The Oscar nominated, award-winning, highly acclaimed Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban has Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) back at Hogwarts for his third year. This adaptation is based on J.K. Rowling’s third novel in the series and finds Harry being pursued by convicted murder, Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) a fugitive from the wizard prison, Azkaban; Sirius is an Animagus and able to transform into animal form. This film introduces the Dementors patrolling the school which drain people of their happiness, and sees the introduction of two new teachers, Professor Remus Lupin (David Thewlis) for ‘Defense Against the Dark Arts’ and Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) for ‘Care of Magical Creatures’. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was filmed at Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire where a whole range of interior and exterior temporary sets were created. The production also used locations in the region as well as others across the UK. It was the first film released into IMAX theatres and the first of the Harry Potter series to be directed by Alfonso Cuarón who was initially dubious about taking the job as he had neither read the books nor seen either of the previous films. However once he read the books he decided to take the job much to the delight of J.K. Rowling who allowed Cuarón to make some minor changes to the plot. Upon its release Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban broke numerous records world-wide including the one for the biggest single day in UK box office history. However despite its box office success to-date it is remains the lowest-grossing Potter film.
Release / Airing: 31/05/2004
Locations used for this production:
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Hunton Park, Hunton Bridge >
This location forms the backdrop for the moving photographs of Harry's parents.
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Huntonbury >
Having spent an unhappy summer at the Dursleys, Harry loses his temper with his Uncle’s sister, Marge (Pam Ferris) and causes her to inflate and float away. Fearing punishment for using magic outside school Harry runs away. Unintentionally he hails the 'Knight Bus', an enchanted triple-decker, purple bus which transports wizards and witches to the destinations of their choice. Being greeted by the conductor, Stan Shunpike (Lee Ingleby) and driver Ernie Prang (Jimmy Gardener) Harry boards the bus which whisks him away to the Leaky Cauldon, a pub and inn for wizards located on the Muggle Street of Charing Cross Road (London) where Cornelius Fudge (Robert Hardy), the Minister of Magic is waiting for him.
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These productions were filmed nearby:
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