SnitchSeeker just participated in an exclusive fansite Q&A with the creator of
Harry Potter: The Exhibition and actor Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films. We'll have all the details up soon, plus photos of the Boston exhibit, but for now here are some quick excerpts:
- It took 16 semi trucks to move the exhibit from Chicago to Boston.
- The Boston museum set up the displays in record time – three weeks instead of the usual five weeks – in order to set up the exhibit in time for Halloween.
- The films producers have seen elements and plans for the exhibit, but have not seen it in its final form.
Matt had the following to say about the exhibit itself:
Quote:
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).
Matt went on to say that his favorite Neville-related object in the exhibit is the mandrakes and his favorite non-Neville-related part is the mist-covered Forbidden Forest with the centaurs and Voldemort.
Matt also spoke a bit about gearing up for his role in
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part Two:
Quote:
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.
Matt stated that he was on set last week for about an hour for some special effects testing, but he doesn't officially start back for
Part Two filming until next week. He also said he hasn't met any of the new cast members yet. He expects the filming to end around May or June 2010.
We've got loads of photos from the exhibit - and of Matt - so stay tuned!
Harry Potter: The Exhibition opens to the public at the Boston Museum of Science on Sunday, Oct. 25. Tickets can be purchased
here.
UPDATE: Matt donated Neville's wand to the exhibition at this morning's meet and greet. Photos of Matthew with young fans at the exhibition, as well as during the press conference, can be seen
here in our gallery.
UPDATE #2: Some interesting facts from the exhibition include:
Quote:
- Dan Radcliffe was allergic to the first pair of glasses he had to try on for Sorcerer's Stone so the material had to be altered.
- The material used for the Gryffindor boys' dormitory bed curtains includes astrological signs, which is what the set designer had originally envisoned.
- Umbridge's Defense Against the Dark Art Book in Order of the Phoenix was modeled after British children's books from the 1930s, 40s and 50s.
UPDATE #3: A short video of Matt introducing the Exhibition at the evening reception, as well as photos of the actor from the night, can be seen
below.
UPDATE #4: Warner Bros has sent over a video of Matthew being interviewed inside the Exhibition, as well as the producers and executives of the display. It can be seen below.