Coming soon: Harry Potter theme park

London, Sep 16 (ANI): Harry Potter fans can soon experience the thrills of the adventures of the hugely popular boy wizard, for a new theme park based on the hit franchise is set to open next year.

The theme park, called ‘The Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter’, is set to open in spring 2010 at Universal Studios, the Orlando resort has announced.he park is being developed in coordination with J.K. Rowling, the author of the immensely successful books, which have been adapted into films.

Recreating the fabled Hogwarts school that Potter and his friends attend, as well as the nearby village of Hogsmeade, the theme park promises a “completely immersive environment” for visitors.

“All of the action and adventures of Harry Potter’s world will come to life here at Universal Orlando Resort,” the Telegraph quoted Tom Williams, chairman and CEO of Universal Parks and Resorts, as saying.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be unlike any other experience on earth,” he added.

In fact, visitors at a replica of the Three Broomsticks, one of Hogsmeade’s popular pubs, will be treated to traditional British fare and have the chance to sip on Butterbeer – Potter’s tipple of choice.

The park will also feature theme rides, including the ‘Flight of the Hippogriff’, which will simulate a training flight on the magical, quick-to-offend creature.

Those who lobed the fast-paced wizard sport Quidditch, will also have a chance to participate in a simulated Triwizard Tournament, as well as examine Quidditch equipment and even the elusive Golden Snitch at several Hogsmeade shops.

“Harry Potter continues to spark the imaginations of fans of all ages and we really have seen the anticipation continue to build for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” said Brad Globe, president of Warner Bros. Consumer Products. (ANI)

Harry Potter sketches up for grabs

London, Apr 19 (ANI): Rare artwork for Harry Potter books is to be auctioned at the Glasgow Art Fair.

Sketches by the acclaimed artist Cliff Wright, who illustrated the book Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, are to go under the hammer later this month.

The drawings are the instantly recognisable forerunners of the images, which appeared on the front and back covers of the second novel of JK Rowling’s series.

The front illustration, which features the bespectacled wizard and his classmate Hermione Granger clinging to the back of hippogriff, is expected to fetch 13,000 pounds.

The second sketch, which features a snarling dog, is predicted to raise 11,000 pounds.

Wright said the images were completed in 1998.

“The images are part of a series of 10 which were sent to the publisher Bloomsbury as rough ideas for character development and composition,” he said.

“Each drawing was submitted by fax and returned with comments. The designs were also passed on to JK Rowling for her approval and any comments passed back to me,” the Scotsman quoted Wright as saying.

“On deciding the look of the characters and the picture composition, the watercolour illustration that you see on the cover was then completed, and when the book was published in the autumn of 1999 it became a global phenomenon,” he added.

Micky Middleton of art firm Red Gallery is dealing with the sale and believes that it would attract a huge amount of interest.

“I would encourage collectors to come and see these original works in situ at the Fair,” he said.

The Glasgow Art Fair will run from April 23-26. (ANI)