Technology giant Google has tied up with Warner Bros. Pictures to promote Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a new film set in the Harry Potter universe. In a post on its official blog, the Mountain View, California, company said the promotion will allow users of Android mobiles with voice commands enabled to cast “spells” to activate and de-activate certain phone functions.
For example, saying “Ok Google” followed by “Lumos” will turn a phone’s flashlight on. Saying “Ok Google” and then “Nox” will turn the flashlight off. “Silencio” will silence a device’s ringer and notifications system. The commands are all based on magic spells used by wizards and witches in the Harry Potter universe, created by author JK Rowling.
The promotion will also allow users to explore the setting of the new film, the city of New York in 1926. Using Google’s Street View service and app, people will be able to visit locations such as the Magical Congress of the United States of America, as well as other set pieces such as the homes of two of the movie’s characters. The company said that a Virtual Reality experience powered by its Daydream View headset will be available to the public when the device goes on sale in November.
The movie will be released in India on November 18. Earlier, Rowling had said there could be up to as many as five movies in the new series, according to The Verge.
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