Harry Potter fans rejoice! The original cast of the Harry Potter series including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint are set to reunite for a TV special 20 years after the first film was screened. HBO Max said the Return to Hogwarts will be released on 1 January 2022-making a magical start to the New Year. The show will feature interviews with the cast, never-before-seen clips, special guests, and a few surprises!
The wizarding trio have not been seen together since the last premiere of the franchise Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 which was in July 2011. They will be joining Chris Columbus the filmmaker who directed the first ever film Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The show will feature interviews with the cast, never-before-seen clips, a special guest, and a few surprises! HBO Max has promised to stream all of the films and promise to:
“tell an enchanting story through all-new, in-depth interviews and conversations.”
Watson, who played bookworm Hermione Granger, shared the news of the television reunion on her Instagram page along with a photo of the young cast, and thanked loyal fans known as “Potterheads.”
She posted on her Instagram page:
“Harry Potter was my home, my family, my world, and Hermione (still is) my favorite fictional character of all time. 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.”
Promoting the trailer, Tom Felton, who played villain Draco Malfoy will be appearing in the special and he warned the fans to save the date with this tweet:
is this what school homecoming is like? mark your calendars for New Years Day #ReturnToHogwarts , streaming on @hbomax x pic.twitter.com/FQ38VB1fBb
— Tom Felton (@TomFelton) November 16, 2021
Matthew Lewis, who played underdog Neville Longbottom simply said:
“This New Year’s day…we’re putting the band back together.”
The trio will be joined by fellow stars including Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, Robbie Coltrane, Jason Issacs, and Imelda Staunton.
British author J.K Rowling who wrote the books the movies are based on and worked closely with the film’s producers is absent from the lineup for the Warner Bros television show. The writer has been criticized in recent years for comments about transgender people and has been accused of being transphobic.
Her comments in recent years have alienated fans of the franchise. Furthermore, Watson and Radcliffe publicly distanced themselves from Rowling’s comments at the time and said they stood with the trans community.
However, Rowling’s absence has led to a certain amount of confusion and criticism on Twitter:
NOT interested in any #HarryPotter reunion that does not involve it's superbly wonderful creator @jk_rowling . That's the tweet. pic.twitter.com/BaLcmwjXr9
— Kaine (@kaine_magi) November 16, 2021
Executive producer Casey Patterson said:
“There’s magic in the air here with this incredible cast, as they all return home to the original sets of Hogwarts, where they began 20 years ago.”
Fans can begin to get excited, as the producers and cast aim to take their fans on a very special and personal journey through the making of these incredible films. It will also celebrate the unparalleled legacy of the film franchise and the impact these films had on the hearts, minds, and imaginations of families around the world. Sounds like we’re all in for a treat!
For more spell-binding facts on Harry Potter and the first film of the franchise, check out this article
