Tom Felton spoke about his thoughts and impressions of the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood with SnitchSeeker this past week leading up to the attraction's opening.

The actor commented on how it did (or didn't) compare to the other two Wizarding Worlds in Orlando and Japan, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and what new Harry Potter segments he'd love to see added to the theme park.

SnitchSeeker: So, what’s been your impression of this Wizarding World compared to Orlando and Japan, both of which you’ve visited?
Tom Felton: They’re not really open for comparison to be honest with you. Obviously they’re the same park in many regards, but the one from Japan does not share many similarities to the one here.

I think there’s something about the fact that it’s in Hollywood. The fact that Warner Bros studios are a few miles down the street, and they’re the ones who got this ball rolling all those years ago. And the fact that the studio tours here are so amazing. It’s a real great opportunity to see how film is made. To have that plus this experience [of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter] on the side is definitely a double act.

SnitchSeeker: What’s been your favorite part of this park so far?
Tom: For me, the location is pretty special. I came here 20 years ago on a family holiday, riding these rides. To have your own one, to be part of it, is pretty special. I also came out here about eight years ago to try and pursue, career-wise, and wasn’t particularly keen when I first got here. But now I live here and love it, and I’ve brought a piece of my home back in London here. So it’s very special to me. I never got emotional at the other parks for some reason, but there’s something about here, last night with the music and John Williams.

SnitchSeeker: What are your thoughts about the Fantastic Beasts series? What are you hoping to see, as a fan, as part of the series?
Tom: No expectations. I haven’t thought about it. I know it’s the dream team. You’ve got Heyman, Yates and Rowling back together, so they can’t really do much wrong, I don’t think. I have every faith in their ability to convert Jo’s work to the best of their abilities. I just think it’s exciting that she’s keeping the flame going, in a different sense. She’s creating more content.

SnitchSeeker: What would be your advice to that cast, just coming into this fan base, for Eddie Redmayne and everybody else?
Tom: I don’t think they need to take advice from us. We don’t share any similarities, really. At 9 and 10 years old, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. They know exactly what they’re getting themselves into. And Eddie’s an Oscar-winning actor. The last thing he needs is advice from me.

SnitchSeeker: On a personal level, what would you like to see added to the Wizarding World? How would you expand it?
Tom: You could just keep going. It’s endless – from Malfoy Manor to Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley. I would like to see Malfoy Manor – obviously a bit biased there. I think it would maybe make a good ghost house or some sort of like spook train or whatever. There’s enough dark sides of that house to scare any child, I think. Yeah, there’s more look forward to. Something tells me this isn’t the end of it.

SnitchSeeker: If they did make it, and they asked you to come back again, would you?
Tom: Yeah, of course I would.

SnitchSeeker: What do you have coming up, project-wise?
Tom: Something released? A few things this year. There’s an animation film called, Sheep & Wolves, there’s a British spy film called, Stratton and a film that I just did with Troian Bellisario, an American drama called, Feed. I have no idea when any of these films will be out, but I know they will be at some point. This year’s going to be mostly commercial.

SnitchSeeker: You pick so many different projects. How do you choose them? What motivates you?
Tom: Just people. I don’t particularly go for character or story. I mean, it all plays a part, but I’m more interested in working with people that I get on well with. I don’t consider the outcome to be the reward or the result. I just purely base it on my experience, and what comes out of it is really neither here nor there to me. If the Harry Potter films were a complete failure, I still would have loved them as much as I did. So yeah, just enjoying the experience.

Warwick Davis similarly discussed the three Wizarding World of Harry Potter attractions around the world this past Wednesday with SnitchSeeker, how he'd love to see Azkaban prison come to life, and what advice he may (or may not) give the cast of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

SnitchSeeker: Hi, Warwick. How’d the experience been for you at this particular park?
Warwick Davis: It’s great. Here we are in Hollywood! And we are celebrating the opening of the Wizarding World here. The place where movie magic is created will now have a truly magical place.

