Londoners were left in awe as a colossal dragon, reminiscent of the ones seen in the Harry Potter films, was paraded through the city streets. The 25-foot-long animatronic beast, encased in a massive crate, journeyed past iconic landmarks such as Westminster Bridge and King’s Cross Station en route to Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter in London.
This grand display marked the introduction of ‘Triwizard Tournament – Making of Champions’, a new feature at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, which is commemorating the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire.
(Image: PinPep)
The gigantic Hungarian Horntail, weighing a hefty 1.3 tonnes, recreated the captivating scene from the film where Harry battles the creature during the initial round of the ‘Triwizard Tournament’.
Crafted by Harry Potter filmmaker and animatronics expert Joe Scott, this lifelike monster features an animated head, mouth, eyes, and even produces terrifying sound effects.
An impressive 750 hours were spent constructing the mythical creature, with a 3D-printed head, 25kg of fibreglass, and 119 hand-applied spikes. Its mouth is filled with 38 resin-printed teeth, replicating the film’s fearsome appearance in meticulous detail.
Guided by the original sketches, computer-generated blueprints, and scans of the actual model from the film, Scott said: “Revisiting the creation of the Hungarian Horntail 20 years on from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire has been magical.
“Creating the dragons for the Triwizard Tournament was no mean feat, with engineers, animatronics, designers and the special effects teams all working together to bring them to life. It’s fantastic to see the craftsmanship that went into this on display at the new feature – inspiring visitors with the magic of our filmmaking secrets.”
(Image: Simon Jacobs/Pinpep)
‘The Triwizard Tournament – Making of Champions’ exhibit is scheduled to take place from 15 May to 8 September 2025 at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.
This exceptional event offers fans an exclusive peek behind the scenes of the famous Triwizard Tournament, revealing the cinematic sorcery involved in creating the iconic challenges.
The Studio Tour will introduce its latest summer attraction, welcoming guests to the newly built Backlot Stage where they can explore the Secrets of Special Effects. This unique indoor space features a digital screen, tiered seating and live demonstrations to unveil how movie magic was conjured up.
The exhibition promises to be a highlight, featuring a revived portrayal of the Beauxbaton and Durmstrang students’ entrances, authentic costumes and choreography included. Furthermore, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the innovative methods used to film Harry’s underwater adventure during the second task.
Geoff Spooner, senior vice president at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, shared his excitement: “We’re excited to launch our brand-new summer feature, Triwizard Tournament – Making of Champions, where visitors can learn behind-the-scenes secrets of the fourth Harry Potter film.
“To celebrate and bring the magic of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London to the streets of the capital, we recreated the iconic moment of the escaped Hungarian Horntail dragon 20 years on from ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”