Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Something wicked this way comes.
Country
Budget
$130 000 000
Box office
$807 041 049
Director
Actors
Scenario
Producer
Lorne Orleans, Chris Columbus, David Heyman, Mark Radcliffe, Michael Barnathan, Callum McDougall, Tanya Seghatchian
Camera operator
Composer
Artist
Stuart Craig, Gabriele Zucchelli, Ferran Domenech
Audition
Editing
Short description
Year three at Hogwarts means new fun and challenges as Harry learns the delicate art of approaching a Hippogriff, transforming shape-shifting Boggarts into hilarity and even turning back time. But the term also brings danger: soul-sucking Dementors hover over the school, an ally of the accursed He-Who-Cannot-Be-Named lurks within the castle walls, and fearsome wizard Sirius Black escapes Azkaban. And Harry will confront them all.
What's left behind the scenes
- In the initial version of the script, it was intended that Hermione would not punch Draco Malfoy, but slap him.
- Harry Melling lost so much weight that the filmmakers almost announced a recasting for the role of Dudley Dursley. However, they ultimately decided to keep Melling, but had a special costume made that made the actor look much fuller.
- M. Night Shyamalan turned down an offer to direct a Harry Potter film. Instead, the American director and screenwriter of Indian origin made the dramatic thriller "The Village" (2004).
- The special effects team spent 6 months creating the Dementors.
- Emma Thompson agreed to play Professor Trelawney for the sake of her daughter, Gaia Wise, an avid Harry Potter fan. The role was initially offered to Tilda Swinton, but the actress declined.
- Before filming began, director Alfonso Cuarón asked the actors playing the three main characters to write a first-person autobiographical essay about their characters. Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, refused to write it, explaining that Ron would never do such a thing. Cuarón replied that Grint understood his character perfectly. In a manner quite fitting for her character, Emma Watson produced a 16-page essay. Daniel Radcliffe limited himself to a single page.
- After the death of Richard Harris (1930-2002), the role of Albus Dumbledore was offered to Peter O'Toole, but the actor declined the offer.
- The film is based on J.K. Rowling's novel 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' (1999).
- The tattoos on Sirius Black's body and arms copy the traditions of the Russian criminal world, where a prisoner's status is determined precisely by their tattoos.
- At the insistence of Alfonso Cuarón, the entire film was shot using cameras with wide-angle lenses.
- In this film, Dudley doesn't say a single word.
- Harry Melling lost so much weight that the filmmakers almost reopened casting for the role of Dudley Dursley. Ultimately, however, it was decided to keep Melling and instead sew him a special costume that made the actor look much heavier.
- Before filming began, director Alfonso Cuarón asked the actors playing the three main characters to write an autobiographical essay about their characters from a first-person perspective. Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, refused to write, explaining that Ron would never do such a thing. Cuarón replied that Grint understood his character correctly. Emma Watson, true to her character, produced a 16-page essay. Daniel Radcliffe limited himself to one page.
- The Whomping Willow and Hagrid's house are not in the correct locations as they were in the first and second parts.
- The first person Alfonso Cuarón thought of when casting the role of Professor Lupin was David Thewlis, and he was subsequently cast in the role.
- The offer to direct the film was made to Marc Forster, but he preferred to direct the biographical drama Finding Neverland (2004).
- Live bats were flying around Hagrid's house, simply trained ones.
- Ewan McGregor was considered for the role of Professor Lupin.
- The staircase leading to one of the classrooms at Hogwarts was filmed at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. It was the only element of the interior of the school of witchcraft and wizardry filmed on location, rather than built specifically in the studio pavilions.
- J.K. Rowling allowed director Alfonso Cuarón to make minor changes to the plot, provided they remained in the spirit of the work. For example, she did not object to the installation of a sundial on the Hogwarts grounds, but forbade placing a cemetery there. The author explained that a cemetery would be used in the sixth book of the series, which had not yet been written.
- The glasses worn by Emma Thompson's character were real prescription glasses, which often caused the actress to experience bouts of dizziness.
- Emma Thompson agreed to play Professor Trelawney for the sake of her daughter, Gaia Wise, a devoted fan of "Harry Potter." Initially, the role was offered to Tilda Swinton, but the actress declined.
- Guillermo del Toro was suggested to direct the film, but he chose to film "Hellboy" (2004) instead.
- The film's trailer appeared in cinemas on May 20, 2004, in England.
- Ewan McGregor could have starred in the film as Professor Lupin.
- There were rumors that Steven Spielberg himself might take the director's chair, but the rumors remained just rumors.
- Lucius Malfoy was supposed to be present at Buckbeak's execution and fly into a rage when the hippogriff vanished, but actor Jason Isaacs was unable to arrive on set in time.
- The scene with the Knight Bus was filmed on the streets of London.
- The role of one of the wizards—who is seen reading a book in the Leaky Cauldron pub—was played by Ian Brown, the former leader of the band Stone Roses.
- Mark Forster was offered the direction of the film, but he preferred to work on the biographical drama "Country of My Skull" (2004).
- Filming of the third installment was suspended due to an act of vandalism against the Hogwarts Express. It is worth recalling that the rare locomotive, leased by Warner Bros., was covered in graffiti in September 2003. The total damage amounted to over £3,000.
- Guillermo del Toro was offered the chance to direct the film, but he preferred to direct 'Hellboy' (2004) instead.
- Illusionist Paul Kieve was used on set as a consultant. He shared some tricks from his repertoire with the main actors, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson (Harry and Hermione). Paul was the first illusionist to be involved in the making of the 'Harry Potter' films. Moreover, he also played a cameo role in a scene taking place at 'The Three Broomsticks' pub.
- The glasses worn by Emma Thompson’s character were real, so the actress often experienced bouts of dizziness.
- J.K. Rowling allowed director Alfonso Cuarón to make small changes to the plot on the condition that they remained true to the spirit of the work. For example, she did not object to the installation of a sundial on the grounds of Hogwarts, but forbade the placement of a cemetery there. The author explained that a cemetery would be used in the sixth book of the series, which had not yet been written.
- While filming the scene where Harry Potter needed to look shocked, director Alfonso Cuarón advised the actor to imagine Cameron Diaz in a thong. It worked.
- David Thewlis was the first actor Alfonso Cuarón thought of when choosing an actor for the role of Professor Lupin, and he was ultimately cast in the role.
- Lucius Malfoy was supposed to be present at Buckbeak's execution and fly into a rage at the hippogriff's disappearance, but actor Jason Isaacs was unable to arrive at the set on time.
- The film is based on the novel "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (1999) by J.K. Rowling.
- Illusionist Paul Kieve was brought onto the set as a consultant. He shared some of the tricks from his own repertoire with the lead actors, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson (Harry and Hermione). Paul became the first illusionist hired to work on the Harry Potter films. Furthermore, he also appeared in a cameo role in the scene taking place at the Three Broomsticks.
- M. Night Shyamalan turned down the offer to direct a Harry Potter film. Instead, the American director and screenwriter of Indian descent made the dramatic thriller The Village (2004).
- The role of one of the wizards – he reads a book in the Leaky Cauldron pub – was played by Ian Brown, former leader of the Stone Roses.
- While filming a scene in which Harry Potter needed to look stunned, director Alfonso Cuarón advised the actor to imagine Cameron Diaz in a thong. It worked.
- Filming of the third Harry Potter film began on July 30, 2003.
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