SnitchSeeker: So what’s been the highlight for you so far?
Warwick: Hanging out with Tom and Evanna and James and Oliver again. And just experience this place – being able to hang out here, and being totally immersed in this place. For me, it brings back all the memories of having made the films, worked in these locations. So that’s an added bonus for me.

Just seeing new people discovering it, walking through and the wonder on their faces. It’s pretty incredible. It makes me feel even more humbled that I’m a part of this – a very small part of it – but it’s really nice to be able to think about that, as well.

SnitchSeeker: How does it compare to Orlando’s park?
Warwick: You can’t really compare the two. I just think it’s terrific that we now have a Wizarding World on the west coast. Again, being in Hollywood I think is exciting. This place, throughout the world, is known for movies. It’s where movies are made. Universal Studios, here where this is situated as well, it’s a real working movie studio.

This isn’t just a theme park. We are in a place that makes some of the biggest movies in the world. And not far down the street is Warner Bros, who are responsible for Harry Potter. I think it makes it extra special that we have a Wizarding World here.

SnitchSeeker: If you had a voice in how to expand the Wizarding World here or in Orlando or even Japan, what would you like to see come to life?
Warwick: I would like to see Azkaban. I’m intrigued about what goes on in Azkaban. We hear about it but we never really get a chance to see in Azkaban. So I think that’d be interesting.

SnitchSeeker: How would you envision it?
Warwick: A dark experience, wouldn’t it be? It’d be spooky, kind of like a Haunted Mansion-type thing that they have at Disneyworld. You go through and it’s one of those exploratory rides that takes you through. Lots of shocks and stuff, and really into special effects.

SnitchSeeker: So Fantastic Beasts and Cursed Child, it’s basically a new chapter in the entire Wizarding World. What are your thoughts on it – starting with Fantastic Beasts?
Warwick: Fantastic Beasts will, I believe, give us another glimpse into the Wizarding World J.K. Rowling’s imagined. That’s quite exciting, isn’t it? It’ll be a slightly different perspective of that world. I’m looking forward to seeing the movie.

SnitchSeeker: Have you poked J.K. Rowling to get her rolling there? Because we know there are goblins in Fantastic Beasts?
Warwick: You don’t know who to drop hints to, these days. I used to do that with Star Wars. That was my old trick. If there’s a character, I would hope that they would ask me to do something. As I said, I’m just excited that they’re actually going to make some more stuff that gives us another look into that world.

As do things here in the Wizarding World. Forbidden Journey is a chance to experience further adventures – something you don’t see in the movies. So all of this stuff expands on it. The play in London will also do a little bit more of that, as well. It’ll be a slightly different glimpse into the world.

SnitchSeeker: So what advice would you give to the actors in Fantastic Beasts, as somebody whose been surrounded by millions of fans over the years? They’re about to hit that, as well.
Warwick: They’re certainly going to find it an interesting experience. And one I should imagine they’re preparing themselves for because, obviously, when we made the first Harry Potter film we knew the books were really successful, there were two books out at that point.

We never had a concept of how successful the movie was going to be. And then the fact that we were going to go and make eight in total. So at this point I imagine they actually have some idea like, “Yeah, this could be pretty huge, this.” But, you never can tell, but they’re always going to be known for being cast members in Fantastic Beasts. That’s what’s going to happen.

SnitchSeeker: So what’s coming up for you, project-wise?
Warwick: I’m in loads of stuff at the minute. Much of it I can’t talk about, which is a shame, but rules of secrecy exist quite prominently in the film industry now.There’s lots of exciting things, but stuff I can’t talk about. Sorry.

SnitchSeeker: Possibly back in Star Wars?
Warwick: Again, I couldn’t talk about it.

SnitchSeeker: So Universal [Hollywood] is basically sold out for the next few days. What’s your advice for all those tens of thousands of fans showing up for the next few days here?
Warwick: However long it takes you to get here, however long it takes you to wait, it’s certainly worth the wait because you’re in for a treat once you get to the front of that line. That’s all I can say. Bring plenty of supplies along with you for the long wait in the line. But when you get here, there’s a cold Butterbeer waiting for you.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood is now open to the world; tickets can be purchased here.

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