First official poster for Harry Potter reunion Return To Hogwarts

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint join Harry Potter co-stars in first official poster for Return To Hogwarts… as JK Rowling is kept away following controversy over transgender views

  • Harry Potter fans are eagerly-awaiting the franchise’s 20th Anniversary reunion, which will see the megastars of the movies meet up for a one-off special   
  • The new special ‘will share new details on the production through in-depth interviews and cast conversations’ 
  • Harry Potter author JK Rowling will not be joining the special amid much controversy surrounding her over the past few years after she tweeted about biological sex leading to backlash from the trans community  
  • Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts is set to debut on January 1, 2022 on HBO Max 

The first official poster for the Harry Potter reunion special has been released, featuring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint front and centre ahead of filming Return to Hogwarts.

Fans of the franchise will no doubt be delighted to see Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley together once again alongside a host of their wizarding friends.  

Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), James Phelps and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley), Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), Alfred Enoch (Dean Thomas), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), and Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) also appear on the photograph, which is set in Hogwarts’ Great Hall.     

One person not included in the poster, however, was Harry Potter author JK Rowling, who has been kept away from the special amid an ongoing transphobia row that has seen her get cancelled.

One to watch! The first official poster for the Harry Potter reunion special has been released, featuring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint front and centre ahead of filming Return to Hogwarts

Not featured in the poster but expected to appear in the special are the likes of Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid), Ralph Fiennes (Lord Voldemort), Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy) and Gary Oldman (Sirius Black). 

The first official poster comes after fans were treated to a glimpse at the set up for the special.  

In the shots, the stars of the highly successful fantasy film franchise were seen speaking to each other in a room that had been decorated to resemble the mythical location of Hogwarts.

The forthcoming special was initially announced to have been in the works last month, and it will have its premiere on the HBO Max streaming service in the New Year.

Back at it: The first official poster comes after fans were treated to a glimpse at the set up for the special, seeing the three protagonists sitting in the Gryffindor common room for a catch up 

According to Entertainment Weekly, the new special ‘will share new details on the production through in-depth interviews and cast conversations.’

Return to Hogwarts will also feature appearances from numerous members of the franchise’s cast, including Helena Bonham Carter, Gary Oldman, Robbie Coltrane and Ralph Fiennes, among others. 

Chris Columbus, who directed the first film in the series, will also appear in the special. 

Hogwarts’ executive producer, Casey Patterson, also spoke to the media outlet and expressed that the featurette would likely please Harry Potter’s longtime fans.

New material: According to Entertainment Weekly , the new special ‘will share new details on the production through in-depth interviews and cast conversations’ (L-R Daniel, Rupert and Emma in 2001)

‘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,’ she said.

Patterson also expressed that the special would give longtime fans of the franchise an inside look into the production of the movies. 

‘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,’ she said. 

A trailer for the upcoming special was released on HBO Max’s official YouTube account last month.


First look: A trailer for the upcoming special was released on HBO Max’s official YouTube account last month

In the clip, fans were promised that the series’ ‘legendary cast’ would return ‘to where the magic started.’ 

The clip opens with an image of the vast clock at the front of Hogwarts before shooting to an image of the wizarding newspaper The Daily Prophet, with a front cover headline reading: ‘Hogwarts welcomes back alumni’.

Somebody who appears to be Emma dressed as wild-haired Hermione Granger moves the paper down to reveal the top of her head although it cannot be certain if the mystery star is definitely the brainbox.

The teaser then shoots to a suited Robbie Coltrane, who plays lovable giant Hagrid in the films, sitting in a London coffee shop, where he receives a letter – recognisable in paper and font as penmanship from Hogwarts.


Relive the magic: The forthcoming special was initially announced to have been in the works last month, and it will have its premiere on the HBO Max streaming service in the New Year

An address on the front reads: ‘Robbie Coltrane, The Coffee Shop, Chelsea’.

Next to receive an invitation is Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom, as he holds his letter, looking at the Hogwarts coat of armour and looking confused.

Mark Williams, who depicts Mr Weasley, is then seen on what looks to be the Hogwarts Express while a hat clad female – seemingly Emma – is seen strutting down a bustling Platform 9 3/4, drawing the teaser to a close.

Several cast members took to their respective social media outlets to express their excitement for the special’s release.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling will not be joining the special amid much controversy surrounding her over the past few years after she tweeted about biological sex leading to backlash from the trans community. 

The 56-year-old British writer, who has been heavily criticised for her views on transgender people, will however appear via archival footage.


Future release: Return to Hogwarts is currently set to premiere on the HBO Max streaming service on January 1st

In June 2020, she took to Twitter to criticize an opinion piece that used the term ‘people who menstruate’ instead of women. She then continued with a thread discussing biological sex. 

Rowling later clarified that she respects ‘every trans person’s rights to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them,’ and went on to say she would march ‘if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans.

‘At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female,’ Rowling said, the Associated Press reported at the time. ‘I do not believe it’s hateful to say so.’

No show: Harry Potter author JK Rowling will not be joining the special amid much controversy surrounding her over the past few years after she tweeted about biological sex leading to backlash from the trans community (pictured in 2018)

 Backlash: The 56-year-old British writer, who has been heavily criticised for her views on transgender people, will however appear via archival footage

Speaking out: In the wake of these remarks, Harry Potter actors Daniel, Rupert, Emma (pictured together in July 2011) and Eddie Redmayne, who stars in her Fantastic Beasts films, criticised the author for her remarks 

Then, in September 2020, she faced renewed calls of transphobia after it was revealed the the villain in her latest book, Troubled Blood – written under Rowling’s pseudonym Robert Galbraith – is a male serial killer who dresses as a woman to slay his victims.

In the wake of these remarks, Harry Potter actors Daniel, Rupert, Emma and Eddie Redmayne, who stars in her Fantastic Beasts films criticised, the author. 

Radcliffe recently spoke about the lasting effect of the franchise during an interview for a BBC documentary and pointed out via The Guardian that he was proud to have made an impression on millions of viewers.

‘The time in most people’s lives when they discovered it meant that it has an incredibly important place in a lot people’s childhoods, and they still feel very protective over it,’ he said.

Hagrid… is that you? The teaser features a suited Robbie Coltrane, who plays lovable giant Hagrid in the films, sitting in a London coffee shop, where he receives a letter – recognisable in paper and font as penmanship from Hogwarts

Strutting her stuff: A hat clad female – seemingly Emma – is seen strutting down a bustling Platform 9 3/4, drawing the teaser to a close

The performer then expressed that he was particularly amused by the way that the Harry Potter films are watched by many of its now-older fans.

‘I have been told by several friends is that they are fantastic when people are hungover and feeling really crappy about themselves…it just takes them to a place of warmth and comfort,’ he said.

Radcliffe added: ‘That is so lovely to me. That is the real-world effect that a film can have on someone’s life. I think that is great.’ 

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts is set to debut on January 1, 2022 on HBO Max 

A different viewing experience: The performer then expressed that he was particularly amused by the way that the Harry Potter films are watched by many of its now-older fans

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