Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (2022)

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (2022) is a television special, released on HBO Max on New Year’s Day, celebrating the first installment of the beloved film series. Produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television and executive produced by Casey Patterson, this reunion honors the late cast members, including Helen McCrory, Alan Rickman, John Hurt, Richard Griffiths, and Richard Harris.

Despite her significant role in the production of the film adaptations, J. K. Rowling, the author of the original Harry Potter book series, is largely absent from the special. She makes a brief appearance in archival footage from interviews in 2019 and is mentioned by some interviewees, but was not featured in any advertisements for the special. According to critics, this could be due to her controversial views on transgender issues and subsequent public criticism from the series’ stars, as reported by The Daily Telegraph’s Ed Power. However, Entertainment Weekly stated that Rowling was invited to appear but opted for using archival footage instead. Sources close to the situation denied any connection between her decision and the controversy surrounding her remarks on transgender issues.