The last Harry Potter film looks set to make its debut in traditional fashion – to the accompaniment of thunder and rain.
The stars of the films have got used to squelching up the red carpet after being caught in a succession of torrential downpours before premieres in London’s Leicester Square and today’s event for Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part Two does not look like it will be any different.
The 2009 premiere of Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince saw soaked stars Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson posing for pictures in the pouring rain while fans sheltered under Harry Potter umbrellas.
The same thing happened in 2007 at the first night of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and actor Tom Felton, who plays Draco Malfoy, said he expects today’s premiere to live up to “tradition”.
He told ITV1’s Daybreak: “I can imagine there will be a few showers and rain on the night. It wouldn’t be right if it wasn’t.”
The experts agree with Felton as forecaster Claire Austin of MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, predicted rain for today.
She said: “There are quite heavy showers around and it’s not looking like it’s going to be dry. The showers will be pretty heavy and there is a risk of thunder.”
But bad weather will not deter the thousands of fans expected to brave the elements for the premiere.
Jason Isaacs, who played the sinister Lucius Malfoy in the earlier films, said he was not surprised by their dedication.
He said: “Frankly I think they would turn out in earthquakes and tornadoes. That’s the effect the Harry Potter stories have.
“A lot of people have tried to understand why but nobody really understands – it’s magic.”
Some fans set up camp yesterday and thousands more are expected as Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square are transformed by a touch of Potter wizardry for the day.
The road joining the two sites will be transformed into Diagon Alley – the high street which is home to shops selling the latest in magic for Harry and his fellow wizards.
The film goes on general release on July 15.
Meanwhile Emma Watson has declared her snog with Harry Potter co-star Rupert Grint in the final film of the wizard series to be the “most anticipated kiss in history”.
The 21-year-old – who plays Hermione Granger – said she and Rupert decided it had to be special after the years of tension-building.
“I think we did alright,” she concluded, despite the pressure, in an interview with ITV1’s Daybreak.
Ms Watson said: “I think that’s like the most anticipated kiss in history. We’ve been building tension to this moment for like eight movies.”
The actress said both she and Rupert – who has starred as Ron Weasley in the movies since they began – felt the pressure.
“We were like, ‘People have been really waiting for this moment, and we’ve really got to pull this off.’ And I was like ‘yes, I know. What are we going to do?’”
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 – the last of eight films – receives its premiere today in London.
Emma said she felt incredibly emotional when filming finally ended on the movies with which she has been involved for half her life.
“I cried, cried, cried, cried, cried – it was really emotional and overwhelming.”