History Trivia / HarryPotter

** Along with Creator/PeterJackson[='s=] ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'', the ''Potter'' films inspired the 2000s trend of adapting fantasy novels into big-budget movies that could maybe launch a profitable franchise. This most notably includes the film versions of ​''Film/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'', ''Film/{{Eragon}}'', ''Film/TheGoldenCompass'', and ''Film/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians''. Hell, perhaps even ''{{Literature/Twilight}}'' made it to the big screen as part of this trend. The fun irony is that this ended the earlier 1990s trend for ''Film/HomeAlone'' clones, meaning Creator/ChrisColumbus killed the very trend he had started a decade earlier.

* IAmNotSpock: All of the child actors with the exception of Robert Pattinson (who had [[Literature/{{Twilight}} a whole other franchise]] that became a hurdle for him to clear) are mostly identified with their characters.

* WordOfSaintPaul: The actors have been known to opine on popular [[ShippingTropes ships]] involving their characters:

** Rowling [[WordOfGod has stated]] that she based Gilderoy Lockhart on an unnamed acquaintance[[note]]she [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial insists]] it's ''not'' her ex-husband[[/note]] who was [[MilesGloriosus an enormous blowhard]] just like him, and that she barely exaggerated his real personality. As a matter of fact, she claims she ''toned it down!'' Part of the reason she's never confirmed who it is is because she didn't want to give him the satisfaction.

** ''VideoGame/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone'' (''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' in the USA) was released for the PC, UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation}}, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}}, UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor, and UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance. The fifth-generation, PC and Game Boy Advance versions were released in 2001 and the sixth-generation versions were released in 2003.

** ''VideoGame/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban'' was released in 2004 for the PC, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}}, UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, and UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance.
** ''VideoGame/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'' was released in 2005 for the PC, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}}, UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, and UsefulNotes/NintendoDS. This was the first Harry Potter game to be rated E10+ (except for the Game Boy Advance and DS versions, which were both rated E).
** ''VideoGame/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix'' was released in 2007 for the PC, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable, UsefulNotes/Xbox360, UsefulNotes/NintendoWii, UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, and UsefulNotes/NintendoDS. This Harry Potter game was also rated E10+ (except for the Game Boy Advance and DS versions).
** ''VideoGame/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince'' was released in 2009 for the PC, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable, UsefulNotes/Xbox360, UsefulNotes/NintendoWii, and UsefulNotes/NintendoDS. It was also rated E10+ (except for the Nintendo DS version).
** Two games of ''VideoGame/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'' were released in 2010 and 2011 for the PC, UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, UsefulNotes/Xbox360, UsefulNotes/NintendoWii, and UsefulNotes/NintendoDS. This was the first Harry Potter game to be rated T for Teen (except for the Nintendo DS versions, which were both rated E10+).

* ExecutiveMeddling: [[https://twitter.com/bgolus/status/1230637316764385282 The game developers generally weren't allowed to include events from the books that weren't in the movies.]] Peeves appears in the first game only because [[https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/6urjpf/comment/dlvgeba/ Warner Bros. didn't tell the developers he was cut from the movie until the last month of development.]] The UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor games based on ''Philosopher's Stone'' and ''Chamber of Secrets'' were able to be closer to the books, [[https://www.neogaf.com/threads/rttp-harry-potter-game-boy-rpgs.743011/#post-95347786 since EA paid little attention to them compared to the console and GBA games, and whenever the developers showed their progress EA would just be impressed at what they managed on the GBC hardware.]]

** There used to be a rumor about a gratuitous sex scene in [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows the last]] book. Everyone heard that rumor (''from'' everyone else), and all the sources claimed to have heard it straight from [[Creator/JKRowling the author]]. While Ginny's "[[TheBigDamnKiss birthday present]]" came close, there was no onscreen sex. A video on Website/TheOnion about Rowling including a date rape in an upcoming Potter book may have had something to do with the rumor.

