Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Timing: 2:21 (141 min)

8/10
22963

8.253/10
740520

7.9/10
762000

All about film

Video 17

Photo 276

Actors and characters

Release date

2004-05-31

Country

United Kingdom, United States

Production

Warner Bros. Pictures, Heyday Films, 1492 Pictures, P of A Productions Limited

Genre

Adventure, Fantasy

Budget

$130 000 000

Revenue

$807 041 049

Website

https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/harry-potter-and-prisoner-azkaban

Director

Alfonso Cuarón

Actors

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, Timothy Spall, Alan Rickman, Tom Felton
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

Lorne Orleans, Chris Columbus, David Heyman, Mark Radcliffe, Michael Barnathan, Callum McDougall, Tanya Seghatchian

Operator

Michael Seresin

Composer

John Williams

Artist

Mark Bartholomew, Alastair Bullock, Frederic Evard

Audition

Jina Jay

Editing

Steven Weisberg
All team (241)

• The film is based on J.K. Rowling's novel 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' (1999).
• There were rumors that Steven Spielberg himself might take the director's chair, but the rumors remained just rumors.
• Ewan McGregor could have starred in the film as Professor Lupin.
• 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.
• In this film, Dudley doesn't say a single word.
• Filming of the third Harry Potter film began on July 30, 2003.
• The film's trailer appeared in cinemas on May 20, 2004, in England.
• 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.
• The special effects team spent 6 months creating the Dementors.
• 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.
• 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.
• Live bats were flying around Hagrid's house, simply trained ones.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• The scene with the Knight Bus was filmed on the streets of London.
• Guillermo del Toro was offered to direct the film, but he chose to film "Hellboy: Hero from Hell" (2004) instead.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Mark Forster was offered to direct the film, but he preferred to film the biographical drama "The Magic Box" (2004).
• The glasses worn by Emma Thompson’s character were real, so the actress often experienced bouts of dizziness.
• 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).
• 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 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 band.
• At the insistence of Alfonso Cuarón, the entire film was shot using cameras with wide-angle lenses.
• 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 Whomping Willow and Hagrid's house are not in the correct locations as they were in the first and second parts.
• 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.
• Mark Forster was offered the direction of the film, but he preferred to work on the biographical drama "Country of My Skull" (2004).
• 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 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.