The full trailer for the upcoming Harry Potter 20th anniversary special is here and it promises an emotional and magical experience. 

Ever since being confirmed last month, HBO Max’s Return to Hogwarts has been casting a spell on the attention of fans. The streaming platform has rounded up the cast and crew of one of the most beloved film series of all time to reminisce on the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (sorry for making you feel old).

And this new trailer shows a lot of the cast. The central trio of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint are there; Helene Bonham Carter recalls her joy at at one scene in which she played Hermione Granger pretending to be Bellatrix Lestrange; Ralph Fiennes remembers the reaction of his family when he was first offered the role of Lord Voldermort.

Other names confirmed to be participating in the reunion include Robbie Coltrane, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Imelda Staunton, Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis, and Evanna Lynch, with many of them being glimpsed in the new trailer.

The retrospective promises to “tell an enchanting making-of story through all-new in-depth interviews and cast conversations.” “Think of a powerful memory,” a voiceover of Harry can be heard saying at the start of the trailer, a clever reference to a line from the movies. “Make it the happiest you can remember.”

Everyone appears very moved to be back on the old Harry Potter set in the trailer. As Grint notes, “it’s a strong bond that we’ll always have. We’re family.”

“When things get really dark, and times are really hard, there’s something about Harry Potter that makes life richer,” Watson says and she’s not wrong. Thankfully there’s not long left to wait until Return to Hogwarts arrives on HBO Max on January 1st, 2022.

Love Film & TV?

Get the latest Film & TV news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more

For more on this topic, follow the Film & TV Observer.

Check out the trailer for Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts:

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine