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The Harry Potter reunion is finally happening! Potterheads, your prayers have been answered!
The classic and iconic movie series, Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J.K. Rowling. The series follows the adventures of young wizard Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), his friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The major plot is around Harry's battle with Lord Voldemort, an evil wizard who wants to become immortal, topple the Ministry of Magic, and subjugate all wizards and Muggles (non-magical people).
Harry Potter completes 20 years today and the iconic trio of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson are coming together to share their experience of filming the seven movies of Harry Potter in a special HBO Max’s ‘Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts’ episode that will premiere on New Year’s Day i.e., 1st January 2022.
The reunion episode will "tell an enticing making-of tale through all-new, in-depth interviews and cast talks," according to HBO Max. The special will also air on Warner Media's TBS and Cartoon Network in spring 2022, prior to the theatrical release of "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore" by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Imelda Staunton, Tom Felton, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, and Ian Hart will join the original trio during the special 20th-anniversary episode.
Tom Ascheim, President of Warner Bros, said, “It has been an incredible journey since the debut of the ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ film, and witnessing how it has evolved into this remarkable interconnected universe has been magical to say the least.” Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics said in their statement, “This retrospective is a tribute to everyone whose lives were touched by this cultural phenomenon — from the talented cast and crew who poured their heart and soul into this extraordinary film franchise to the passionate fans who continue to keep the Wizarding World spirit alive 20 years later.”
The special 20th Anniversary episode that is going to feature a lot of adventure stories of the cast and crew of the Harry Potter franchise is being produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. Casey Patterson of Casey Patterson Entertainment and Pulse Films will be serving as executive producers.
Casey Patterson said about the reunion episode, “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. The excitement is palpable as they prepare to take their fans on a very special and personal journey, through the making of these unbelievable films.”
On November 28, 2021, at the opening of a bracket-style quiz tournament on TBS and Cartoon Network, a sneak look at the reunion episode will air. Helen Mirren will host the four-part special, which will feature cameos from Tom Felton, Simon Fisher-Becker, Shirley Henderson, and Luke Youngblood from the "Harry Potter" films, as well as superfans Pete Davidson and Jay Leno. "Hogwarts Tournament of Houses" will premiere on HBO Max on January 1.
Promoting the trailer, Tom Felton, who played blond-haired villain Draco Malfoy, warned fans to save the date. “Is this what school homecoming is like?” he wrote on Twitter. “Mark your calendars for New Year's Day Return To Hogwarts, streaming on HBO Max x.” Matt Lewis, known for his portrayal of hapless Neville Long bottom in the series, posted, “This New Year’s Day ... we’re putting the band back together.”
The 32-year-old Daniel Radcliffe said “The time in most people’s lives when they discovered it meant that it has an incredibly important place in a lot of people’s childhoods, and they still feel very protective over it. One of my favorite fates that we could never have ever imagined for the Harry Potter films but that I have been told by several friends is that they are fantastic when people are hung-over and feeling really crappy about themselves. They will just watch back-to-back a few movies, and it just takes them to a place of warmth and comfort. That is so lovely to me. That is the real-world effect that a film can have on someone’s life. I think that is great.”
Hermoine a.k.a. actress Emma Watson shared her memories of Hogwarts and the film, and she wrote: "Harry Potter was my home, my family, my world and Hermione (still is) my favorite fictional character of all time. I think a journalist once said it was irritating how many times during an interview I mentioned how lucky I was and started counting... But I damn well knew! And still know." She signed off her appreciation post on the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter with kind words: I still miss the crew who made these films all the time. Thank you for all of your hard work, too - I know your contributions sometimes get overlooked. Happy 20th Anniversary, Potter heads."
J.K. Rowling, the book's author, will be absent from the reunion's 20th anniversary, and fans have expressed their dismay on Twitter. Although fans were excited about the reunion, one fan expressed sadness that JK Rowling would not be there because the "Harry Potter world would just not exist without her." "The Harry Potter cast members owe their career to JK Rowling, they turned their back on her because that also helps their career, yet they're still keen to be in this special? This says it all, doesn't it? Money + fame > principles", one of the fans commented.
Although some of the fans have raised their concerns about not the author not being a part of the reunion, but Potterheads are excited just for the fact that their beloved characters and actors will be coming together to share their experiences and adventure stories with the fans.
J.K. Rowling recently made headlines after her anti-transgender comments surfaced. She tweeted about an article that used the term 'those who menstruate' instead of 'women,' and expressed her dissatisfaction with the trans-inclusive term. Her post drew a lot of criticism, and actors like Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter, spoke out in favor of the trans community. During the uproar, he issued a statement in which he stated, "Transgender women are women."
