Ever since the first trailer for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was released, fans have been clamoring for more details about the film – and director Frank Doel has been more than happy to oblige.

The director took to Twitter to address fans’ burning questions and even shared a few tidbits about what makes the film unique.

Here’s what you need to know.

Different From The Others

Perhaps the biggest selling point of Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter series is its ability to entertain both adults and children. Doel explains that while the previous films were mostly for adults, Goblet of Fire is aimed at a more diverse audience.

“The idea of the movie is for it to be accessible to as many people as possible,” Doel said in a recent interview with The Verge. “We’ve always wanted to do something different compared to The Sorcerer’s [Sale], which I think is one of the greatest Harry Potter films ever made. The more adult themes in that one didn’t work for my target audience, which is predominantly kids and teenagers.”

While The Sorcerer’s Sale is an action-packed thrill ride that will appeal to fans of the series, Goblet of Fire is a more subtle movie that aims to please a wider audience. One of the ways it does this is by putting more focus on the supporting characters and reducing the action-heavy scenes that were so popular in the previous installments.

Robert Pattinson

The British actor who plays the infamous Robert Pattinson takes the spotlight this time around, which is a significant departure from earlier films in the franchise. While he’s not exactly a supporting character (more on that later), fans of Twilight will undoubtedly recognize him as the charming yet deadly Edward Cullen.

Pattinson, who was born in London and raised in Scotland, has always kept a low profile since breaking out as the iconic Bella Swan’s (Kristen Stewart) perfect beau in Twilight. While he’s rarely been photographed in public, Pattinson has been making headlines for the right reasons recently. Most notably, he was named one of the most attractive men of the year by Marie Claire (which probably isn’t an accidental choice, considering the editions of the magazine he graced).

More Female Characters

In addition to putting more focus on the major characters, Goblet of Fire also features a greater number of female supporting characters than previous films in the series. This is undoubtedly a reflection of the times we live in; today’s films aspire to be more inclusive and representative of modern society. It’s also a testament to the role of women in modern-day society. Since its premiere, Goblet of Fire has become Warner Bros.’ highest-grossing film of all time in the UK with £11.2 million ($16.2 million) to its name. Its worldwide total is now $35.7 million. It’s also one of the most popular films among women in the UK, just behind Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 and Frozen.

New Characters

Apart from Robert Pattinson, whose character is one of the focal points of the film, Goblet of Fire introduces us to a veritable who’s-who of Hollywood A-listers. Here’s a rundown of the main new characters:

  • Billie Piper (Billy), the film’s primary nemesis
  • Mike Tyson (Mitch), whose character is based on the real-life boxer
  • Brendan Fraser (Brando), who plays an ambitious author
  • Paul McCallum (Pete), who is described as an “edgy Scottish novelist” (McCallum is from Northern Ireland)
  • David Spaight (Styles), a gay man who is “controversial, clever, and sexy” (Spaight is from New Zealand)
  • Daniel Radcliffe (Ronald), who plays Potter’s best friend and fellow Quidditch player Harry Potter
  • Liam Hewlett (He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named), an “eccentric and adventurous” student (Hewlett is from New Zealand)

As for the most memorable character of all, it’s tough to choose between Harry, Ron, and Hermione, but Doel has a suggestion:

“They’re all brilliant in their own ways, but I think Ronald is the best actor in the world, and I wouldn’t change a thing about him,” he said. “Also, I wrote the character of Hermione with a bit of Ronald in mind. She’s his perfect mate, and I think she’s absolutely perfect the way she is as well.”

A Tale Of Three Couplings

The way Doel describes it, Goblet of Fire is a love letter to Love Harry Potter, the fans who have stuck by the series through all these years, and to Hermione (for McCallum and Spaight fans).

“It’s a love letter to Love Harry Potter and the fans who’ve stuck with the franchise all these years, as well as to Hermione, for McCallum and Spaight fans,” he said.

For those who haven’t kept up with tony talks since the #MeToo moment, McCallum and Spaight’s couples are Billie and Mike, played by Piper and Tyson, and Harry and Hermione, played by Radcliffe and Pattinson.

To add another layer of complexity, Doel says the film is also a love letter to Love itself.

“I think it’s important to make films that you feel good about, that you want to watch and experience. That’s what attracted me to it, the fact that it’s an adventure movie, something different,” said Doel. “But at the same time, it’s also a love letter to Love (the film), and I think that’s why it’s doing so well. People want to see something that they feel is for them.”