Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Something wicked this way comes.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Production
Budget
$130 000 000
Revenue
$807 041 049
Director
Scenario
J.K. Rowling
Author
Composer
Producer
Lorne Orleans
Actors
Daniel Radcliffe
Harry Potter
Rupert Grint
Ron Weasley
Emma Watson
Hermione Granger
Robbie Coltrane
Rubeus Hagrid
Michael Gambon
Albus Dumbledore
Gary Oldman
Sirius Black
David Thewlis
Remus Lupin
Timothy Spall
Peter Pettigrew
Short description
Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts for his third year of schooling, but the wizarding world is on edge. Sirius Black, a convicted murderer and supposed follower of Lord Voldemort, has escaped from the Azkaban prison, and the guards report that he is heading for Hogwarts. Harry, his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger must navigate a school year overshadowed by this threat, while the soul-draining Dementors stationed around the castle affect Harry more than anyone else.
This 2004 fantasy adventure was directed by Alfonso Cuarón, the fourth film he made and the third installment of the series based on J.K. Rowling's books. Steve Kloves wrote the screenplay, with Chris Columbus, David Heyman and Lorne Orleans producing. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson lead a cast of 62 credited performers, joined by Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore, Gary Oldman as Sirius Black and Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid. The 130 million dollar production earned 807 million dollars worldwide.
On IMDb it holds 7.9 out of 10 from 762,000 votes, while on TMDB it stands at 8 out of 10 from 23,660 votes. Film critics gave it 8.1 out of 10 across 263 reviews, a rating slightly above what audiences recorded on both platforms.
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.
- 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, a devoted fan of "Harry Potter." Initially, the role was offered to Tilda Swinton, but the actress declined.
- 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 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.
- In this film, Dudley doesn't say a single word.
- 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.
- The Whomping Willow and Hagrid's house are not in the correct locations as they were in the first and second parts.
- 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.
- Mark Forster was offered the direction of the film, but he preferred to work on the biographical drama "Country of My Skull" (2004).
- Live bats were flying around Hagrid's house, simply trained ones.
- Ewan McGregor could have starred in the film as 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 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.
- At the insistence of Alfonso Cuarón, the entire film was shot using cameras with wide-angle lenses.
- The glasses worn by Emma Thompson’s character were real, so the actress often experienced bouts of dizziness.
- The film's trailer appeared in cinemas on May 20, 2004, in England.
- 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 scene with the Knight Bus was filmed on the streets of London.
- 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.
- 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 suggested to direct the film, but he chose to film "Hellboy" (2004) instead.
- 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.
- There were rumors that Steven Spielberg himself might take the director's chair, but the rumors remained just rumors.
- The film is based on J.K. Rowling's novel 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' (1999).
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- Filming of the third Harry Potter film began on July 30, 2003.
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Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
