The brains and talent behind the Harry Potter films assembled last Sunday in New York City — one of the last times they’d do so — to talk to reporters about the emotional end to a decade-long journey. They all spoke of the challenges and joys of working on a project whose fans number in the millions. But perhaps David Yates, who directed four of the franchise’s films, said it best when he declared simply, “It’s legacy filmmaking.” Of course, Yates also conceded, “I’m going to take a few months off to recover.” And no wonder. A single scene can exhaust the resources of a professional. Take the scene in this final film, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2,” in which Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) enter Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault and discover the treasure inside has the unfortunate ability to multiply, nearly drowning them in gold. “It took months and months of planning, even though it runs for about two and a half minutes,” Yates said.
Then there are all those moments he created that didn’t even make it into the film. But don’t worry, fans: He assured us that the deleted scenes would make their way to DVD.
Watson revealed feeling a sort of paradox in making this final film. “It really pushed me as an actress,” she said, indicating this one required more of her than the others. “But at the same time, I was able to use some of my genuine emotions of loss and it coming to an end.” The penultimate scene, just before the epilogue, was filmed up high, overlooking the set, “which is where I grew up, essentially.” Hermione and the others can finally reflect on a finished mission — while Watson and the others do the same thing. “Not much acting required, really,” she said.
The actress pointed to a certain absurdity in making eight films, going from an unknown child to one of the most famous women in the world, though in an understated way: “I went from a 9-year-old schoolgirl to having a job.”
The billion-dollar Harry Potter franchise obviously changed her life in ways she might never be able to describe. She talked about the qualities she shares with the character she plays. “Not so much now, but an earnestness, eager to please, do the right thing, terrified of getting into trouble. I’m very heady in the same way she is, constantly thinking three, four moves ahead. I tend to intellectualize a lot, which she does as well, of course.” She also called herself “loyal” and “a bit of a feminist.” But at the end of this long list, she reflected, “I feel like so much of me went into her, and so much of her went into me, I can’t differentiate anymore.”
One of her scenes that fans — at least of the female variety — will cheer is a moment not found in the books. After 10 years and eight films, Hermione and Ron finally share a kiss. It wasn’t one the actors playing them relished pulling off, though. “I’ve known Emma so long,” Rupert Grint said. “We both mutually dreaded this scene slightly.” One moment that did move Grint was the death of his character’s brother, Fred. And not just Grint: He said the set was silent when that scene was filmed.
Grint has played other roles — most notably in the small British comedy “Driving Lessons” — and he’s spent as much time as he could peeking in on other movies. “I always enjoyed stepping onto a different set when I could,” he said. There’s nothing to compare to Harry Potter, after all. Making other movies, you’re not with “a familiar crew you’ve grown up with.”
There’s something the trio of stars has that no one else does. During one chat with J.K. Rowling, Grint says, “She filled us in on the epilogue, where the characters go and what they do for a living.”
Tom Felton, who plays villain Draco Malfoy, turned out to be as funny as any budding comedian. He also provided a prediction, in an off-hand way. When asked if he’d have preferred to play another character — he auditioned for more than one part — he responded, “The only part I could possibly consider is my dad 20 years later … in the remake.”
