Oddly enough, I received a Howler in the mail today that, when opened, started shouting at me about the new Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts special that’s coming to HBO Max. With gnashing teeth and bits of paper being scattered about the room, the Howler reminded me that the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is today. To mark the occasion, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint will join Chris Columbus and other cast members from the eight-film franchise for a retrospective special.
Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts will premiere on HBO Max on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2022. Fans can expect the special to “tell an enchanting making-of story through all-new, in-depth interviews and cast conversations,” according to HBO Max.
Other stars from the beloved film franchise who are set to join the tribute include 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.
“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. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics, 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.”
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts is produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. The special is executive produced by Casey Patterson of Casey Patterson Entertainment and Pulse Films.
“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,” said Patterson. “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.”
To add a bit more magic to the mix, Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts will also air on TBS and Cartoon Network in Spring 2022 ahead of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.
Great Moaning Myrtle’s ghost, has it really been 20 years since my mom took me to see Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in theaters? I feel old AF right now. Do any of you have a spare Time Turner you can lend me?
At any rate, HBO Max’s Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts sounds like a great way to look back at the franchise that captured the hearts and imaginations of Potterheads for generations. Let us know if you’ll be checking it out in the comments section below.