Imelda Staunton Reprises Role for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry

Written by Joshua Posted September 1st, 2024

Forget Voldemort! Dolores Umbridge is the worst — and I mean best — villain in the Harry Potter saga. I had a visceral reaction to her character when reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I had the same feeling watching her on the big screen, where Imelda Staunton portrayed her brilliantly. Luckily for all of us, Staunton is reprising the role for Epic Universe’s Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.

Earlier today, Universal shared that news and plenty of other details about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic attraction, including the storyline, concept art, and behind-the-scenes footage. I have a feeling this is going to be the best Harry Potter ride yet.

Battle at the Ministry story

Guests will enter the attraction, set in the British Ministry of Magic, via the Floo Network. There they’ll see the Fountain of Magical Brethren Statue, flying memos, and the enchanted weather ceiling. The attraction will include many scenes familiar to Harry Potter fans as well as new storylines developed for the ride.

Floo Network scene from Battle at the Ministry. Copyright Universal.

Battle at the Ministry concept art. Copyright Universal.

Guests will visit the Ministry on the day of Umbridge’s trial. The queue will take them through a locker room where they’ll discover that Harry, Ron, and Neville are training to become Aurors. They’ll also pass through the Hall of Ministers and interact with past Ministers of Magic. They’ll discover a moving map of the Ministry before entering the Aurors headquarters. This space will include plenty of Easter eggs. Finally, guests will explore Umbridge’s office and meet her former house elf, Higgledy.

Battle at the Ministry locker room concept art. Copyright Universal.

Battle at the Ministry Ministers of Magic concept art. Copyright Universal.

Battle at the Ministry moving map concept art. Copyright Universal.

Aurors office concept art from Battle at the Ministry. Copyright Universal.

Concept art of Dolores Umbridge's office in the Battle at the Ministry. Copyright Universal.

Higgledy concept art. Copyright Universal.

The ride begins when guests board lifts that will take them to Umbridge’s trial.

“This ride is unbelievably thrilling. Feeling the energy of these lifts as [they careen] through the Ministry of Magic, starting off in the lift shafts, but then eventually going off course, going through different parts of the Ministry, face to face with different creatures, face to face with Death Eaters. It is a truly thrilling experience in every facet of the word.”
Scott Verble, Executive Producer at Universal Creative

Battle at the Ministry ride vehicle concept art. Copyright Universal.

The lift will also take guests to the Ministry Archives and the Department of Magical Creatures. Along the way, they’ll encounter characters like Yaxley, Macnair, the Carrows, and Kingsley Shacklebolt.

And of course, they’ll meet Dolores Umbridge. Kim Gritzer of Universal Creative said of Staunton: “She was absolutely brilliant in her performance. She got to take Umbridge to the extreme.”