Feature

A Wizarding World Reunion

Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, and Daniel Radcliffe at the World Premier of “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 2” in July 2011.

Angela Chen
December 6, 2021

Happy 20th anniversary to the Harry Potter movies! On Nov. 14, 2001, the first Harry Potter movie came out, four years after the book release. As children, some of us watched Harry Potter, read the books, took quizzes to see what type of wand we had, which patronus we possessed, and which house we belonged in. Would it be Gryffindor, like Hermione, Harry and Ron, or Slytherin, like Draco, Snape and Voldemore? Or would we be like Cedric Diggory, in Hufflepuff? Or could it be Ravenclaw that we were in? Even now, children and adults still continue to do so. Harry Potter is a memorable and momentous story, with striking characters such as Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, Ginny and Sirius Black. From Harry’s bravery to Ron’s uncontrollable arachnophobia, and from Voldemort’s merciless behavior to Dumbledore’s omniscient presence, these characters each have unique personalities that contribute to the story.

Much like the Friends Reunion, which happened in May of 2021, the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts will be released by HBO Max. The reunion will be released on New Years Day, Jan. 1, 2022.

From what we know so far, actors Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, who played characters from the “Golden Trio” composed of Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, respectively, will be attending. Other actors, such as Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane, Helena Bonham Carter and Gary Oldman, who played Voldemort, Hagrid, Bellatrix and Sirius Black, respectively, will be joining them. They will be joining them for special behind-the-scenes, rounds of interviews with the aim to “honor the magic behind the making of the films,” according to Warner Bros.

However, one relevant person will be missing from this reunion, creator of this fantastical universe, J.K Rowling. Rowling started writing the Harry Potter books in 1990, before getting them published in 1997. Rowling will not be included in this reunion because of the tweets she made in June 2020. She has been criticized by fans after starting a controversy over her transphobic tweets. Some of the cast of Harry Potter has responded to these comments and stands with the LGBTQ+ community.

According to LA Times, Daniel Radcliffe, the Harry Potter star responded by saying, “Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.”

Even though Rowling will not be attending, she will be shown in archived footage, confirmed by The National. Many people are excited about this reunion, both the fans, known as Potterheads, and the cast.

“Happy 20th Anniversary Potterheads! We hope you enjoy the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts which will stream New Year’s day, Jan. 1 on HBO Max. Lots to look forward to,” Watson said on her social media. She also thanked her “loyal fans” for supporting her and the cast of Harry Potter.

Watson, on her social media platform has mentioned, “I am proud not just of what we as a group contributed as actors to the franchise but also as the children that became young adults that walked that path. I look at my fellow cast members now and I am just so proud of who everyone has become as people. I am proud we were kind to each other, that we supported one another and that we held up something meaningful.”

Watson has not been the only one to comment on this reunion. Tom Felton, who plays Draco Malfoy, has also responded on his Twitter account.

“Is this what school homecoming is like? Mark your calendars for New Years Day #ReturnToHogwarts, streaming on @hbomax.”

Other than Felton, Watson, and Potterheads like me, the president of Warner Bros Global Kids andYoung Adults and Classics, Tom Ascheim, is also excited. He has made it clear that this production by Warner Bros will be nostalgic.

“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,” Ascheim stated.

Personally, I can’t wait. I would love to see the cast bond with each other again and catch up. I haven’t seen many of them since the last Harry Potter movie came out, and this is a great refresher. Even if Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) and Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) aren’t attending (yet!), other cherished characters will be there, such as Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) and Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). The cast of Harry Potter are now 30 or older. Compared to their younger selves, they are wiser, but still just as memorable to me. After 20 years, I hope nothing has changed between the cast.

If you can’t wait, I have good news for you! On Nov. 28th, 2021, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses will be released. This Harry Potter competition, hosted by Helen Mirren, can be watched on TBS and Cartoon Network. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses is a four part competition, with fans as competitors competing for the Tournament of Houses championship trophy. The show will have cameos from Tom Felton, Luke Youngblood, the actor of Lee Jordan and Simon Fisher-Becker, who play the Fat Friar. It will also receive cameos from celebrity fans like Pete Davidson and Jay Leno.

A list of who we know is attending as of 11/17/2021: