HBO Max is streaming a new retrospective documentary To celebrate the 20 years of releasing the first Harry Potter films that reunites several of the franchise’s prominent cast members and filmmakers to reflect on the series and their most memorable experiences while filming it over the course of more than a decade.
The release of this unforgettable tribute is technically two months late, as Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone came out in November of 2001.
Harry Potter is based on J. K. Rowling’s novels. The series is distributed by Warner Bros. and consists of eight fantasy films, beginning with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and culminating with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
List of Harry Potter film series over time
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) (2005)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
The biggest draw for the reunion was seeing Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint (along with the rest of the returning cast) back in a room together, which was a dream come true to fans worldwide.
Return to Hogwarts also revealed several anecdotes about the actors’ experience and behind-the-scenes tricks. However, the dual openness and secrecy of the cast throughout the Harry Potter franchise’s era led numerous stories to be held as accurate for many years, but without much concrete confirmation by those involved.
It is a special reunion and a unique look back to the magical world that captivated the audience on-screen since 2001.
It makes viewers eager for the possibility of a Harry Potter 9 or cursed child movie. At the same time, it avoided discussions of the present or prospects for Harry Potter’s franchise. It focused on some of the most extraordinary and reality-checking cast memories from the original era.
As such, some stories were new to viewers, like James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley) pranking Rupert Grint about having to learn an entire dance routine ahead of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’s yarn.
Features a Wizarding World’s worth of cast members reuniting, plenty of familiar faces were absent some of them passed away including Alan Rickman (Severus Snape), Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy), and John Hurt (Mr. Ollivander), among others. Many prominent alums of the blockbuster film series did not take part.
Absent stars
Among the stars that did not show up in Harry Potter 20th Anniversary ‘Return to Hogwarts’, Micheal Gambon, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Kenneth Branagh, Jim Broadbent, Warwick Davis, Harry melling, Fiona Shaw, Brendan Gleeson, Timothy Spall, Emma Thompson, David Bradley, Katie Leung, and Devon Murray.
Where to watch Harry Potter 20th Anniversary ‘Return to Hogwarts’ in the Middle East and North Africa region?
OSN is broadcasting Harry Potter’s 20th Anniversary ‘Return to Hogwarts’ exclusively in the Middle East and North African region. The film is now available for OSN subscribers on cable and online.
