26.7.09

How well do yo know Harry Potter?

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has had its premiere and HP fans are flocking to the cinemas with their brooms and wizard hats in tow. Here’s come cool trivia about the movie itself; see if you can break the spell and figure out the answers.

Which director turned down the opportunity to work on Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince so that he could work on Hellboy 2? The answer is director Guillermo del Toro.

Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, who plays Tom Riddle, is actually related to one of the cast members. Who is it? Fiennes-Tiffin is Ralph Fiennes’ nephew and was specifically hired for the part because he resembled his uncle.

Who was J K Rowling’s personal favorite for directing this film but didn’t do so because of a dispute with Warner Brothers? Director Terry Gilliam, who reportedly said, "Warner Bros. had their chance the first time around, and they blew it."

Much of the movie’s ending has been changed, what was the reason the filmmakers gave? The end act was removed to avoid repetition with the forthcoming adaptation of Deathly Hallows. The funeral was removed as it was believed it did not fit with the rest of the film.

At the time of the release of the book, Half-Blood Prince, it broke the record for most books sold in 16 hours, which was three million copies, can you guess which book would break this record? The final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

This is the second Harry Potter film not to open with events involving Harry. Which was the first? Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire opened with a scene from a chapter of the fourth book, "The Riddle House".

A special event returns to this movie after making its last appearance in fourth installment? The popular wizard game Quidditch.

Which director, while in negotiations to direct the first film, wanted it to be completely animated and wanted Haley Joel Osmet for the lead role? Steven Spielberg.

Was Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe’s first screen role? No, his first role was in the Tailor of Panama, alongside Pierce Brosnan.

If you watched all of the Harry Potter films, from the first one right down to the last, how much time would it take? An astounding 903 minutes. Though this figure might change, since the last film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has not yet been films—and is scheduled to be filmed in two parts.

Which actor’s children were a fan of the series and ultimately became a hero to them and their schoolmates? Gary Oldman, who played Sirius Black.