** There's a quote floating around on the Internet which confirms the {{fanon}} belief that Nagini is the snake Harry set free from the zoo, specifically "Yes, it’s rather funny, really, that next to no one realized the snake that Harry set free in ''Philosopher's Stone'' turned out to be Voldemort's final Horcrux, Nagini." It never happened. [[SomewhereAHerpetologistIsCrying There's also a scientific hole in the theory, incidentally.]] Harry set a boa constrictor loose, which in [[Film/HarryPotter the movies]], was a python. Neither one is venomous or has fangs. Nagini is and does. In fact, Nagini was once a woman. One of the potential titles of the last book she gave WB for trademarking in 2005 was ''Curse of Nagini''. It got cut and was worked into the ''Fantastic Beasts'' series.

** Rowling's first choice for Severus Snape was Creator/TimRoth, who turned down the role. It subsequently went to Creator/AlanRickman, who then gradually overwhelmed Rowling's own image of Snape and influencing how she wrote his dialogue (just ''try'' not hearing some of Snape's dialogue in the books written after the first film was made in Rickman's voice).

* PetFadStarter: The books, and perhaps the movies even more, led to a huge demand of ''snowy owls''. Quite surprising, considering Owls are very uncommon as pets. This caused a big increase in unintentional neglect of owls by owners who don't have a clue how to actually care for a predatory bird. It got so bad that J.K. Rowling herself felt obligated to point out to her fans that owls are not good pets in real life, and [[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/harry-potter/6082344/Sanctuary-opens-for-owls-dumped-by-Harry-Potter-fans.html an owl sanctuary had to be opened to accommodate all the owls that were bought as pets but then abandoned]].

* AscendedFanon: Because Lavender Brown was never given a proper description in [[{{Canon}} the books]], the fandom eventually decided that she was a blonde, buxom girl who was also a bit of a ditz--[[AllThereInTheScript despite the fact that two different black actresses had played her]] prior to ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince the Half-Blood Prince]]''. The producers eventually cast Creator/JessieCave, who is blonde, buxom, and [[LargeHam plays the character as ditzy as she possibly can.]]

* CreatorBacklash: Creator/AlanRickman's [[https://web.archive.org/web/20220927225415/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/read-alan-rickmans-diaries-reveal-140359661.html posthumously published diaries reveal]] that he was not happy with almost all of the films, even wanting to quit several times and having to be convinced to keep the role going to the end.

--->'''J.K''': I am trying very hard not to feel offended that anyone thought this was possible. 'Storgé', for crying out loud. Come on, people, get a grip. [[http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/rumours_view.cfm?id=21]]

** She's somewhat changed her answer over the years but she's never confirmed that Grindlewald and Dumbledore were in a relationship. She said Albus was in love with him, and that [[http://www.snitchseeker.com/harry-potter-news/j-k-rowling-explains-grindelwald-and-dumbledores-relationship-dracos-wand-transfer-71142/ she wasn't sure they were in a relationship, and that Grindlewald would be perfectly willing to exploit Albus]]. In 2019 an interview she gave about said relationship got taken out of context as well. Complex Magazine ran a headline that implied she said they had “an intensely sexual relationship” and the post went viral. She got accused of fetishizing the relationship. She said it was intense and that it was sexual separately, she never once put them together. She also goes on to say that she’s not interested in the sexual element even though it was there, she’s more interested in the clashing of magical equals.

** Rowling described Dumbeldore as a "Creator/JohnGielgud-type, quite elderly and – and quite stately".
* ObviousCrossoverMethod: [Crossover character] raises Harry instead of the Dursleys might be the single most common crossover mechanism for Potter Fanfic.

** ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix'' went though more mild troubles; it took ''two years'' to write, apparently due to its dark and depressing subject matter. She also changed her mind about killing Arthur Weasley right when it came time to write the scene, causing her to spend the rest of the series determined to kill off another Weasley to balance it out.

** Quite prevalent as Rowling gives a lot of extra information through interviews. Also, the [[http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/faq.cfm FAQ]] she keeps on her personal website.

