Back in November, HBO confirmed that it was going to bring the original cast of Harry Potter back for a 20th-anniversary celebration/reunion. Now, we finally have a trailer to show for it.
HBO drops the first trailer for the Harry Potter reunion
After the success of the Friends TV show reunion earlier this year, HBO is doubling up with another special that will reunite the cast and crew of the film that kicked off an entire franchise. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which was directed by Christopher Columbus, introduced the world to Daniel Radcliffe and “The Boy Who Lived”, Harry Potter. What started as Harry getting accepted into the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry turned into a journey that would make audiences laugh, cry, and grieve, throughout the years, culminating in 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. By the time that the eighth feature film had premiered, the series had grossed nearly $8 billion while also changing the lives of its cast and crew as well as audiences forever. To help celebrate the Harry Potter film franchise’s 20th birthday, HBO Max just gave audiences their first look at Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts. The reunion special’s first trailer opens with the familiar sound of the Hogwarts clock tower and a shot of the film universe’s popular newspaper, the Daily Prophet, with a headline that welcomes Hogwarts Alumna back. We’re then treated to a glimpse of several familiar faces, including Robbie Coltrane’s affable giant Hagrid, Matthew Lewis’ Neville Longbottom, and everybody’s favorite dad of all time, Mark Williams’ Arthur Weasley. Finally, the trailer ends with a shot of an actor that appears to be Emma Watson, who starred as Hermione Granger, as she walks down the infamous platform 9 and 3/4. Even if HBO Max didn’t include everyone in the trailer, it’s confirmed that the following are going to appear in the reunion special:
Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter Emma Watson as Hermione Granger Rupert Grint as Ronald Weasley Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy Gary Oldman as Sirius Black Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy James and Oliver Phelps as Fred and George Weasley, respectively Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley Alfred Enoch as Dean Thomas Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood
Despite the series’ long-lasting popularity, a Harry Potter reunion event was never guaranteed. Ever since the series’ eight-film run ended, the actors have found themselves enjoying illustrious careers with busy schedules. Radcliffe himself expressed doubt that the original cast would ever find the time to reunite for a special event because of how much they all have going on at the moment. However, now that it’s happening, Potterheads will want to clear their schedules for January 1, 2022. If you ever need another reason to watch the 20th anniversary special of Harry Potter, it’s been rumored that Warner Bros. is going to drop more news about Hogwarts Legacy by then.