Harry Potter Trivia

Robbie Coltrane was handpicked by J.K Rowling to play Hagrid and was the first person to be cast

 

Author J.K. Rowling insisted that the principal cast be British and she got her wish, with two exceptions - Richard Harris who was Irish, and Zoë Wanamaker who is actually a US citizen

 

In addition to Steven Spielberg, other candidates for the director's job on the first film were Jonathan Demme, Brad Silberling, Alan Parker and Terry Gilliam

 

 

Rik Mayall’s starring role as poltergeist Peeves in The Philosopher’s Stone was cut from the film

 

 

The first film is known as "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" everywhere except the USA meaning every scene in which the Philosopher's Stone was mentioned had to be filmed twice, with the word ‘Philosopher's’ then ‘Sorcerer's’

 

On the shifting staircase, you can see a painting of Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII's second wife - Anne Boleyn was popularly believed to be a witch

 

The Philosopher’s Stone opened on more screens in the USA than any other

 

 

On the Quidditch trophy there are inscriptions for James Potter, M. McGonagall and R.J.H. King

 

 

Filch's cat Mrs Norris was named after Aunt Norris, a character from Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

 

 

The inscription around the Mirror of Erised says: "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi". Backwards it says, "I show not your face but your heart's desire."

 

The Hogwarts motto, "Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus" means "never tickle a sleeping dragon"

 

In the original draft of the Philosopher’s Stone, Drew Barrymore had a cameo

 

 

Rosie O'Donnell and Robin Williams asked for a roles (without pay) in the Philosopher’s Stone

 

Tim Roth was considered for the part of Snape, but dropped out to play General Thade in Planet of the Apes

 

The Australian Embassy in London was used for the Gringotts interior scenes in the Philosopher’s Stone

 

 

The street that Harry and Hagrid walk down to get to the Leaky Cauldron in the Philosopher’s Stone is the same one Sean Connery is parked in waiting for Catherine Zeta-Jones to leave the antiques shop in Entrapment.

 

David Thewlis, who later played Professor Lupin was considered for the role of Professor Quirrell

 

Although we know that Harry has a scar on his forehead, it’s never specified in the books where it’s actually located

 

The exterior used for King's Cross Station is actually St Pancras Station

 

 

Former England rugby international, Martin Bayfield plays Robbie Coltrane's 6'10" body double

 

 

Liam Aiken was cast as Harry, but the next day the offer was revoked as he wasn't British

 

Dumbledore means "Bumblebee" in Old English

 

After the death of Richard Harris, many actors were considered for the vacant role of Albus Dumbledore including Christopher Lee, Ian McKellen, Peter O'Toole and Richard Attenborough

 

Dudley Dursley has no lines in the Prisoner of Azkaban

 

 

The effects team spent six months creating the dementors resorting to CGI after other avenues didn’t look right

 

 

Illusionist Paul Kieve served as a consultant for The Prisoner of Azkaban

 

Filming was stopped for a while on The Prisoner of Azkaban when the train used as the Hogwarts Express was vandalised

 

 

The set for Honeydukes was previously used as Olivander's Wand Shop in the Philosopher's Stone, and Flourish and Blotts in the Chamber of Secrets

 

 

The Prisoner of Azkaban’s director Cuarón was forbidden from swearing on set

 

 

Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown appears in The Prisoner of Azkaban – he appears in the bar at the start of the film

 

Alfonso Cuarón had never read the Harry Potter books or seen the first two movies when he was offered the job of director on The Prisoner of Azkaban.

 

 

The Prisoner of Azkaban broke UK box office records when it took £5.3 million on its opening day

 

 

Sir Cadogan, played by Paul Whitehouse, was cut almost completely out of the Prisoner of Azkaban

 

 

Robson Green was considered for the role of Sirius Black

 

Much of the filming for The Prisoner of Azkaban was done in Scotland

 

 

Over 3,000 girls turned up at the auditions for the role of Cho Chang in London on 7 February 2004.

 

 

Mike Newell is the first British director the film series has had

 

 

At least one full-scale dragon was constructed on the set of the Goblet of Fire, which could even blow real fire

 

A digital spot removing technique was applied in post-production of the Goblet of Fire for some of the more severe teen’ acne

 

 

Daniel Radcliffe spent approx’ 42 hours underwater during the course of filming of the Goblet of Fire

 

 

Ray Winstone and Billy Connolly were considered for the role of Mad-Eye Moody

 

 

Rosamund Pike was the first choice for the role of Rita Skeeter but declined

 

 

The rock band at the Yule Ball is made up of members of Pulp and Radiohead

 

 

Viktor Krum says only 20 words in the Goblet of Fire

 

 

Evanna Lynch beat over 15,000 girls for the role of Luna Lovegood.

 

 

Helen McCrory was originally cast as Bellatrix Lestrange when she found out she was pregnant she was replaced by Helena Bonham Carter

 

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and more of the cast and crew were spotted filming the Order of the Phoenix at Westminster Underground station

 

 

The character of Grawp in the Order of the Phoenix will be done using a recent breakthrough in film technology, developed by Image Metrics