The cast of Harry Potter is set to reunite for a one-off special to mark 20 years since the first film was released.
A new teaser for Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, which will air on HBO Max on New Year’s Day, was revealed on Monday, confirming that Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, the trio who played Harry, Ron and Hermione will return.
While the 50-second trailer gives little away, it starts with someone reading a Daily Prophet newspaper, with a front page headline saying: “Special edition: Hogwarts welcomes back alumni”.
It also sees Robbie Coltrane, who played Hagrid in the franchise; Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom; and Mark Williams, who played Arthur Weasley, receive invitations to Hogwarts.
The familiar Harry Potter music plays, as the trailer pans to a busy platform 9¾, the invisible station at London’s Kings Cross station where the Hogwarts Express departs.
Other stars including Ralph Fiennes (Lord Voldemort), Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange) and Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), will also be part of the reunion.
The special will see the cast reminisce about the Harry Potter films, based on the books by JK Rowling, which are among the most successful film franchises ever made. It will feature in-depth interviews with key cast members as they share their favourite memories from the eight-film series.
Rowling, however, is notably absent from the special. While the author will feature in archive footage that will be shown, it's unclear whether her controversial comments about transgender issues in 2020 were the reason for her absence.
Click through our gallery below to see the Harry Potter-inspired tour across the UK.
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The grounds of Durham Cathedral, where Harry, Hermione and Ron stroll between wizardry lessons. Photo: David Wood / National Trust -
Gloucester Cathedral appears in two of the 'Harry Potter' films. Photo: The National Trust -
The Cloisters at Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire. It is the site for the Hogwarts school in the films. Photo: Mark Bolton / National Trust -
De Vere House is the real-life home where Harry Potter was born. Photo: De Vere House -
Inside the De Vere House, where people can now stay the night. Photo: Airbnb -
Take your own Hogwarts Express journey with a ride on the Jacobite steam over the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Photo: VisitScotland -
The Jacobite, better known as the Hogwarts Express of the Harry Potter films, runs across the spectacular Glenfinnan Viaduct. Fifty Fifty / Press Association Images
The special also marks 10 years since the release of the final film, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Pt 2.
The TV special is one of several 20th-anniversary events planned by Warner Bros, including a TV quiz contest for Potter fans hosted by Dame Helen Mirren, which will include cameo appearances by some of the cast as well as celebrity fans including comedians Pete Davidson and Jay Leno.
Last month, a British cake artist named Michelle Wibowo unveiled a spectacular cake depicting Hogwarts Castle to celebrate the 20th anniversary at Warner Bros Studio Tour in London.
Click below to scroll through the gallery.
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Cake artist Michelle Wibowo unveils a spectacular cake depicting Hogwarts Castle to celebrate the 20th anniversary of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone' at Warner Bros Studio Tour in London. All photos: PinPep -
The first slices of the cake were presented to local fans inside the Great Hall at Warner Bros Studio Tour London. -
The rest of the cake was then donated to local charity One Vision, a local Watford charity fighting food poverty. -
Standing at 1.5 metres tall and 1.8 metres wide, and weighing 100 kilograms, the model took 320 hours to create. -
The cake was made using vegan-friendly ingredients. -
To celebrate 20 years since the release of the first film in the blockbuster franchise, stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint are reuniting with other cast members for a TV special, to be shown on January 1. -
In the retrospective, the cast will return to the original Hogwarts boarding school sets that were featured in the first film 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' ('Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' in some countries) released in November 2001. -
Warner Bros, which made the announcement on November 16, on the film's 20th anniversary, said the special 'Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts' will be streamed on HBO Max.
