Harry Potter’s farewell at Toronto gala and party

“Pottermania” has taken over Canada’s largest city. The final installment of the Harry Potter movie franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, debuts in Toronto on Tuesday.

The premiere takes place at the Scotiabank Theatre at the corner of Richmond Street W. and John Street, an intersection that has been temporarily renamed Hogwarts Way and Harry Potter Blvd by the city of Toronto.

Fans lined up on the street well before the 6pm premiere, many decked out as their favourite Harry Potter character, eager to get a glimpse of the stars they’ve watched over the past ten years.

Rumours swirled leading up to the premiere that Harry himself, actor Daniel Radcliffe, would attend the event.

The film is the eighth film installment in the Harry Potter franchise, which also includes seven novels written by British author J.K. Rowling published between 1997 and 2007.

Watch “Harry Potter – A Look Back” released by Warner Bros. Pictures:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK2WCPYMERg&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

At the Casa Loma after-party following the Toronto premiere Tuesday night., Matthew Lewis was asked:

Was the overindulgence born of sadness at saying goodbye to the beloved movie franchise about a boy wizard (Daniel Radcliffe) who faces a final battle for Hogwarts in the final chapter of the movies based on J.K. Rowling’s books?

“I think it was more of a celebration because the sadness and things I got out of the way in London (at the world premiere July 7),” said Lewis, whose Longbottom character takes on a decidedly heroic role in the final movie, opening Friday.

“I looked up and saw this sea of people in Trafalgar Square and I thought, ‘Wow, this is the last time we’re going to be doing a premiere for one of these films for these fans, and it was very emotional,” added Lewis. “New York was much more fun … I got all the emotional and the sloppy speeches out of the way in London and now it’s, ‘Guys, enjoy the movie. It’s the last one.’”

NOW…. HARRY POTTER AT THE DRIVE-IN:

We have decided to add Harry Potter on Thursday night June 14 (technically Friday morning) at 12:01 AM.

This will be at all our Drive-Ins as a second feature to Horrible Bosses (except London which will open on Friday).

Also, we are having HARRY POTTER NIGHT exclusive to Friday July 15,11. On that night we are showing Harry Potter 7A followed by the new Harry Potter 7B and Horrible Bosses as a bonus feature. We will be charging the Bonus feature price on Friday on the 1 screen in each Drive-In only.

Once in a lifetime opportunity to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 AND Part 2.