SnitchSeeker got the chance to chat with Senior Vice President of Universal Creative Thierry Coup (photographed below, far left) inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando Resort last week, where he discussed the work put into the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts ride, what's in store for the new attraction at Universal Studios Japan, and if there are plans for more. Do note that Coup once told SnitchSeeker in the past that he'd love to see a Ministry of Magic at Universal's parks, so who knows what's in store for the future?

SnitchSeeker: Can you talk to me about how did the idea for the Gringotts ride started, and getting all the actors back?
Thierry Coup: I was watching the first movie with my son when he was just 12 and it was clear that we had to do a Gringotts ride. Right from the beginning, before we even did the other park, we always thought, “Oh my god, this could be the ultimate ride.” So, of course, when we thought about doing Diagon Alley we finally got the reason now to create a Gringotts ride.

So going back to the books and the films – what would happen on a Gringott’s ride? Of course, in the last book with the Horcrux [we] said, “This would be a perfect place for it. This would be one of the most powerful and dramatic moments in Harry Potter’s life.” The whole thing about breaking into Gringotts bank – it was huge. We thought, “Let’s bring that to our guests.” It’s something you want to experience. It’s scary, but it’s something you really want to live. You really want to place everyone into so they can really feel what it’s like. So that’s what triggered the whole thing.

SnitchSeeker: How did you get all the actors back, years after they were already done filming?
Thierry Coup: We called them. It was not difficult for most of the actors to think, “Well, you know what? It was so much fun. We loved playing those parts. We want to go back and do that.” So, I think we mentioned earlier not all the actors were part of that. Emma [Watson] and Daniel [Radcliffe] unfortunately were not available – but they were not available for some of the scenes in the real films. They used digital doubles, so it’s really no different.

They look really like they’re there today. They’re there just as much as they are in the films. You feel like they’re there and all the rest of the cast was with us and it just made it so much more rich to be able to bring Bellatrix and Voldemort and Bill Weasley. It was huge for us. For myself, it was probably the best thing I’d done in a long time – or ever – to be able to direct this cast and to be able to create this attraction and bring them to life for all our guests to experience. It’s huge.

SnitchSeeker: I know Rupert filmed. What did he do specifically – with not too much spoilers?
Thierry Coup: When you go on the ride you’ll see Rupert is in the Hogwarts Express. He’s in the main [Gringotts] ride; he’s in the queue. The same way you saw him in the films where he comes in the car and goes through the Thieves Downfall, and you see him with Harry and Hermione and Griphook. He’s right there.

SnitchSeeker: Diagon Alley is opening a week before the park in Japan. What are the plans for the Japan opening?
Thierry Coup: Japan opens the 15th of July.

SnitchSeeker: How different will the park be in Japan?
Thierry Coup: Japan is more like Hogsmeade and Hogwarts, so very similar. They made a few little changes because of the way it was placed in the park. But overall, you’re going to have the same experience.

SnitchSeeker: I saw a picture of the Black Lake.
Thierry Coup: They have a lake and they have a forest that you walk through to get to Hogsmeade, which is cool.

SnitchSeeker: Is it the same walk-through as it is here?
Thierry Coup: For Hogwarts, it’s the same attraction.

SnitchSeeker: Will you be there for the opening?
Thierry Coup: I probably will. I was there not too long ago to check on everything and make sure it’s all perfect. It looked great – incredible.

SnitchSeeker: What about Los Angeles? What do you guys have planned for that?
Thierry Coup: We’re doing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and you’ll probably see Hogwarts pretty soon.

SnitchSeeker: Is there anything extra there?
Thierry Coup: I can’t quite reveal that yet. Yeah, we always like to do new things. We always like to do some magic. We don’t do exactly the same thing every time.

SnitchSeeker: Bonnie Wright actually mentioned yesterday that she talked to you guys, the execs, about how she would’ve liked a Quidditch Pitch theme.
Thierry Coup: Oh, she had some great ideas. Why not? That’s what I say. I think at Universal, that’s what we’re about. Why not?

SnitchSeeker: Tom Felton was like, “Throw a Malfoy Manor haunted house in there.”
Thierry Coup: We think about a lot of things. The ideas are not something we’re short on. We have lots of great ideas, so let’s wait and see.

Editor's Note: What Thierry Coup said about 'new things' in LA may be in reference to what we overheard at the Minion Mayhem ride opening back in April - that there would be a Hogwarts Express element added to the existing Hollywood tram tour attraction.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando Resort will open July 8, 2014.

Ringo