Animal actors to appear at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter

From Saturday May 25 to Sunday June 2, 2013, a selection of animals, trained by head animal trainer Julie Tottman, will revisit the incredible sets they frequented when working on the films.

Visitors will be able to pose for a picture with one of the snowy owls who played Harry Potter’s letter-delivering owl Hedwig as she sits outside 4 Privet Drive, or watch as she flies across the Studio Tour’s backlot. A selection of owls, including the one that portrayed Ron Weasley’s pet Pigwidgeon, will be showcased in the backlot throughout the week and will also feature outside the shop front set of Eeylops Owl Emporium in Diagon Alley.

One of the cats that played stealthy Mrs Norris and one of the ginger cats that played Hermione Granger’s bandy-legged feline Crookshanks will prowl the Gryffindor common room. Visitors will also be able to learn how rats and toads were trained behind-the-scenes, as the animal actors who played Neville Longbottom’s toad Trevor and Ron Weasley’s rat Scabbers were trained.

During filming, 40 kittens were brought to the studio to be filmed in front of a blue screen for Dolores Umbridge’s porcelain kitten plates, which can be found at the Studio Tour in Umbridge’s Ministry of Magic office. The kittens were adopted after the shoot and their current owners have no idea that their pets once starred in one of the Harry Potter films. Visitors will discover firsthand how these scenes were filmed as the Studio Tour recreates a blue screen set complete with kittens.

A Neopolitan Mastiff, trained like those who played Hagrid’s loyal dog Fang, will be stationed outside the half-giant’s hut and visitors will be able to compare him to the incredibly lifelike figure that currently sits in the Gamekeeper’s hut.

Tickets must be booked in advance and can be purchased from www.wbstudiotour.co.uk.