* After ''Deathly Hallows'' came out, it was revealed that Alan Rickman (who plays Professor Snape) had had a conversation with J. K. Rowling about his character while filming ''Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone'', and was the only other person besides Rowling who knew that [[spoiler: Snape had been in love with Harry's mother]]. He based his entire performance off this conversation. (He was also JKR's personal favorite to play Snape.)

* There is a rather famous series of tapestries decorating the Gryffindor common room, looking rather much like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lady_and_the_Unicorn this]].

* CreatorBacklash: Creator/AlanRickman's [[https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/read-alan-rickmans-diaries-reveal-140359661.html posthumously published diaries reveal]] that he was not happy with almost all of the films, even wanting to quit several times and having to be convinced to keep the role going to the end.

** In a strange example, Rhys Ifans (who is Welsh) played Xenophilius Lovegood with an noticable Irish accent to fit in better with his on-screen daughter Luna Lovegood (who is played by [[FakeBrit Irish actress]] Evanna Lynch).

** Tom the barman, from a normal-looking man, to... uh, bald Quazimodo?

* '''2007''': The film of ''[[Film/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix Order of the Phoenix]]'' and [[VideoGame/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix its tie-in video game]] released in July ten days prior to the final book, ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows''.

* '''2001''': The film of ''[[Film/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone Philosopher's Stone]]'' released. Rowling also published two companion books, ''Literature/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'' and ''Literature/QuidditchThroughTheAges'', for charity.
* '''2002''': The film of ''[[Film/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets Chamber of Secrets]]'' released.

* '''2004''': The film of ''[[Film/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban Prisoner of Azkaban]]'' released.
* '''2005''': Had two releases - The book ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince'' (July) and the film of ''[[Film/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire Goblet of Fire]]'' released (November)
* '''2006''': Was the first year in nine years without any new Harry Potter material released.
* '''2007''': Had two releases - The film of ''[[Film/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix Order of the Phoenix]]'' was released in July ten days prior to the final book, ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows''.

* '''2009''': The film of ''[[Film/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince Half Blood Prince]]'' released.
* '''2010''': The film ''[[Film/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows Deathly Hallows]], Part 1'' released. ''Ride/TheWizardingWorldOfHarryPotter'' theme park opened at Ride/UniversalStudios in Florida. The video game ''VideoGame/LEGOHarryPotter: Years 1–4'' released.
* '''2011''': The film ''Deathly Hallows, Part 2'' released. The video game ''LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5–7'' released.

* '''2001''': The film of ''[[Film/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone Philosopher's Stone]]'' released. Rowling also published two companion books, ''Literature/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'' and ''Literature/QuidditchThroughTheAges'' for charity.

* CreatorChosenCasting: Creator/JKRowling had full say in casting and insisted on a fully British cast. She hand-picked Creator/RobbieColtrane, Creator/EvannaLynch, Creator/AlanRickman and Creator/MaggieSmith.

* TheWikiRule: [[http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page Here]] is the wikia for the book series.

