A moment 20 years in the making
WATCH: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reunite in ‘Harry Potter’ 20th Anniversary special
HBO Max released the official trailer for Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, which will stream on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 2022.
The upcoming HBO Max special that will reunite the actors and filmmakers from the eight-movie series will also stream on HBO Go in the Philippines on the same day as the US.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone kicked off the film arm of the Wizarding World when it was released way back in November 2001. The reunion special, filmed at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, will commemorate the film franchise’s 20th anniversary.
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, reunites the original trio of actors Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger).
The special will also feature talent from the movies, including Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Tom Felton, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Matthew Lewis and Evanna Lynch.
Filmmakers David Heyman, Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell and David Yates will also make appearances.
The official trailer released by HBO Max Tuesday (Dec. 21) featured snippets from interviews of the cast reminiscing about the movies, as well as festivities in the Great Hall.
Watson who is revealed to be the figure walking along the Platform 9 ¾ of Hogwarts Express shown in an earlier teaser says: “It feels like no time has passed—and loads of time has passed,” before she hugs actor Tom Felton, who played Slytherin antagonist Draco Malfoy.
"It seemed like the perfect time to sit down with everyone and reminisce," says Grint.
A moment 20 years in the making.
— HBO Asia (@HBOAsia) December 16, 2021
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: #ReturnToHogwarts premieres January 1 only on HBO GO. Subscribe to HBO GO with special price plans now available. https://t.co/hOEysIkSo0 pic.twitter.com/JmoZutYBdN
"The thing that scared me the most was the implication that the most meaningful thing in our life was done, and there's something so joyous about seeing everyone. And be like, it wasn’t though,” says Radcliffe.
According to Bonham Carter, who played Bellatrix Lestrange, a highlight for her while filming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 was when she “had to pretend to be Hermione pretending to be Belletrix” as they break into Gringotts.
In conversation with Radcliffe, she says, “I’ve still got the teeth,” and puts them in her mouth as he laughs.
Fiennes says his sister, who had “Harry Potter”-aged children during the time when he was weighing whether to play Voldemort told him, “You’ve got to do it!”
“When things get really dark, and times are really hard, there’s something about Harry Potter that makes life richer,” Watson says, as the key trio of friends talk in the Gryffindor common room.
“It’s a strong bond that we’ll always have,” Grint agrees as they embrace.
Magic is afoot in the Wizarding World. Warner Bros. recently dropped the trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, the third movie in the spin-off franchise, which is coming out on April 15, 2022.
HBO Max is also streaming Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses, a game show hosted by Helen Mirren.
Author of the beloved book series J.K. Rowling, whose controversial statements in recent years have alienated fans and cast members alike, was not interviewed for Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts and will be shown in only archival footage about the movies.
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts is produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television, in association with Warner Horizon at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London — The Making of Harry Potter.
Get ready to return to where the magic began by checking out the nostalgic trailer below.
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts premieres on Jan. 1, New Year's Day on HBO Max and HBO Go in the Philippines.