The trailer has been released for the Harry Potter 20th anniversary reunion TV special

It’s been 20 years since the release of the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Here’s a school reunion you’ll actually want to attend. To mark 20 years since Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released in cinemas, HBO has managed to pull off a real magic trick, assembling Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and cast members from all eight films for a reunion special, and the teaser trailer has just been released.

Titled Return to Hogwarts, the film will mark the first time that the trio have been on screen together since the release of the franchise’s final instalment Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two back in 2011 - meaning that for the Boy Who Lived’s legions of fans, this is a bona fide Big Deal.

Here’s what we know so far…

What will the reunion actually involve?

Getting the gang back together

Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Grint (Ron Weasley) and Watson (Hermione Granger) will all be returning to the original Hogwarts sets, where they started filming more than two decades ago. They’ll be giving, according to HBO, “all-new in-depth interviews” about their time working on the franchise. There will also be “cast conversations” with other famous faces from the series, along with archive footage, and the broadcaster reckons that it will take fans “on a magical first-person journey through one of the most beloved film franchises of all time.”

Which witches (and wizards) are taking part?

Expectoooo Patronum!

Radcliffe, Grint and Watson will be joined by an extensive line-up of Hogwarts alumni including Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Alfred Enoch (Dean Thomas), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), James Phelps (Fred Weasley), Olivier Phelps (George Weasley), Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley) and Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid).

Representing the baddies will be Imelda Staunton (Professor Umbridge), Ian Hart (Professor Quirrell), Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), Jason Isaacs (blonde hair icon Lucius Malfoy) and Tom Felton, who plays his on-screen son Draco, and the Dark Lord himself, Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort). Chris Columbus, who directed the first film adaptation then served as a producer on Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban, will also be joining, along with, according to HBO, “many more” faces associated with the franchise. Author J.K. Rowling, who in recent years has faced criticism for her comments about gender identity, is not expected to be interviewed for the reunion, though the Hollywood Reporter says that she will “feature in archival footage.”

Does the new trailer leave us any the wiser as to what’s actually going to happen?

No, not really! But the previous trailer was stuffed with nostalgic film clips of the team looking incredibly young so it’s probably safe to say there’ll be a good dose of that.

When is it on TV - and can we watch in the UK?

American fans can watch Return to Hogwarts on January 1, 2022 on HBO Max, but British audiences will be able to watch it on NOW and Sky. In addition, on December 29, Helen Mirren will be hosting a four part ‘event’ titled Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses, also on NOW and Sky, which will see fans of the Wizarding World put their magical knowledge to the test for a chance of winning the House Cup Champion title.

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