Actor John Hurt has made some new comments regarding his role as the mysterious wandmaker Mr. Ollivander for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Confirming his character will be in both films, John Hurt spoke to Rotten Tomatoes about filming again this month on the movie, as well as some frank comments on the studios in Britain, large franchises and more. Quotage:
JH:
I've filmed one, which actually is the last one, and now I've got the
penultimate one to do which is in November, and that wraps it all up.
It's a big loss for Britain in terms of having a big studio movie here,
but it's not representative of our culture in terms of the films that
we make. I am convinced that though Pinewood and Shepperton -- the big
studios -- playing host to big movies is very important, our film
business is in the independent world. Of that I'm convinced...
Do you think the big franchise movies shooting in the UK give a
false impression of the health of our industry? All these productions
move in and hire local talent, but they aren't British films.
JH: No, they're not British films. Even Harry Potter
isn't a British [franchise]. We gave it to Warners, we just sit and
collect. That always infuriates me. I do think huge areas of the
industry are being neglected and we've lost the ability for
middle-budget films. When we did have a stronger industry -- and not
just a business -- we did have room for middle-budget films. They've
gone out of the window, as they've done in America as well, but a $20m
picture would be wonderful to make every now and then. We could do a
lot for that.
But it's like any country, if you don't have a lot of money to spend. And it's interesting seeing how much money gets spent on Harry Potter.
It's quite absurd, really. I watch it and think it's just the same as
Hollywood. I look around and you've got three costumes there, none of
which are likely to be worn, and they're all replicas of each other.
It's a vacuous waste of money and it drives me insane."
Thanks so much Joe!
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So the question is… are we seeing olivander earlier on, when Voldemort tortures Olivander (and Harry sees it in his mind), or do we have a clue as to where the device is? I vote for the former, but it is a point…
I love hearing Deathly Hallows news. And – I suppose some may see the things he mentions as a waste of money. I look at it as Warner Bros. spreading the wealth around. With multiple copies of the same costumes being made – think of all the people that profit from that: designers, sewers, factories that make notions and embellishments, weaving houses, dressers, etc., etc. etc. Helps the economy – right?
I’m still quite angry about the fact that the Wizarding World of HP is being build in Orlando, Florida, and not somewhere in the UK where it rightly belongs. So in that sense I completely understand where Mr Hurt is coming from.
In any case, it’s great that he’s back and doing — apparently — quite a bit of filming for DH. I truly hope we’ll get to see not just the Malfoy Manor and Shell Cottage scenes but also Harry’s insight into Voldemort’s mind. And not just the Ollivander insight either, but loads of them, like Harry has in the book.
wait… if he’s filming for both part 1 and part 2…. what does this mean? that Shell Cottage will be in part 2, right? I mean, Harry first saw him in the Malfoy Manor (and that could be in part 1), and then Harry talks again with him at Shell’s Cottag (and that could be in part 2????’).
This could mean that…. the splitting point is between malfoy manor and shell’s cottage???? answer please!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wow! intense interview. im glad hes back though! and for DH news! @ele0206 ROAR, i know! im trying to figure out the split from all the news about filming as well!!!! i think we are going to be questioning it until part 1 comes out! its so closely secured!!!!! =)
YAY! Olivander’s back! I loved the way he portrayed him :)