The new Leavesden studio complex that will house the Harry Potter museum (photo credits: flicks.co.nz)

 MANILA, Philippines – The Harry Potter movie franchise is nearing its end now that its second to the last installment, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” is currently shown in theaters. However, the magical world of Harry Potter will live on courtesy of its very own museum.

Hollywood giant Warner Bros. – which has bought Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire, the home of the movie franchise based on J.K. Rowling’s novels – is reportedly planning to set up the museum, which is estimated to cost around $160 million. The said amount will allow for the expansion and revamp of the studio, including the putting up of two new sound stages.

Although the museum is going to be a whole lot different from Universal Studio’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, which opened early this year, this is going to be the closest a fan could get to the real thing, as the museum will house permanently sets of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, props, and other miscellanea used in the movies.

The museum is expected to create around 300 jobs. It is also expected to be finished and opened to the public in 2012.

(Source: Techland.com, NME.com)