Dan Fogler on ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Addition to Warner Bros. Hollywood Studio Tour

Dan Fogler (Jacob Kowalski) joined Harry Potter’s Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) December 9, 2016 to open the Fantastic Beasts addition to the Warner Bros. Hollywood Studio Tour. As reported by Leaky, the exhibit’s debut was an exclusive 1920s-themed event introducing props, concept art, costumes, and graphic art from the film. Fogler recently spoke with Forbes about what makes the exhibit so fantastic–and so special for him.

He marveled over the scope of the wizarding world and the way the new attraction captures the magic:

“This thing is so gigantic…You get hit with waves of how globally huge it is, all the talent, all the layers that went into it. It’s so great to see it in this museum fashion. Sometimes you’re in something and it’s so big that you can’t see the edges of it and that’s what this feels like, it’s just so big. I just want to enjoy the ride, it’s so cool and it’s an absolute honor to be part of this all.”

Fogler also told Forbes that one of his favorite scenes takes place in the seedy jazz club, so seeing the props and art that brought it into sparkling, smoky reality was exciting. He elaborated:

“I will always love that speakeasy scene in The Blind Pig because it just has so much in it…There’s music and there are fun bits with the Giggle Water and Queenie and Tina and they just look gorgeous and then there’s Ron Perlman as Gnarlack. There’s just so many awesome things in that scene so seeing all the art from that was amazing.”

In addition to inside glimpses of the colorful Blind Pig, the exhibit includes replicas of the delightful pastries which Jacob fashions after the titular fantastic beasts and features in his bakery .

Photo included courtesy of Getty Images for Warner Bros.

Fogler said he identified with Jacob more than he expected to, thus feeling quite at home in the bakery setting. He explained:

“My great-grandfather was a baker and I only found that out because I did this movie, I wouldn’t have known that. I got the part and my Dad said, ‘You know that your great-grandfather was a baker, right?’ and I was like, ‘Get outta here!’ That was just a little piece of my past that just made things even more special. I know that he’s just looking down and smiling, my great-grandfather who used to make Pumpernickel.”

Dan Fogler’s genuine fondness for the film clearly extends to its fans. It has currently brought in $750.24 million worldwide. With the popularity of the latest installment in the wizarding franchise, it’s fair to say the Fantastic Beasts exhibit will be open for some time, and that’s good news for those planning to take the tour. Since guests are allotted about 30 minutes in this section before moving on, return visits may be needed to fully appreciate all the details included in the attraction!

For the full Forbes article on Dan Fogler and the success of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films and tours, read here.

 Featured image included courtesy of Getty Images for Warner Bros.