The cast of the Harry Potter films are reuniting for a special on HBO Max to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the series’ first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. This is the cast’s first ever reunion since the final film in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, premiered back in 2011.
The announcement was made on November 16, Tuesday, exactly 20 years since the US release of the first film on November 16, 2001.
HBO Max dropped a trailer featuring clips from the Harry Potter films with the promise that “the legendary cast” will be returning “to where the magic started.”
For the special, titled Return to Hogwarts, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson will join American filmmaker Chris Columbus for a discussion on the films and an in-depth exploration of the creative process for the films. According to HBO Max, the special will be a “magical first-person journey through one of the most beloved film franchises of all time.”
Joining the “legendary trio” are Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Felton, Robbie Coltrane, Jason Isaacs, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, Imelda Staunton and many others from the cast.
Tom Felton promoted the special on Twitter by posting the trailer, along with the caption: “Is this what school homecoming is like? Mark your calendars for New Years’ Day #ReturnToHogwarts, streaming on @hbomax x.”
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
The announcement for the special came as Radcliffe shared in a BBC documentary (which was also in celebration of the first Harry Potter film’s 20th anniversary) that friends have told him the Harry Potter films have become people’s go-to films for when they are feeling down.
“They will just watch back-to-back a few movies and it just takes them to a place of warmth and comfort,” said Radcliffe.
Return to Hogwarts is set to take fans back to Hogwarts on January 1, 2022, when the special streams on HBO Max.
