J.K. Rowlingcreated theHarry Potterseries but has seen been knownonline for her transphobic remarksand controversial blog posts, which have turned many fans away from the series at large. So, heading into theHarry Potterreunion special,Harry Potter 20th Anniversary:Return to Hogwarts, fans want to know: Will we see Rowling in the special? The answer? Uh…sort of?
According toEntertainment Weekly, Rowling’s people declined the invitation for the author to join the special, which will include many members of the cast and crew as they share memories about filming the eight movies and the series as a whole. Rowling will, however, appear in the special through archival footage from 2019, which her team determined would sufficiently serve in place of any in-person presence. Several cast members, includingEmma Watson,Daniel Radcliffe,andRupert Grint, have called out Rowling’s transphobic remarks in the past, so perhaps their comments about her stance are what swayed Rowling’s team to turn down the invite. Sources close to Rowling, and the situation, insist that her transphobic remarks and the controversy surrounding the author did not play a part in the decision.
Watching the teasers and trailers for the reunion special has been bittersweet for fans. For many of us, we grew up reading the books and watching the movies, and it feels strange to not be excited about seeing the cast come back together to discuss the magical series, due to Rowling’s continual controversy online.
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Despite her continued connections to the series beyond writing the books, with films likeFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themand the subsequent sequels—it is strange that Rowling isn’t going to be present for the reunion, especially if it isn’t tied to her controversial statements. However, according to EW, the archival footage of Rowling that will be used for the upcoming anniversary special is being included “sparingly.” With this knowledge, fans can attempt to enjoy seeing Radcliffe, Watson, Grint,Tom Felton,Matthew Lewis, and more all together again in the Great Hall of Hogwarts.
The younger cast ofHarry Potterwill also be joined byRalph Fiennes,Helena Bonham Carter,Robbie Coltrane,Jason Isaacs,Gary Oldman, and filmmakersChris Columbus,Alfonso Cuarón,Mike Newell,andDavid Yates.Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwartswill be available to stream on HBO Max at 12 AM PT on Saturday, January 1.
