Prepare to sob unicorn tears because the cast who brought the beloved characters from Harry Potter to life are reuniting.
Announced by HBO Max on Tuesday, November 16—precisely 20 years after the release of the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone—the reunion special will see Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) reunite to recount some of the biggest moments they experienced together while filming all eight movies.
Titled Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, the special event will also include a number of other famous faces who appeared throughout the film series including Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) and more.
Now, Christmas has come early for us Harry Potter fans because the official trailer has been released, and honestly we’re not ok.
The trailer opens with a quote from The Order Of The Phoenix. In the scene we hear the iconic line of Harry teaching his friends how to summon a Patronus charm, “think of a powerful memory, the happiest you can remember”.
How very, very fitting.
Watch The Harry Potter Trailer Below!
When will the Harry Potter HBO reunion be released?
As the announcement clip draws to a close, January 1, 2022 flashes across the screen—so you’d best mark your calendars for a New Years Day treat.
Where can you watch the Harry Potter HBO reunion in Australia?
You can watch the Harry Potter reunion on Australian streaming service Binge. The reunion will drop on the platform at 7.01pm AEDT on Saturday, January 1, 2022.
You can sign up or login to Binge here.
What will happen in the Harry Potter HBO reunion?
Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics President Tom Ascheim said of the reunion special: “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.”
The reunion special’s executive producer Casey Patterson also revealed the reunion would involve the cast returning to the original movie sets where they filmed the Hogwarts scenes.
“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.”
As the cast celebrated 20 years since the first film’s release this week, some of the actors took to Instagram to share their excitement for the reunion special.
Actor Matthew Lewis shared the HBO clip and wrote: “This New Year’s Day… we’re putting the band back together.”
Tom Felton also quipped on his own social channels: “Is this what school homecoming is like? mark your calendars for New Years Day #returntohogwarts.”
In tribute to the two decades that have passed, Emma Watson shared two throwback images, the first featuring herself, Radcliffe and Grint in their early filming days. In the second, a snap of the entire cast and crew as they filmed one of the series’ final scenes—the battle of Hogwarts.
“Harry Potter was my home, my family, my world and Hermione (still is) my favorite fictional character of all time,” Watson penned.
“I think a journalist once said it was irritating how many times during an interview I mentioned how lucky I was and started counting… BUT I DAMN WELL KNEW!!! And still know.”
She continued: “I am proud not just of what we as 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.”
She also gave a shoutout to the hardworking crew, writing: “I still miss the crew who made these films all the time. Thank you for all of your hard work too – I know your contributions sometimes get overlooked.”
