5 Little-Known Facts About Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince You Haven't Heard About

15 years ago, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince premiered. The novel of the same name is traditionally considered the darkest chapter in the story – readers lose another major character, the clouds over Hogwarts thicken, and Harry himself becomes more alone than ever.

Here are five things you definitely didn't know about the most beloved part of the franchise.

1. There Should Be Another Bridge Instead of London's Millennium Bridge

Not all viewers are fans of the original novels. For this reason, it is important to note that in the book, a gang of Death Eaters attacks the Brockdale Bridge, while in the movie, the more famous Millennium Bridge was used for greater effect.

The problem is that the Millennium Bridge only opened in 2000, while the events of the novel take place in the 90s. Of course, many viewers did not notice the inaccuracy, but hardcore fans were quick to remind the filmmakers that the Millennium Bridge could not exist in the Harry Potter universe – even though the scene of destruction looked quite impressive.

2. Bonnie Wright Joined the Movie's Production Design Team

Bonnie Wright, who played Ginny Weasley, worked not only on the set of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, but also off the set. As a student, Wright interned with the production design team, working on the movie's props.

She helped decorate the Weasley family's home, the Burrow, by constructing and placing the necessary magical objects or simply household items in the rooms.

3. Rufus Scrimgeour Could Have Appeared on the Screen Earlier

Cornelius Fudge's successor, Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour, is an important character in the book, but he never appears in the film.

British actor Bill Nighy, best known for his work in the romantic comedy Love Actually, was cast as Scrimgeour during the casting of the sixth installment, and even filmed several takes that were not included in the final version of the film. These scenes were later used in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Is the Most Expensive Movie in the Franchise

Yes, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has the largest budget of any film in the series. The main financial expenses were related to the extensive use of CGI and expensive acting contracts. In addition to Bill Nighy, Helen McCrory as Narcissa Malfoy, Frank Dillane as Tom Riddle and Jim Broadbent as Professor Horace Slughorn were cast in the sixth installment.

The final budget for the movie was $250 million. For comparison, each part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows cost about half that amount.

5. One of the Actors Died in a Tragic Accident Before the Movie Was Released

The UK premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was marked by tragedy – 18-year-old actor Robert Knox, who played Marcus Belby in the film, was killed in an attack outside a London pub. According to media reports, Knox was trying to protect his younger brother when one of the attackers pulled out a knife.

Knox was due to reprise his role in the first Deathly Hallows, but instead the filmmakers and the late actor's family set up a charity in his name to help fund arts education for underprivileged students.