Harry Potter character Draco Malfoy was back staring at a shrieking mandrake plant as he launched a new feature at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. Tom Felton, who played Draco in the hit movies, unveiled Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse.
The new expansion opens at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter on July 1 and is part of a new feature Mandrakes and Magical Creatures. Professor Sprout’s greenhouse, a fan-favourite set from the film series, was where students were taught their Herbology lessons with Professor Pomona Sprout.
The greenhouse is home to many exotic and magical plants. And just like a Hogwarts’ student, visitors to the Studio Tour will be able to step into the greenhouse and stop to pull out a potted Mandrake as part of an interactive display.
Tom held up a mandrake plant and heard its famous shrieking for the first time since filming Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets more than 20 years ago. The Venomous Tentacula hangs from the ceiling inside the greenhouse and dragon sculptures decorate the outside.
During filming, various techniques were used to achieve the movement of the magical plants. The sinuous grasping movement of the Tentacula’s tendrils was computer-generated, however, the movement of the mandrakes was achieved using animatronic controllers hidden beneath the table.
The humanoid-looking mandrake plants may look scary, but they had a very important purpose in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. When the Chamber of Secrets was opened for a second time, many students ended up petrified by the Basilisk, a legendary giant reptile. Professor Sprout was given the task of growing her mandrakes to full-size, so that they could be cut up and stewed for a Mandrake Restorative Draught.
Mandrakes and Magical Creatures will open on July 1 and run until September 12, 2022. As part of the feature, visitors will be welcomed into the Great Hall to the Frog Choir scene as seen in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, featuring the costume of conductor of the choir, Professor Flitwick, as worn by Warwick Davis.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London will also be expanding the exterior sets in their backlot with new additions including the fountain from the Hogwarts courtyard and a 1:3 scale-version of the Weasleys’ Burrow.
Photos: David Parry/PA Wire.
The greenhouse is a fan-favourite set from the Harry Potter film series (scene linked HERE), where students were taught their Herbology lessons with Professor Pomona Sprout.
