HBO Max has revealed a short preview of Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, the Wizarding World reunion special celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first Harry Potter film. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone arrived in theaters in November 2001, introducing moviegoers to the magical world of the books by J.K. Rowling. The anniversary special won’t quite mark the exact 20 year anniversary, but will instead debut on January 1st, 2022 as a New Year’s Treat. The teaser hints at the various familiar faces viewers can expect to see:
Chris Columbus, who directed the first film as well as its sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, will join several cast members in this reunion. The main trio, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, will feature prominently in the special. The original actors who played Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley will also be joined by several other supporting cast members. These include Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), and James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley).
Other actors who appeared in later installments in the film series will also show their faces, such as Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), and Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort). Author J.K. Rowling will not feature in the festivities, possibly because of her controversial anti-trans comments. Otherwise, the cast and crew will share anecdotes and clips from their time filming the series, while visiting the sets.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first film’s release, Emma Watson took to Instagram to reflect on her time as Hermione Granger:
“Harry Potter was my home, my family, my world and Hermione (still is) my favourite fictional character of all time. I think a journalist once said it was irritating how many times during an interview I mentioned how lucky I was and started counting… BUT I DAMN WELL KNEW!!! And still know.
I am proud not just of what we as a group contributed as actors to the franchise but also as the children that became young adults that walked that path. I look at my fellow cast members now and I am just so proud of who everyone has become as people. I am proud we were kind to each other that we supported one another and that we held up something meaningful.”
She finished the post by thanking the fans and the crew and inviting everyone to check out the upcoming reunion special.
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts will debut exclusively on HBO Max in the US, and on SKY and NOW in the UK. It will also air later this coming year on TBS and Cartoon Network. HBO Max may host even more Harry Potter content, as the streaming service revealed earlier this year that it may develop a new series set in the Wizarding World.
