Anyone who still slides a “so which Hogwarts house are you in?” into a conversation, gets visibility excited at the thought of a Harry Potter Marathon, or is still waiting for their admittance to Hogwarts letter in the mail, can relish in the news that a reunion special is speeding toward us as fast as the Weasley’s famous Flying Ford. It’s set to be a television episode titled, ‘Return to Hogwarts,’ and Potterheads couldn’t be more thrilled.
However, of all the cast-members familiar faces set to make a reappearance as if we were looking into the Pensive (AKA the enchanted item that allows memories to be relived and recreated) there’s one face we won’t be seeing beyond footage flashbacks, and it’s none other than JK Rowling’s – but we’ll get to that.
Here’s what we know about the Reunion Special:
For the first time ever, the legendary cast returns to where the magic started. Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: #ReturnToHogwarts, streaming New Year’s Day, only on HBO Max. International release coming soon. pic.twitter.com/53bHAf0WTY
— HBO Max (@hbomax) November 16, 2021
The cast is returning back to the original London film Set at the Hogwarts School.
According to executive producer, Casey Patterson: “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 ag…the excitement is palpable as they prepare to take their fans on a very special and personal journey, through the making of these incredible films.”
The feature special isn’t a new film, but an inside glance toward the making of the magical film franchise.
According to HBO, the feature will “tell an enchanting making-of story through all-new, in-depth interviews and cast conversations.”
‘Happee Birthdae ‘Harry’
The special is inspired by a generation of the franchises’ 20th birthday, as the first film premiered 20 years ago.
“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,” Tom Ascheim, president of Warner Bros said in a 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,” he continued.
The cast set to board the Hogwarts Express and head to the reunion special includes:
Daniel Radcliff, Rupert, Grint Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Imelda Staunton, Tom Felton, James and Oliver Phelps, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch and Ian Hart. Director of magic, Christopher Columbus is also going to dust off his robes for an appearance.
When will it premiere?
Jan 1 2022 will see the magic come to our screens on HBO Max. It’s also set to stream on Cartoon Network early next year according to Reuters.
Is JK Rowling wearing an invisibility cloak or simply not making an appearance at all?
JK Rowling is not going to make an appearance, despite her critical role in not only the creation of the wizarding world itself but also her influence on the films. Rowling has been renowned for having her say in the films ensuring that the world her imaginings created stayed true to the novel’s essence. She was also an all-important decider in castings.
While the information that has been presented by some involved in the reunion special claims that the feature is focused on “the creation of the film and the “central” team,” according to the BBC, many are drawing the lines between Rowling’s absence and the mass controversy on her opinions surrounding transgender issues in 2020 caused, which some people, including cast members, called critical of the transgender community and even hateful.
Emma Watson, Hermione Granger in the Potter franchise, reportedly said that “trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are.
Rowling has previously defended her position in a blog post, expressing that she had written her interest in trans issues from the perspective of a woman who had survived abuse, and concern about single sex-spaces.
Picture: Warner Bros