Twenty years ago, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone brought us our first ride to Hogwarts in theaters. Now, Harry Potter cast members are returning for a reunion special.

The official trailer for the highly awaited Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts special has been released by HBO Max on December 20, and it is sure to make Harry Potter enthusiasts nostalgic for the series. 

The trailer includes scenes from all Harry Potter films, as well as snippets from the Harry Potter trio, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), reconnecting during the reunion.

 "It feels like no time has passed and loads of time has passed," Emma Watson says as she walks along the Platform 9¾ before hugging a happy Tom Felton in the crowded Great Hall.

In the video teaser, Daniel Radcliffe also said, "The thing that scared me the most was the implication that the most meaningful thing in our life was done. And there's something so joyous about seeing everyone and being like 'It wasn't though.'"

It appears to be a spectacularly nostalgic production as Helena Bonham Carter, who played Bellatrix Lestrange and Ralph Fiennes, who was the notorious Lord Voldemort, share stories from their time filming. The heartfelt reunions among castmates are also a highlight.

In addition to the trailer, HBO Max also released a poster that portrays Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in the holiday-decorated Hogwarts' iconic Great Hall.

Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), James Phelps and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley), Alfred Enoch (Dean Thomas), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), and Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) are also featured in the poster.

The anticipation

The new TV special has provided a great deal of nostalgia and excitement to fans. However, some Twitter users have pointed out a very sad fact. Due to his passing in January 2016, Alan Rickman, who played Professor Snape, will not attend the reunion. 

On Twitter, fans paid tribute to the late actor, tweeting that "Alan Rickman will always be missed" and "the show won't be the same without Severus Snape."

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts will feature in-depth interviews with the members of the cast as well as a distinctive look at the production of the series. Fans of the series can expect a "magical first-person trip" in one of the most successful film franchises in the special. Although the Harry Potter books were immensely popular, the film series attracted another whole new generation of devoted fans who influenced families all over the world.

Warner Bros. Unscripted Television, in collaboration with Warner Horizon, produced the "Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts" at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London — The Making of Harry Potter. Casey Patterson of Casey Patterson Entertainment, which produced "A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote" and Pulse Films "Beastie Boys Story", has been named executive producer.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by HBO Max (@hbomax)

Despite all this, J.K. Rowling, the popular book series' author, was not interviewed for "Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts" and will only be seen in archival material from the films. This is due to her controversy circulating among the Harry Potter fanbase about her anti-trans statements.

Rowling has lately re-entered the debate by tweeting about planned Scottish legislation revisions that would make it easier for people to identify as their authentic gender. The core cast of the Harry Potter films has spoken out against her anti-trans sentiments.

Right as the clock strikes midnight, Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts will air on HBO Max on January 1, 2022. TBS and Cartoon Network will also air the show in spring 2022, just before Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore hits theaters.