Harry Potter Reunion Trailer Shows First Look At Returning Original Cast
Harry Potter fans should have their wands at the ready, after the last trailer for Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return To Hogwarts revealed a first look at the returning original movie cast.. It's been 20 years since the beloved film series opened up the world of wands, wizards and witches to millions. The franchise spawned eight hugely successful feature films, the Fantastic Beasts spin-off series, The Cursed Child play, and much more. In November, HBO finally announced the Harry Potter reunion that fans have waited for. The special will reunite the cast and crew of the franchise for a nostalgic trip about how the series took the world by storm, complete with exclusive interviews and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the multi-billion-dollar franchise.
The film series began with 2001's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, directed by Christopher Columbus. Both J.K Rowling's original novel and the movie told the story of "The Boy Who Lived," Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), whose life is drastically changed when he receives a letter of acceptance at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 10 years later, Potter's journey at Hogwarts came to a close, ending as the highest-grossing film of 2011 with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. It was a franchise that boasted a plethora of household names as part of its cast, including Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes and Michael Gambon, to name just a few. However, many of its members were unknown at the beginning, including Radcliffe, and have since gone on to build successful careers in their own rights. Since the last Harry Potter film hit screens, fans have speculated and hoped for a time when they would see the cast together again.
Now, HBO Max has revealed a first-look for the upcoming Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts special airing on January 1, 2022. The trailer opens with the familiar ticking and tolling of the Hogwarts clock tower followed by the a shot of the Daily Prophet, whose headline reads: "Hogwarts Welcomes Back Alumni." A few familiar faces are revealed, including Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), and Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley). Finally, walking down platform 9 ¾ beside the Hogwarts Express is an actor who appears to be Emma Watson, who starred as the brightest witch of her age, Hermione Granger. Watch the full teaser trailer below:
Confirmed as part of Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts is the reunion of actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. Alongside them are the likes of Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Tom Felton, James and Oliver Phelps, Ronnie Wright, Alfred Enoch and Evanna Lynch, who will also feature in the exclusive making-of story. The notable name left out is that of the books' author, J.K. Rowling, whose controversial comments about the transgender community have sparked widespread criticism. However, the reunion special will reporedly include archive footage from the films' production that features Rowling.
The possibility of the long-awaited Harry Potter reunion event was not always guaranteed, however. As recently as July 2021, Radcliffe expressed doubts of a reunion on such a grand scale due to scheduling conflicts. While the Fantastic Beasts series acts as a continuation of the Wizarding World's story, it has largely failed to ignite the same love that fans felt for the originals. Now, fans have been given what they asked for, and will undoubtedly be itching to learn all they can from this very special Harry Potter event, including a retrospective look at one of cinema's most beloved franchises, when Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts debuts.
Source: HBO Max/Youtube