* TropeNamer: These books named the following tropes:
** DracoInLeatherPants: A character who is dis-likable in the canon material is redeemed in the fandom because of their attractiveness (via the fanfic ''Fanfic/TheDracoTrilogy''). [[invoked]]
** RonTheDeathEater: The reverse of Draco in Leather Pants; a generally good character in the source material is turned into a villain via CharacterDerailment.
** GoldenSnitch: An aspect in a game or contest that, if met, will put the game out of reach for their opponents, named after the game-ender in Quidditch. A more specific criteria would be this aspect rendering the game leading up to this point virtually irrelevant (for instance, the Triple Points round in ''Series/FamilyFeud)''.
** HoldYourHippogriffs: An UnusualEuphemism that references a fantastical element in the story, named after the half-eagle/half-horse animals in the series.[[note]]Note that they existed before appearing in ''Prisoner of Azkaban''.[[/note]]
** HufflepuffHouse: A team or group that is basically unimportant within the main plot, named after the fourth house at Hogwarts.
** InvisibilityCloak: An item, usually clothing, that renders the wearer invisible, named after Harry's own invisibility cloak.[[note]]Note that this item existed for ''centuries'' before the ''Harry Potter'' series started. As in [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Greek Mythology]].[[/note]]
** MadEye: When a character has one eye larger than the other due to losing their mind, even if momentarily. Named for Mad-Eye Moody, who had one eye notably larger than the other and was rather eccentric.
** {{Muggles}}: Ordinary people who are unaware of the magic/supernatural goings-on of the plot, taking the name of "non-magic folk".
*** AllTherapistsAreMuggles
*** MageBornOfMuggles: A child with superpowers is born to non-powered parents.
*** MuggleBestFriend: An ordinary person drawn into the extraordinary world by their connection to the main character.
*** MuggleBornOfMages: A character born to people with powers who did not inherit them. In the series, this is called a Squib, and is not quite a "muggle".
*** MuggleFosterParents: When a super-powered character is raised by normal parents. Harry himself is an example.
*** MuggleMageRomance
*** MugglePower
*** MugglesDoItBetter: A case where someone demonstrates that the mundane, often RealLife solution to a problem is much more effective than the magical one the main characters try to use.
*** MuggleSportsSuperAthletes
*** MuggleWithADegreeInMagic
*** SafetyInMuggles
** PensieveFlashback: A flashback in which the character actually experiences the scene from the past, walking around in a three-dimensional space but unable to affect the scene before them. Named after Dumbledore's depository for his 150 years of memories, which can be entered in order to experience memories in this manner.
** SecretKeeper: A character who keeps the supernatural nature of another character a secret, named after the result of the ''Fidelius Charm'', which hides the caster and requires they choose someone as a Secret Keeper, and only they can reveal their location.
*** SecretSecretKeeper
** TomTheDarkLord: A phenomenally powered villain with a mundane name, named after the man who would change his name to Voldemort.
** WronskiFeint: Feinting at an obstacle and pulling up at the last minute, with the intent of tricking a person into trailing you, moving TooFastToStop, and crashing. This is a classic Quidditch move.

** Zoë Wanamaker (as Rolanda Hooch), was born in the U.S. to American parents, but lived in the U.K. from a very young age. As it happened, her father was shooting a movie in England (''[[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044928/ Mr. Denning Drives North]]'') when he was put on the infamous [[RedScare Hollywood blacklist]], so he just decided to stay. In any case, she's been in the U.K. long enough to have a legit British accent and that's the part that matters as far as ''Harry Potter'' is concerned.
** Although they're less strict with this rule in ''Fantastic Beasts'' as American Creator/ZoeKravitz has a prominent role as Leta Lestrange who was actually born in France but raised in the UK.

** Most famously, Creator/RichardHarris and Creator/MichaelGambon as Dumbledore.

* CreatorChosenCasting:
** Creator/JKRowling had full say in casting and insisted on a fully British cast. She hand-picked Creator/RobbieColtrane, Creator/EvannaLynch, Creator/AlanRickman and Creator/MaggieSmith.
** Creator/GaryOldman was Creator/AlfonsoCuaron's first choice for Sirius Black.

* PetFadStarter: The books, and perhaps the movies even more, led to a huge demand of ''snowy owls''. Quite surprising, considering Owls are very uncommon as pets. This caused a big increase in unintentional neglect of owls by owners who don't have a clue how to actually care for a predatory bird. It got so bad that J.K. Rowling saw herself obligated to point out to her fans that owls are not good pets in real life, and [[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/harry-potter/6082344/Sanctuary-opens-for-owls-dumped-by-Harry-Potter-fans.html an owl sanctuary had to be opened to accommodate all the owls that were bought as pets but then abandoned]].

** In the Canadian French dub, Creator/XavierDolan is the voice of Ron, while his father Manuel Tadros is the voice of Sirius Black.

* ActorSharedBackground:
** Brendan Gleeson was a teacher for fifteen years before becoming an actor.
** Hugh Mitchell, who played Colin Creevey in ''Chamber of Secrets'', is a photography enthusiast just like his character. In his adult life, he has even become a professional photographer.