James and Oliver Phelps, fondly remembered as the “Harry Potter” twins Fred and George Weasley, recently brought a wave of magic and nostalgia to Manila.
They made a surprise appearance at the grand launch of Max, the newest streaming platform now available to
Filipinos, to introduce their latest show, “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking.” Two episodes are currently streaming on Max.
During an intimate interview with the Filipino press, including The STAR, the British actors and TV hosts are grateful to Max for the opportunity to reach this side of the world for the first time and reconnect with the “Harry Potter” fans.
James said, “It’s been really good... We just went around the local area, had some really good food for lunch. What was it that we had? Chicken adobo. That was really good.
“So whenever we travel, we try to go where the locals go and go where the locals eat.”
Oliver added, “And we almost leave it to the waiter and say, what would you eat? So, I guess we get a lot of stuff where we don’t necessarily know what it is. But yeah, it’s been nice trying some of the local food.”
As mentioned, the twins also came to promote their brand-new show, “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking,” which gathers established bakers who will compete and create “spellbinding edible showpieces” that profess their love for all things “Harry Potter.”
Adding to the magic, all the action takes place in the original and most iconic sets from the “Harry Potter” films. Whichever baking teams win over the judges will get to board the Hogwarts train to proceed to the next challenge. One of the ultimate prizes is to be part of a “Harry Potter” cookbook.
There’s actually a Filipino chef contestant on the show, who has incorporated very Pinoy ingredients such as calamansi and ube into the desserts.
When The STAR asked James and Oliver what kind of sweets their characters Fred and George would come up with should they become baking contestants, they were quick to quip, “We wouldn’t eat their food.”
Oliver further said, “I think they would definitely incorporate stuff like pumpkin candy. They’d definitely incorporate something which would have a joke to it. Like you’d almost like to put a Mentos into the Coke and it shoots up. Something like that. But I think it would be very sweet. I just imagine their stuff to be very sweet.
“And again, there’d be some type of maybe chili in it or something like that. So that it fires out. But I wouldn’t taste it. I wouldn’t trust them to taste it,” he laughed.
His brother James added, “I think it’d be something sweet and have something enjoyable to it. It’d be something with a twist, but I think they would still be those kinds of guys that still want to win.”
To recall, the first “Harry Potter” film, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” premiered on Nov. 16, 2001. That was 23 years ago as of this year, but James and Oliver continue to embrace their characters as the Weasley twins.
Here are more excerpts from the interview where James and Oliver talked more about re-entering the “Harry Potter” universe as hosts this time around.
On the fun part of hosting ‘Wizards of Baking’:
James: “Hosting is something that we’ve really wanted to get into. We’ve done other kinds of things, but not on this scale. Like anything we found with ‘Harry Potter,’ it’s always the best of the best. So the crew were the best. The sets were the best. The bakers are literally the best in America. And actually one of the contestants was from the Philippines.”
Oliver: “He actually incorporated a bit of local food into what he was creating… The thing we also learned as well is that a lot of these bakers, their experience with ‘Harry Potter; is obviously different to ours.
“So, they would be like, well, when we used to watch the movie back home, we need this or this reminds me of that. So they would incorporate that into their bakes.”
On returning to the original movie set to film the show:
James: “We went back to shoot at the Leaven Studios in London, which is where we filmed the movies. We actually filmed on the set that we actually filmed on. And it was a very surreal thing.
“It was hard to believe that so many years had gone by since we were there, but it felt like no time had passed at all. It was quite eerie in that regard. It felt like I was 14 again. But it was really great to be back there.”
Oliver: “If anything, there were times when it felt like no time had passed at all in between the last time we were filming, from then to now. It was really cool doing that.
“But also being in an environment where we were with just such creative people, in terms of bakers, you know. It was amazing seeing these guys do their thing and do it so well.”
On still being recognized as Fred and George Weasley:
James: “It’s funny because it’s something that we kind of, I supposed to have constantly got used to. They could be anywhere and they’re like (Weasley twins)… And it doesn’t matter where we go on the planet. It’s one of those things where people know you could be in the back end of Timbuktu and say, ‘Harry Potter.’ And it’s such a great thing to be part of.
“I think we’re very fortunate to have played the characters that we played who are so beloved. And so people want to... I think it’s like people who want to hang out with friends. People want to pick their brains about pranks or something like that. So when people do come up to us and start talking to us, it’s nicer. That’s the nice thing about it.
“We have gotten used to it now and there are worse things to be called (laughs).”
Oliver: “I think you can either really push against it or embrace it. And we’ve learned over the years what the characters mean to people, what the stories mean to people. And that’s certainly a good thing.
“We could be anyone. We could be at a football game, we could be at a concert. We could be walking down a street here. Someone could recognize someone else and say hello. It doesn’t matter where you go in the world.”
On what they missed the most about doing the “Harry Potter” films:
James: “What I missed most about it is, I think just the day-to-day hanging out with our good friends when we’re filming because obviously you form lifelong friendships with those people.
“But when we were filming, I remember when the final film was wrapped, it wasn’t necessarily a feeling of being bummed out because we knew that it was going to come to an end.
“And when it finished, it was more popular than it ever had been. So it kind of leaves everyone wanting more. And that seems to be the case. Like here we are years later and people still want to know about it. But I think what I miss most about it is just hanging out with our friends.”
Oliver: “Yeah, as James said, it’s that camaraderie that we built over many years with many people. And that’s the cool thing about that unique clique that we had when we were filming. Best way to describe it is, you know, people go to school, to university, or in their formative years, and we are with each other all the time. That would probably be the thing I miss the most.”
On the secret ingredient to “Harry Potter” films’ enduring appeal and giant impact:
James: “I often wonder whether it’s something like… because the films were never dependent on CGI (computer-generated images). So like the sets actually, like when we were able to go back and film, the (original) sets were actually there. So it looks like it doesn’t date. Like they’re not relying on technology, not relying on their smartphone to do stuff, you know.
“I think that’s what makes things like that timeless. And I think that films like that, there’s still a reason like you will watch other movies from way back. Like all the Batman movies which are available on Max as well.
“But do you know what I mean? Like, they’re actually there physically. You kind of think that it’s a real place. So I definitely think that when the sets are actually there, it definitely adds to it.”
Oliver: “I’ve been trying to work this out for the past 25 years… It’s just something that seems to resonate with so many people, like in so many different cultures and so many different age groups.
“But I supposed it’s commitment, it’s friendship, it’s doing the right thing, it’s believing in yourself.
“There’s so many of these key qualities, and it’s just nice seeing so many new generations coming through who are now invested in the films, invested in the books. And that’s why we know that people are going to be really excited to see this ‘Wizards of Baking,’ because it’s another thing that adds on to it.
“And the great thing about the show is that you could be from wherever you are in the world and really enjoy what you’re watching together.”