Passengers aboard Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, the new roller coaster at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, will find themselves face-to-face with a life-size figure of the thrill ride’s bigger-than-life title character. A 7-foot-6 animated version of the “Harry Potter” character was revealed by Universal Orlando on Monday morning.
Universal worked with Robbie Coltrane, the actor who played Hagrid in the “Potter” films, to create the figure. It has 24 body movements and facial expressions, the company said. Its face was sculpted by hand; a digital scan of Coltrane’s mouth helped create Hagrid’s teeth.
The ride’s version of the Hogwarts gamekeeper is the resort’s “most lifelike figure,” Universal said.
“We worked tirelessly to make sure Hagrid’s full essence was captured with the utmost attention to detail for our guests to feel completely immersed in this all-new adventure,” said Thierry Coup, senior vice president of Universal Creative.
Coltrane recorded a new script for Hagrid in the attraction, which is scheduled to debut June 13 in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter section of Islands of Adventure.
In the coaster’s story, visitors will see the half-human/half-giant Hagrid with his blast-ended skrewt, one of the creatures incorporated into the ride alongside Fluffy the three-headed dog, centaurs and more.
The Hagrid ride is under construction on the site of the former Dragon Challenge coaster. Earlier this year, Universal said visitors will “experience a freewheeling coaster flight where they’ll twist, turn and rush forward – and backward – at speeds up to 50 mph” on the new attraction. The attraction includes a trip through the fictional Forbidden Forest, for which Universal is planting about 1,200 real trees.
