Universal Studios Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be getting a new, immersive roller coaster come June 13. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, which Universal describes as “highly themed,” will take parkgoers on a journey through the Hogwarts grounds, coming face-to-face with some fearsome magical creatures.
On Friday, Universal debuted a first look at some of the creatures featured in the ride. Most have made appearances in the Harry Potter films — centaurs, cornish pixies, Fluffy the Three-headed dog — but the images also include the Blast-Ended Skrewt, a magical monster important in the books, but excluded from the movies.
In J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Hagrid had his Care of Magical Creatures class take care of the possibly illegal hybrid creatures, a cross between scorpions and fire crabs. Harry, Ron, and Hermione nurture their own Skrewts, from slimy shell-less forms to formidable adults. The creatures served as humorous background elements when the main trio took their Care of Magical Creatures class and scheming reporter Rita Skeeter promised Hagrid she’d give them a feature if he let her interview him. While it had been hinted many times that the Blast-Ended Skrewts were illegal hybrids that violated the Ban on Experimental Breeding, they were still used in the maze in the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament, implying that Hagrid got off without charges because the Skrewts were bred for the purpose of competition.
While the Blast-Ended Skrewts were featured in the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire video games, they didn’t appear in Warner Bros. Pictures’ film adaptation. The maze in the movie lacked creatures, and instead the hedges themselves presented threats to the Champions.
Universal describes the Skwert as “as a cross between scorpions and elongated crabs, Skrewts aren’t afraid to attack other Skrewts they encounter and have incredibly strong armor that can’t be penetrated by spells.” The Skrewts will be a major presence in the ride, as Universal says they are the “main lesson for the day.” They also have a distinct scent … of rotting flesh. Ick. Guess that’s what a “highly-themed” ride means?
Check out the rest of the creatures that will appear in Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure below:
