Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts is here. On Saturday, the hotly-anticipated Harry Potter reunion special episode will stream globally, bringing together the central Harry Potter trio Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first movie. (The 20th anniversary of the first book was back in June 2017.) Along with other members of the Harry Potter films’ cast and crew, Radcliffe, Watson and Grint will visit Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, talk about their experiences of working together on the eight movies, cry and hug a lot (naturally), and reminisce about the magical years. There’s no host or special guests here, unlike that Friends reunion special. They will simply talk to each other.
Speaking of Friends: The Reunion, Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts also comes from HBO Max — the streaming service owned by the sister company of Harry Potter producer Warner Bros. Pictures — who seems to be making a habit of creating unscripted reunion specials out of big famous nostalgic properties to grow itself. It’s an interesting growth hack. (HBO Max also released all 2021 Warner Bros. movies day-and-date on its service, which did not sit well with Hollywood players at all.) While Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts is an HBO Max original, it’s been sold off to other broadcasters elsewhere since HBO Max is not available everywhere. With that, here’s everything you need to know about the Harry Potter reunion special, including when and where to watch it.
In India, you can stream Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts starting 2:30pm IST on January 1.
That’s not quite in line with its release time elsewhere. In the US, the Harry Potter reunion special will be available 12am PT / 3am ET.
That translates to 1:30pm IST, so Indian Harry Potter fans are having to wait an extra hour.
Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts trailer
Earlier in December, HBO Max unveiled a 90-second trailer for the Harry Potter reunion special that gave fans a look at what they should expect. It finds the central trio and many more cast members at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, reflecting on the memories they made, talking about how they became a family, and revealing how they felt about their roles.
Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts cast
In addition to Radcliffe, Watson and Grint, the Harry Potter reunion special brings back Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy), Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), Imelda Staunton (Dolores Umbridge), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley), Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley), Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), Alfred Enoch (Dean Thomas), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), and Ian Hart (Quirinus Quirrell) among others.
Franchise directors Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell and David Yates will also be present, alongside Harry Potter producer David Heyman. The controversial Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is not involved with Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts, though she does appear through archival footage.
