Matthew-Lewis.com

Universal Orlando Resort has released the schedule for the upcoming Celebration of Harry Potter. The 4th annual Celebration begins next Friday, January 27th and some packages are still available. Get your tickets now and join us at the fourth annual A Celebration of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort! If you can’t make it we’ll be reporting from the event all weekend!

Jason Isaacs and Warwick Davis will be joining Matthew at the event. Alan Gilmore, MinaLima, Mary GrandPre, Nick Dudman and Paul Harris will also be in attendance to talk about their experiences with Potter.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

• Harry Potter™ Expo – 9am – 5pm | Soundstage 33 and 21
• Movie in the Park – 10am – 12:30pm | Music Plaza Stage
• Movie in the Park – 1:30pm – 4pm | Music Plaza Stage
• Opening Night Event – 7:15pm – 8:15pm | Music Plaza Stage

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2017

• Harry Potter™ Expo – 9am – 3:30pm | Soundstage 33 and 21
• Kids’ Dance Like a Beauxbatons, Battle Like a Durmstrang – 10am – 10:30am | Music Plaza Stage
• WB Studio Tour London – Discover the secrets behind Creature Effects with Nick Dudman & Warwick Davis – 10am – 10:30am | Toon Lagoon™ Amphitheater
• Harry Potter™ Trivia – 11am -11:30am | Music Plaza Stage
• Learn Wand Combat Skills with Paul Harris (Kids) – 11:30am – 12pm | Music Plaza Stage
• MinaLima: Graphic Design for the Harry Potter™ Films with MinaLima – 11:30am – 12pm | Music Plaza Stage
• Harry Potter™ Trivia – 1:30pm – 2pm | Music Plaza Stage
• Learn Wand Combat Skills with Paul Harris (All Levels) – 2pm – 2:30pm | Music Plaza Stage
• Stories From The Exhibition: Taking the Audio-Tour Experience to the World – 3pm – 3:30pm | Toon Lagoon™ Amphitheater
• Harry Potter™ Film Talent Q&A – 4pm – 4:45pm | Music Plaza Stage
• An Interview with Mary GrandPré – 4:15pm – 4:45pm | Toon Lagoon™ Amphitheater
• House Rally Meet-Up (Costume Contest) – 5:30pm – 6pm | Music Plaza Stage
• Evening Tribute – 6:45pm – 7:45pm | Music Plaza Stage

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2017

• Harry Potter™ Expo – 9am – 5pm | Soundstage 33 and 21
• Kids’ Dance Like a Beauxbatons, Battle Like a Durmstrang – 10am – 10:30am | Music Plaza Stage
• MinaLima: Graphic Design for the Harry Potter™ Films with MinaLima – 10am – 10:30am | Toon Lagoon™ Amphitheater
• Harry Potter™ Trivia – 11am -11:30am | Music Plaza Stage
• Learn Wand Combat Skills with Paul Harris (Kids) – 11:30am – 12pm | Music Plaza Stage
• Learn Wand Combat Skills with Paul Harris (All Levels) – 2pm – 2:30pm | Music Plaza Stage
• Stories From The Exhibition: Taking the Audio-Tour Experience to the World – 2:30pm – 3pm | Toon Lagoon™ Amphitheater
• Harry Potter™ Trivia – 3pm – 3:30pm | Music Plaza Stage
• WB Studio Tour London – Discover the secrets behind Creature Effects with Nick Dudman & Warwick Davis – 4pm – 4:30pm | Toon Lagoon™ Amphitheater
• Harry Potter™ Film Talent Q&A – 5:30pm – 6:15pm | Music Plaza Stage

HARRY POTTER EXPO:
Soundstage 21

• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter™
• Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
• Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
• Pottermore

Soundstage 33

• Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter™
• MinaLima
• Stories from Harry Potter™: The Exhibition
• Scholastic
• Universal Parks and Resorts™

Univesal Orlando Resort interviewed Matthew Lewis ahead of his appearance at this year’s Celebration of Harry Potter. This will be Matthew’s third year at the event which is going into it’s 4th annual celebration. We will be on hand to give you the latest news from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

What are you most excited about for this year’s A Celebration of Harry Potter?

I’m looking forward to getting back to Universal Studios and checking out the park. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is an incredibly fun place to spend a weekend, so I’m happy to be back and being able to share that weekend with our fans is just an added bonus.

