BY KELSEY PURCELL, FEATURES ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
HBO Max announced a “Harry Potter” television special, “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts” that will reunite cast members of the magical movies. The special will premiere at midnight on Jan. 1, 2022. The original eight “Harry Potter” films are also available to be streamed on HBO Max.
“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,” said Casey Patterson, the producer. The television special will feature behind the scenes clips from the movies. Actors will be interviewed on their experiences filming the movies, and chatting with each other to celebrate the anniversary.
It has already been 20 years since the release of the first movie, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Daniel Radcliffe who played Harry Potter, Emma Watson who played Hermione Granger and Rupert Grint who played Ron Weasley are the stars of the films who will be appearing in the special.
On Instagram Watson said, “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 continued to thank the fans for making it an “inclusive loving place.”
Other cast members who are set to appear in the reunion special include Tom Felton who played Draco Malfoy, Matthew Lewis who played Neville Longbottom, Helena Bonham Carter who played Bellatrix Lestrange, Robbie Coltrane who played Hagrid, Ralph Fiennes who played Voldemort, Gary Oldman who played Sirius Black, Jason Issacs who played Lucius Malfoy, Imelda Staunton who played Dolores Umbridge, James Phelps who played Fred Weasley, Oliver Phelps who played George Weasley, Mark Williams who played Arthur Weasley, Bonnie Wright who played Ginny Weasley, Alfred Enoch who played Dean Thomas, Evanna Lynch who played Luna Lovegood and Chris Columbus who directed the first two “Harry Potter” films.
The teaser said many more cast members will make an appearance. Perhaps Ian Hart who played Professor Quirrell will be included or Harry Melling who played Dudley Dursley. Maybe Julie Walters who played Molly Weasley will also be one of the unnamed cast members who appear in the special.
It is not clear if J.K. Rowling, author of the “Harry Potter” books, will be in the special. Rowling has made comments about being a TERF or trans-exclusionary radical feminist. According to Variety, many actors from the “Harry Potter” films including Watson and Radcliffe have spoken out and defended the trans community from hurtful comments. Film of prior interviews of Rowling speaking about the movies may be included.
Potterheads should be sure to check out this special on New Year’s Day to get a behind the scenes look of the magic at Hogwarts. It will bring back nostalgia to revisit the set and see the cast reconnect.
