Sometimes, the worldbuilding (or lack thereof) in the Harry Potter series makes me want to scream. I was born in small-town Alabama. My family lived in a community known as “Frog Pond” (try finding that on a map), described as “just outside Center Star, which is just outside Killen, just outside Florence, an hour West of Huntsville” and was part of a Christian denomination best known for self-isolation and for its members marrying young to have swarms of (homeschooled) children. Which is to say, I know what it’s like to be in a community like the British magical world: tiny, insular, and scatt ..read more

In the magical world of Harry Potter, some characters captivate readers with their flamboyance, charm, and often, hidden complexities. One such individual is the infamous Gilderoy Lockhart. Renowned for his flamboyant demeanor, impeccable fashion sense, and charming smile, Lockhart has long been a source of both amusement and curiosity among fans. As we delve into the enigmatic character’s portrayal in the series, questions arise: Is Gilderoy Lockhart a queer icon? We will explore this query and more in the coming paragraphs.    His Sense of Style: Gilderoy Lockhart stands out as a c ..read more

Daniel Radcliffe joined Josh Horowitz on a recent episode of his Happy Sad Confused podcast, where they discussed Daniel’s role in the Broadway revival of  Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, and his fond memories of his Harry Potter costar the late Alan Rickman, who passed away in 2016 aged 69. While discussing his work on Merrily We Roll Along, in which Radcliffe plays one of the three leading roles alongside Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez, Horowitz played Daniel a clip of Alan Rickman from ten years ago, who was talking about Radcliffe’s work on stage.  It’s only in rece ..read more

The Harry Potter books are a complex series, filled with a range of highs and lows. Here are seven hopeful moments from the books.   Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone When Harry realized that Hagrid actually came, revealed that he was a wizard, and that he would be leaving the Dursleys.   Source   He sat up and Hagrid’s heavy coat fell off him. The hut was full of sunlight, the storm was over, Hagrid himself was asleep on the collapsed sofa, and there was an owl rapping its claw on the window, a newspaper held in its beak. Harry scrambled to his feet, so happy he felt as ..read more

Pottermore Publishing and Audible announced today that all seven Harry Potter books will be released in late 2025 as new audiobooks featuring a full voice cast of over 100 performers, an original score, and immersive sound design. Production is slated to begin soon.     Bob Carrigan, CEO of Audible, paid tribute to the success of the series thus far and looks forward to providing a new experience for listeners.  Beloved the world over, Harry Potter stories have captivated and enchanted fans of all ages for nearly three decades. With millions upon millions of Audible liste ..read more

With last year’s announcement of the Harry Potter reboot, fans have many questions about the highly anticipated series. Who will play the much-loved characters? What does the original cast from the Harry Potter films think about the show, and would any original cast members consider making an appearance? We’ve taken a look at some of the original cast members’ reactions below.   Daniel Radcliffe Of course, we had to start with the original Harry Potter himself, who is “excited” to watch the TV series as a viewer, as he told Variety. I’ll be able to enjoy it with everyone else possibly, w ..read more

Name: William Shakespeare House: Ravenclaw Wand: 12 inches, slightly longer to suit Shakespeare’s style for dramatic storytelling, ebony wood for self-confident wizards, with a phoenix feather core for transformative and resilient wizards.  Patronus: A swan, which is mythically connected to inspiration and creativity and strongly associated with arts in the Renaissance.  Background: Born to a wizarding family with a long lineage of magical practitioners, William Shakespeare grew up surrounded by the wonders of magic. On the banks of the Avon River, he showed exceptional talent from a ..read more

From Michael Gambon to Devon Murray, many Irish actors were featured in the Harry Potter films. A recent study conducted by CSGOLuck highlighted the top ten highest-grossing Irish actors ever, and Harry Potter actors secured six of those top ten spots, emphasizing just how powerful the eight Potter films were at the global box office. A spokesperson from CSGOLuck commented on the reason for conducting the study and the impact Irish actors are making on world cinema. As more and more Irish actors rise through Hollywood’s ranks, we were interested to know the Irish economic impact on the global ..read more

In the last of our episodes featuring contributors to our book, Potterversity: Essays Exploring the World of Harry Potter, take a look at two very different teachers: Albus Dumbledore and Dolores Umbridge.     Our guests are Dr. M’Balia Thomas (University of Kansas) and Dr. Brent Satterly (Widener University), whose chapters focus on Hogwarts professors. Both found ways to connect with students through Harry Potter and saw examples of what to do and what not to do as a teacher by looking at the Hogwarts faculty. They consider what it means to see teachers through the student perspect ..read more

The multimedia spectacle Harry Potter: Visions of Magic, which is created by Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment and NEON, is heading to Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore, this fall for its Asia premiere. The exhibition made it debut in Germany last year, and thanks to the success of the German premiere, those in Southeast Asia can now experience the sensation. Set to be the largest-ever version of the exhibition, the upcoming Asian interactive art experience will explore the magic of the Wizarding World over more than 40,000 square feet.        ..read more