fantasy literature series by J.K. Rowling From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels and eight movies by J. K. Rowling, a British author. It is named for its main character and hero, Harry Potter. Seven books in the series have sold over 500 million copies across the world in over 70 languages including Latin, Welsh and Ancient Greek, and is the best-selling book series of all time. They were adapted into movies by Warner Bros. The first one was released in 2001. The second, third, fourth, and fifth were released respectively in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2007. The sixth movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, was released in 2009. The final movie was divided into two parts. The first part, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1, was released in 2010. The second part, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, was released in 2011. Several spin-off movies have been released in 2016, 2018, and 2022 respectively, some television specials in 2022 for the streaming service Max, as well as a television series in 2024, and a reboot of the franchise is officially in the works.
Harry Potter was born in England, United Kingdom. His parents, Lily and James Potter, were killed by an evil wizard named Lord Voldemort, while Voldemort was trying to kill Harry. Yet Harry escaped with no harm except a scar in the shape of a lightning bolt, and Voldemort ends up dead or is he? Harry is raised by his non-magical Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and cousin (Dudley), and is mistreated by them. He believes the false words of the Dursleys that Harry's parents were killed in a car crash. As a child, he did not know that he was a wizard. He eventually discovers that there are many magical people, living secretly and hiding from non-wizards (known as "Muggles"). When Harry turned eleven on July 31, he received a letter inviting him to go to a school called Hogwarts for young witches and wizards. Each book tells the story of one year of his life at the school and tells how he struggles. On Hogwarts Express, the train they use to get to Hogwarts, he meets Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, who become his best friends. Harry also later meets Myrtle Warren, a ghost, who also becomes his friend. Voldemort tries several times to return to life and kill Harry. In the fourth book, Voldemort comes to life with help from his follower, Peter Pettigrew. The series ends with an epic battle between Harry and Lord Voldemort and a final epilogue that shows Harry and his friends safe and happy with their partners and children.
The seven books were all adapted into different forms of media, including toys, movies, spin-off movies, television series, specials, video games, and a stage play as well.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a play based on a new story by J.K Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany. It is billed as being the "eighth story, nineteen years later." It stars Jamie Parker as Harry, Noma Dumezweni as Hermione, and Paul Thornley as Ron.
The play officially opened July 30, 2016 at the Palace Theatre in London.[2]
Character | Relation | Actor | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Arthur Weasley | Father of the Weasleys | Mark Williams | Works for the Ministry of Magic |
Molly Weasley | Mother of the Weasleys | Julie Walters | Busy mother of seven children |
Bill Weasley | eldest son | Domhnall Gleeson | Cursebreaker for Gringotts Bank |
Charlie Weasley | second eldest son | Alex Crockford | Works as a Dragon-tamer in Romania |
Percy Weasley | third oldest son | Chris Rankin | Works for the Ministry of Magic |
Fred Weasley | Fourth son Older Weasley twin |
James Phelps | Owns the wizarding joke shop, left Hogwarts in the fifth book, "Order of the Phoenix." |
George Weasley | Fifth son Younger Weasley twin |
Oliver Phelps | Owns the wizarding joke shop, left Hogwarts in the fifth book, "Order of the Phoenix." |
Ronald Weasley | Sixth son |
Rupert Grint | One of Harry's two closest friends at Hogwarts who helps him
kill Voldemort. |
Ginny Weasley | Daughter, youngest | Bonnie Wright | The youngest of seven. Harry's girlfriend from the sixth book on. |
Character | Actor | Subject |
---|---|---|
Minerva McGonagall (Head of Gryffindor house) |
Maggie Smith | Transfiguration (changing something into something else) |
Severus Snape (Head of Slytherin house) |
Alan Rickman | Potions (brewing magical mixtures) |
Horace Slughorn | Jim Broadbent | |
Rubeus Hagrid (Keeper of the Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts) |
Robbie Coltrane | Care of Magical Creatures (studying mystical creatures) |
Filius Flitwick (Head of Ravenclaw house) |
Warwick Davis | Charms (making things happen) |
Pomona Sprout (Head of Hufflepuff house) |
Miriam Margoyles | Herbology (caring for magical plants) |
Sybill Trelawney | Emma Thompson | Divination (predicting the future) |
Madame Hooch | Zoe Wannamaker | Flying on broomsticks also: referee and teacher for Quidditch |
Quirinus Quirrell | Ian Hart | Defence Against the Dark Arts (defensive magic) |
Gilderoy Lockhart | Kenneth Branagh | |
Remus Lupin | David Thewlis | |
Alastor Moody (impersonated in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by Barty Crouch, Jr.) | Brendan Gleeson | |
Dolores Umbridge | Imelda Staunton | |
Severus Snape | Alan Rickman | |
Alecto Carrow | Suzanne Toase |
Student | House | Actor | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Cho Chang | Ravenclaw | Katie Leung | Former girlfriend of Cedric Diggory, and then girlfriend of Harry. Member of "Dumbledore's Army". |
Vincent Crabbe | Slytherin | Jamie Waylett | Draco's friend. |
Cedric Diggory | Hufflepuff | Robert Pattinson | Captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. Took part in the Triwizard Tournament. Took Cho Chang to the Yule Ball. Killed by Voldemort's "Avada Kedavra" curse in the maze during the competition. |
Gregory Goyle | Slytherin | Joshua Herdman | Draco's friend. |
Neville Longbottom | Gryffindor | Matthew Lewis | Harry's friend. Member of "Dumbledore's Army." Has a pet toad. Great in Herbology. Killed Voldemort's snake, Nagini, the sixth Horcrux, in the Final Battle, making it possible for Harry to finally kill Voldemort. |
Luna Lovegood | Ravenclaw | Evanna Lynch | Harry's friend. She attends one of Professor Slughorn's 'Slug Club' parties with Harry in the Half-Blood Prince. She is strange, yet wise and people often find her company uncomfortable. |
Susan Bones | Hufflepuff | Eleanor Columbus | She is a student we see in the first movie of Harry Potter. She is in Hufflepuff. Her grandparents have been killed by Voldemort. Her aunt, Madam Bones, works at the Ministry of Magic. |
The book has many non-human magical characters. Some of them are from mythology and others Rowling wrote herself. Some of these magical creatures have their own culture and some are like animals. According to the real-world book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the Ministry of Magic makes three groups of creatures: Being, Beast and Spirit. Beings are creatures like humans and house elves, who are smart enough to manage their own business and Beasts are not.[4]
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