They’re back! And by them, we do not mean He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, although he’s back too. We mean the iconic cast that created the eight Harry Potter movies, spanning 10 years. Now, 20 years later, they are reuniting for Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts, and the official poster for HBO Max’s upcoming 20th anniversary special has been released.
While the cast members who play the adults in the Harry Potter series, namely Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), Robbie Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid), Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort), Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy), Gary Oldman (Sirius Black) and Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley), are also returning, the poster features the Hogwarts students. In the poster are the “Golden Trio” – Harry, Ron and Hermione – along with Fred and George Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley, Dean Thomas and…Draco Malfoy. Looks like Dumbledore’s Army has been invaded! (Just joking. Tom Felton is amazing.)
While J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series is not returning, most of the iconic cast is. I’m just curious what went into the selection for the poster! Where’s Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas’ best friend? The rest, though, do make sense. Obviously the iconic trio take front and centre; Ginny, Neville and Luna became the second iteration of Dumbledore’s Army in the Deathly Hallows, not to mention helping them in the Ministry of Magic in the Order of the Phoenix; Draco plays a large part as Harry’s nemesis for the majority of the series; Fred and George are very significant characters; and Dean is a part of the five Gryffindor boys of Harry’s year. Which is exactly why I’m confused about the lack of Seamus. Unless, of course, Dean is there back as the love triangle that he was in with Harry and Ginny? Maybe I’m thinking too much into it.
At any rate, Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts is set to debut on HBO Max on New Year’s Day, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (originally titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone), which premiered in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2001, and in the United States on November 16, 2001. The special promises to “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.” An official trailer dropped earlier this month. Check out our review of said trailer here!