PHOTOS: What’s new at Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood in Burbank, Calif., is reopening on June 26, 2021, with new immersive experiences, including opportunities for fans to celebrate “Friends,” the DC Universe, and the Wizarding World.

“This tour is so unique. You can go onto the Warner Bros. lot, see the history of the company and the making of all our iconic movies and television productions, and now with these new features, we really do bring the entertainment closer to you,” says Sarah Roots, executive vice president of worldwide tours and retail. “There are so many people looking for exciting and entertaining ways to do something new, and we’re in a really good position with our new studio tour features to be able to provide a really excellent day out.”

The expanded and redesigned tour of one of Hollywood’s most iconic movie lots also includes a new welcome center featuring the “Storyteller Showcase” that traces the studio’s nearly 100-year history through photographs and memorabilia.

In addition, the welcome center houses the Warner Bros. Studio Store, the only in-person shopping experience where guests can find an extensive collection of exclusive tour merchandise and items from popular Warner Bros. films and TV shows, including “Friends,” “Gilmore Girls,” DC, and Harry Potter. 

Warner Bros. Studio Tour: Stage 48

Stage 48, the location of the tour’s newly expanded “Friends” experience, which allows fans of the hit sitcom to hang out in sets inspired by Monica’s apartment, Joey and Chandler’s apartment — complete with the recliners and Foosball table — and the Central Perk coffee house, all featuring props actually used in the series and authentic costumes worn by the cast.

“I think this is incredible,” says Maggie Wheeler, who played Janice on “Friends.” “It feels like the show, it feels like memory lane, and I think people are going to be really excited to walk through and spend time here. I don’t know how you’re going to get them to leave.”

Here, guests can also sip new character-inspired beverages made with Central Perk coffee, enjoy a New York deli-inspired menu (including a recreation of Rachel’s Thanksgiving trifle that, thankfully, has no meat), and shop for exclusive “Friends” merchandise found only at this location on the Studio Tour. Plus, Central Perk coffee beans (only available at the Central Perk Café and “Friends” boutique) are also on sale for guests to take home.

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour-redesigned “Script to Screen” experience in Stage 48 features two new post-production exhibits that highlight behind-the-scenes filmmaking magic, where guests can learn how Foley artists create sound effects from everyday objects and lend their voices to favorite movie moments in the audio dubbing booths.

“Warner Bros. is the studio that introduced the first talking picture to the world, and we haven’t stopped innovating the industry ever since,” says Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood Vice President and General Manager Danny Kahn. “Script to Screen takes you through the filmmaker’s journey from start to finish. You can learn how sound effects and dialog are recorded at our cutting-edge post-production department from the actual talented people who create a convincing soundtrack in our new interactive exhibit.”

Warner Bros. Studio Tour: Action and Magic Made Here

The tour’s all-new “Action and Magic Made Here” finale is divided into two sections, each with immersive and interactive experiences, including plenty of cool photo-ops.

“Our promise to visitors is to get closer to the entertainment you love and our new finale Action and Magic Made Here does exactly that,” Kahn says. “Step off the cart and into the scenes of two of our most successful film franchises: the DC Universe and the Wizarding World.”

DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains highlights the DC Universe through costumes, props, and set pieces from movies and television series featuring Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Batman.

Also on display are the classic costumes worn by Linda Carter in the “Wonder Woman” television series (1975-1979),  Christopher Reeve in “Superman” (1983), and Michael Keaton in “Batman Returns” (1992).

Fans of the caped crusader will also find several of his iconic vehicles in front of a massive screen projecting images of the Batcave, including the Batpod from “The Dark Knight” (2008) and the Batwing from “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016).

A new magical area dedicated to the Wizarding World allows fans to visit a recreated set of Privet Drive from the Harry Potter movies — including Harry’s cupboard under the stairs and a photo-op with Hogwarts acceptance letters.

“This year is the 20^th anniversary of the first Harry Potter film, and I really couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate than the all-new and widely expanded Studio Tour,” says Bonnie Wright, who played Ginny Weasley in all eight Harry Potter movies. “You get to experience the action, the magic, the fun, the props and costumes, and the recreated sets from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts.”

In the section dedicated to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, guests can participate in a sorting hat ceremony in the Great Hall, harvest screaming Mandrake roots in the Herbology greenhouse, and test their skills in the art of potion-making in the Potions Classroom.

The wand shop, which features a display of eight iconic wands wielded in the Harry Potter films, also allows guests to try their hand at wand choreography through a video tutorial by Paul Harris, who choreographed many of the franchise’s wand-to-wand combat sequences.

The Wizarding World area also features an all-new recreated set of Newt Scamander’s Shed of Magical Creatures, where a particularly magical photo-op allows guests to climb out of Newt’s suitcase, just like in the Fantastic Beasts movies. Plus, you never know what kinds of magical creatures might peek into Newt’s windows.