Traditionally, the day the Hogwarts Express leaves Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross is meant to be 1 September – but on New Year’s Day, it’ll be chugging all the way up to the castle for one special reason. And we mean special – as in, a TV special, titled Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return To Hogwarts, bringing the major cast members of the Potter movies back together for a lovely reunion, marking two decades since The Philosopher’s Stone hit the big screen. The one-off show is an HBO Max production, with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson set to sit together and talk Wizarding World things for the first time in years – as well as being joined by tons of familiar faces from the sprawling supporting cast. Here’s your first teaser trailer:
If the bulk of the show will likely be a bunch of muggles sat around and talking about the old days, there’s some delightful production stuff going on here too – check out that lovely Minalima design for a special edition of the Daily Prophet announcing the reunion (‘Hogwarts welcomes back alumni!’), Robbie Coltrane, Matthew Lewis, and Mark Williams getting their own Hogwarts letters, and a short walk down Platform 9 3/4 (very possibly shot at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making Of Harry Potter). And who’s that figure walking towards the train?
According to the official info, the special will “tell an enchanting making-of story through all-new in-depth interviews and cast conversations, inviting fans on a magical first-person journey through one of the most beloved film franchises of all time”. And while US viewers can stream it on HBO Max from the stroke of midnight as the new year hits, it’ll be available to UK audiences on NOW and Sky.
Will we get some interesting tidbits from the central trio, who have spent the last decade largely moving away from their Potter years? Will anyone have too many Butterbeers and make a scene? And will the special include a glimpse at the really-not-that-far-away Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore, coming to cinemas in April? All will be revelio-ed.