun photos and information from the Harry Potter: The Exhibit press event that was held today.  Head over to the gallery to see photos of Matthew at the event!  Matt said the following at the event:

I was stunned. I’d heard about the exhibit in Chicago, but I had no idea about the size and scale. It was incredible and it was really wind-y and mazelike. You turn a corner and don’t know what to expect. It took me back to Leavesden when I was 11 and you’d walk into the Great Hall or Chamber of Secrets – it reminded me of that. When the door first opens and the Hogwarts Express is there – the kids’ll love it! What I hope is that they get to experience a little bit of what we do there (on set).

He also talked a bit about Deathly Hallows:

I got the script – fourth draft – of Part Two and I’ve no idea how we’re gonna do it. The scale of it is enormous. We’ve got some pretty incredible scenes to shoot.

I start next week. Neville is a bloody and battered resistance leader – a battle hardened veteran. A bit gung ho.

Also according to this article:

“I’ve definitely grown up with Neville, grown in confidence and maturity as the character has,” he said.

Lewis was 11 years old when he started playing Neville in the first Potter film. He’s now 20, and about to begin filming the final chapter in the series. When asked if he will miss playing Neville he said, “Absolutely, Neville’s been a huge part of my life. And not just the character, all the people, the studio, the cast and crew, that sort of safety net of Harry Potter really. It’s been a magical world I’ve been a part of.”