“Harry Potter” is one of the most popular pop culture properties in recent years. But even the most obsessed fans do not know some of the “Harry Potter” facts in here:
1. The concept for “Harry Potter” first came into author J.K. Rowling’s head when she was aboard a train from Manchester to London in 1990.
2. Rowling had already been 32 when the first “Harry Potter” book was published.
3. Rowling was partly inspired by her experience working for Amnesty International in writing the books.
4. If Harry were a real person, he would have been turning 37 this year.
5. Dementors, soul sucking creatures in the book’s universe, is a metaphor for depression. Rowling herself confessed that she suffered from it years before “Harry Potter.”
6. Severus Snape’s Patronus is shaped like a doe because of his love for Harry’s mother Lily, who also had a doe.
7. Neville Longbottom and his family would have been the one killed by Voldemort had Peter Pettigrew not betrayed the Potters.
8. Professor Minerva McGonagall played Quidditch in her youth but had to stop after she broke her arms.
9. The “Harry Potter” book series has sold a total of 400 million copies worldwide and COUNTING!
10. The success of “Harry Potter” in publishing, movies and theater made Rowling the only billionaire author.
11. The fourth book in the series, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” was awarded the Hugo in 2001. The Hugo is the Oscars of science fiction/fantasy.
12. Steven Spielberg was for a time in negotiations to direct the first film in the movie franchise.
13. The actor who played the main role, Daniel Radcliffe, was discovered by producers sitting behind them in a theater in 2000.
14. The films have a total box office earnings of $8 billion worldwide, making it the most successful film series.
15. The screenplay of the first film in the spin-off franchise, “Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them,” was done by Rowling herself, marking her first venture into screenwriting.
Now that you know these facts about “Harry Potter,” share them with your friends and family who also love the franchise so that they would know too!
