Fire Damages "Deathly Hallows" Set (Updated)
DH Film
Posted by: Rosi
March 21, 2010, 07:28 PM
British tabloid News of the World is reporting that a fire broke out on the "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" film set on Friday evening. The newspaper cites "explosives used in action sequences" as the cause of the blaze, with firefighters from six fire engines taking 40 minutes to put the fire out. No one was injured and the explosives reportedly were being used to film the "scenes where Hogwarts gets blown up during the battle." The paper adds that Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) were not on set at the time, but the special effects crew are "devastated."
"It was a big special effects scene. Unfortunately, there was a small fire as a result of that. As a precaution, as we had already mobilised our own in-house fire team who had it under control, the fire brigade was called and it was put out in under an hour.
"There was no damage to Leavesden Studios at all. The actual set was due to be rebuilt anyway. The scene was where the set was being destroyed and then it was to be rebuilt for a new scene, as part of a battle for Deathly Hallows part two.
"The idea that fire ripped through Leavesden Studios is so far from the truth, it's untrue. It was a very isolated incident. It was put out very quickly and with limited damage."
Thanks janspach, Bert, Patrick and Elliot for emailing in!
2417 Points
Glad no-one hurt but hope this doesn’t change the way they film the battle at Hogwarts – you know, rather than re-build something they jsut use green screen or some backdrop bit o f business – they’ve been first class so far so I guess we’kl have to hope that they’ll continue right up to the end.
This incident actually underscores how fortunate the entire HP film production has been…there have been remarkably few problems when you think about it, and most have nothing to do with the filming/cast. given the scale, and the length of time that the production has continued, it really is remarkable that more things have not gone wrong.
1. the Ford Anglia got stolen (and is still missing I think)
2. the Horwarts express got vandalized
3. JW acted foolishly, and is paying a steep price for his actions —the only cast faux pas that I know of
4. the loss of Richard Harris…no one’s fault (here, we should acknowledge as well the loss of several of the cast who held minor roles)
5. Maggie Smith’s battle with cancer, which thankfully she appears to have won
—again, no one’s fault
6. and now a minor fire at a set due to be destroyed anyway.
given the number of people involved, the decade of production, and so on, truly, its been lucky!
2062 Points
Well I’m so glad that no one was hurt!! I feel for all of the crew though, that must be a hard thing. I have complete confidence though, that they will soldier on!
wow good no one was hurt