What are some of your favorite moments from the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley in 2014?

The Diagon Alley opening was fantastic. I’ll never forget the first time I passed through the gates and saw it with my own eyes. It was incredibly overwhelming and completely immersive like nothing I’d even experienced at work.

How does The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando compare to the movie sets?

As I just alluded to, the complete nature of The Wizarding World at Universal Orlando Resort gives it a level of immersion that we never had on set. We had to use a lot of imagination and complete the locations and sets in our own minds but that’s not something necessary in Orlando – it’s all there.

What’s it like to be immortalized in a theme park attraction?

I never thought as a kid that I would ever be part of a theme park or featured on a ride. That’s crazy. I’m so honored by it, especially since it’s one of the best rides in the world at the minute.

What’s your favorite quote from the books or line from the movie scripts?

I think my favorite line is from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban when Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) exclaims “I did my waiting, twelve years of it – in Azkaban!”

What qualities of Neville drew you to that character?

I found Neville’s underdog status a huge draw. Naturally, being British, the plucky underdog is always a character that I want to champion. Neville, however, is also inherently good. He always attempts to do his best and fight the good fight against overwhelming odds. He’s scared and out of his depth but he steps up and fights anyway – that’s courage.

What was one special moment you had during creating the Harry Potter films that you will remember forever?

The one memory that I always place above all others is the final premiere in London. I’d never seen anything like it and I doubt I will ever experience anything on that level again. It was unique and overwhelming. That’s all thanks to the fans that turned out that night. Unforgettable.

Do you keep in contact with the rest of the cast?

We try to stay in contact as much as any old friends. It’s tricky with everybody, including myself, working all around the world. If we find ourselves in the same city we try to catch up and A Celebration of Harry Potter of course is a great opportunity to see each other again.

If you could play another character in the movies, who would it be?

I’m often asked this question and I think I change my answer frequently but the most common is that I’d like to be on the other side. Playing bad guys is so much fun because it’s out of your comfort zone and you get to do and say things you’d never do in real life. So I think I’d be one of the Malfoys. Probably Lucius!

Matthew Lewis will be attending Universal Orlando’s 20178 Celebration of Harry Potter. This year’s event takes place from January 27 – 29, 2017. This will be Matt’s third time at the event that brings cast and crew to the theme park to discuss the films and have some fun! You can view our past coverage of the event here.

Packages to attend the event are still available on Universal’s website.

Details from the press release are as follows:

For the first time ever –Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick and Griphook) will attend the magical event and participate in festivities throughout the weekend, alongside fellow Harry Potter film star Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom). More talent will be announced on a later date.

Creative talent also set to appear at the event includes Nick Dudman, make-up and creature effects designer for the Harry Potter films; Pierre Bohanna, head prop-maker on all of the Harry Potter films; Paul Harris, the world’s only Wand Combat choreographer; Mary GrandPre, famed illustrator for the Harry Potter books; and designers Eduardo Lima and Miraphora Mina of MinaLima, who established the visual graphic style of the Harry Potter films and of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

This year’s A Celebration of Harry Potter will give guests the opportunity to celebrate J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World with a variety of exclusive experiences and attend the largest Harry Potter Expo in event history, featuring more partners and immersive exhibits than ever before. Expo participants will include: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Harry Potter: The Exhibition, Pottermore and Audible, MinaLima, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Scholastic, Google Daydream and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

[…]

This year’s A Celebration of Harry Potter will also include Harry Potter film trivia and, for the first time, a Fan Art Walk where guests can draw Wizarding World-inspired chalk art.

Guests will have access to Universal Orlando’s attractions throughout the weekend, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.

Access to A Celebration of Harry Potter is included with regular theme park admission or with an annual or seasonal pass. Certain activities are first-come, first-served. Exclusive event vacation packages are also available for purchase and include special benefits and reserved sections for the panels and demonstrations.

Today we’re sharing our final video from the 2016 Celebration of Harry Potter. This 37 minute video contains a wide variety of clips from the weekend from opening night fireworks to more cast Q&A sessions. It also includes the preview for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Enjoy!

Matthew Lewis surprised all the guests at Pierre Bohanna’s Props Showcase by showing up to the panel with the Sword of Gryffindor. During the panel he talked about the sword as well as some other props and things he used while filming. Watch all the way to the end for a special surprise!