HBO Max has now released its trailer for Harry Potter: Return To Hogwarts, a reunion special in honor of the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (or Philosopher’s Stone if you want its original published title) that seems set to give avid Potterheads the celebration they have been hoping for. All major cast members, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, are set to appear when the special airs on January 1st, 2022.
The trailer was released during Sunday night’s episode of Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses and shows a number of familiar faces receiving their invitation to the occasion, before the short teaser reels off a list of Potter royalty, from Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes and Gary Oldman, to James and Oliver Phelps and Mark Williams, as well as the promise of “many more.” You can see the teaser below.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
This is certainly not the first time HBO Max has been responsible for reuniting stars to celebrate some beloved TV shows, having already brought the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air stars together for the first time since the series ended for a special last year, and then having delivered the much-hyped Friends Reunion earlier this year. Return To Hogwarts for the Harry Potter reunion will be the first time the platform has done a movie get-together, and will also be the largest by quite a stretch, even if some of the participants only appear via video link for a short message.
With Harry Potter celebrating two decades since the first movie hit cinemas, it was always believed that the cast would come together for some kind of celebration. Even though a number of stars, including Daniel Radcliffe, claimed a few months ago that there was nothing planned to see them all reunited on screen, fans had hoped that this was not the case. When it comes to the franchise itself, the movie series has grossed over $7.7 billion at the box over eight movies, with three of those movies being part of the list of the 50 highest grossing films of all time at the time of writing, and without adjustment for inflation, the Wizarding World movie series, which incorporates the Fantastic Beasts films, is currently the third highest grossing film series ever, sitting behind only Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and the Star Wars franchise.
“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,” said Tom Ascheim, President, Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics, in the original announcement about the special back in November. “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.”
“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 incredible films,” said executive producer Casey Patterson.
Catch Harry Potter: Return To Hogwarts on HBO Max New Years Day.
