Hogwarts goes to Hollywood

Fifteen years after Harry Potter’s first big screen adventure, Universal is enchanting a new generation of Muggles with its most spectacular conjuring trick yet — a theme park in the heart of Hollywood.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter follows similar money-spinning ventures in Florida and Japan, but is set to be the most technologically advanced so far, incorporating state-of-the-art 3-D effects with the traditional fun of the fair. Opening at Universal Studios beneath the Hollyw-ood hills on Thursday, it is the latest attraction in a burgeoning film industry sideline which has become so lucrative executives are beginning to design sets with future theme parks in mind.

Together with the recently introduced Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, the award-winning The Simps-ons park area and Transformers: The Ride-3D, the Harry Potter attraction sees Universal partnering with Hollywood for a merchandising merry-go-round to rival Disney’s. Next up for Universal is The Walking Dead, a permanent attraction harnessing the phenomenal success of the AMC zombie drama.