Celebrities launch the new Forbidden Forest at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London!

Stars including actors from the Harry Potter film series plus Thandie Newton and Adam Garcia were invited to the official launch event last night, where they followed spiders on the green carpet into the Forbidden Forest.

Celebrities including Stephanie Pratt and her new boyfriend Ollie Lindsay Hague opened the original Hogwarts gates before bowing to the majestic Hippogriff, Buckbeak and came face-to-face with Aragog, the huge spider, along with his family of spiderlings

Meanwhile, twins James and Oliver Phelps sat down to enjoy a Butterbeer at Hagrid’s table, demonstrating the tricks used by filmmakers to cheat scale and make Robbie Coltrane appear the size of a Half-Giant on screen. Guests were also treated to a special Fruits of the Forest cocktail and were even served Butterbeer ice cream. 

On the night there were also special appearances from some of the original cast from the Harry Potter film series. Celebrity guests were very excited to meet Warwick Davis who played Professor Flitwick and Griphook, James and Oliver Phelps who starred as Fred and George Weasley, and Evanna Lynch who played Luna Lovegood. Celebrities also took time to chat to presenter Alex Zane at the gates of the Forbidden Forest to talk about their favourite scenes from the films.

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Stephanie Pratt attends the exclusive launch of the Forbidden Forest (TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR).

Celebrity guests had the chance to take control of the weather inside the forest, conjuring up wind, thunder and lightning as well as casting a Patronus using the same techniques filmmakers employed in the original film series.

Officially opening on Friday 31^st March, the new, must-see expansion has been designed and built by many of the crew members who worked on the hugely successful magical film series including Oscar^® and BAFTA winning Production Designer Stuart Craig, Construction Manager Paul Hayes, BAFTA winning Creature and Makeup Effects Designer Nick Dudman and BAFTA winning Special Effects Supervisor John Richardson.

So whilst it may be strictly off-limits to Hogwarts students, you are invited to defy Professor Dumbledore’s orders and follow the footsteps of Harry, Ron and Hermione deep into the grounds of the Forbidden Forest. (Entrance is included in the ticket price - tickets must be booked online in advance).

Kimberley Wyatt at the mystical entrance to the Forbidden Forest (TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR).

Home to an abundance of creatures, the Forbidden Forest offers shelter and protection to Hippogriffs and Acromantula among many others. It is also well known to beloved half-giant Hagrid in his role as Care of Magical Creatures professor. One of Rubeus Hagrid’s original costumes will be on display, lantern in hand, to welcome you through the Hogwarts Gates deep into the forest. Filled with 19 trees each with a diameter of over 12 feet, you will walk beneath the giant entwined roots on your journey and will even be able to control the weather using the same techniques created by filmmakers.

Amongst the imposing trees, you will encounter a full size model of Buckbeak, which is new to the tour, and have the opportunity to bow to the majestic creature. You will see up close the incredible detail and craftsmanship that went into creating the magnificent Hippogriff. Each feather had to be individually inserted and glued by the Creature Effects team who were busy adding feathers right up until the final moment Buckbeak was needed on set for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

As you venture deeper into the depths of the forest, you will come face-to-face with Aragog, the Acromantula. Emerging from his dark lair, the enormous spider will appear before you along with spiderlings from his family. Created by Nick Dudman, Creature and Make-Up Effects Designer, with help from Production Designer Stuart Craig, Aragog had a leg span of over 18 feet and was even able to crawl out of a hole and deliver dialogue in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

(Harry Potter characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved).

(Source: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London)