HBO airs Harry Potter anniversary special with controversial appearance from J.K. Rowling

HBO released its Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts special Saturday.
The special reunited stars Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), as well as several other members of the series cast and crew, including actors Gary Oldman, Helena Bonham Carter, and Robbie Coltrane and directors Chris Columbus and Alfonso Cuarón.
Notable absences (aside from deceased cast members Alan Rickman and Richard Harris) included Robert Pattinson, Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, and Emma Thompson.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Preliminary reports suggested that author J.K. Rowling would be entirely absent due to her controversial views about transgender people, but in fact she did make a brief appearance in a pre-recorded interview segment from 2019, the Independent reported. She did not, however, have any on-camera interactions with any cast or crew members. All three leads have denounced her views on gender in the past.
Some viewers rejoiced at Rowling's presence in the special while others took to Twitter to express their disappointment.
There were plenty of other interactions and revelations for longtime fans to gush over, though. According to NBC News, devotees of the "Dramione" fan pairing were tantalized to learn that Watson developed a crush on Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton during filming. Alas, nothing ever came of it.
Oldman and Radcliffe revealed that Alan Rickman was the only one Rowling told about the big Snape twist in advance, according to Insider.
Rupert Grint dished on all the "hormones flying around" behind the scenes of Goblet of Fire and confessed that when Cuarón asked each of the three leads to write an in-character essay, he never completed the assignment. Cuarón didn't mind. Instead, he concluded that Ron probably wouldn't have done the essay either. "Rupert is Ron, 100 percent," he said.
The first film in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was released in 2001. The eighth and final film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 wrapped up the series in 2011. The reunion special is available for streaming on HBO Max.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Modern Age, The American Conservative, The Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.
-
Today's political cartoons - March 30, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - strawberry fields forever, secret files, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 hilariously sparse cartoons about further DOGE cuts
Cartoons Artists take on free audits, report cards, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Following the Tea Horse Road in China
The Week Recommends This network of roads and trails served as vital trading routes
By The Week UK Published
-
Film reviews: Eephus and The Day the Earth Blew Up
feature Small-town baseballers play their final game and Porky and Daffy return to the big screen
By The Week US Published
-
Film reviews: Black Bag and Novocaine
Feature A spy hunts for a rat—who could be his own wife—and a guy who can’t feel pain turns action hero.
By The Week US Published
-
5 horror movies to shock you into spring
The Week Recommends New frontiers in space horror and a new movie from the 'Talk to Me' creators highlight the upcoming horror season
By David Faris Published
-
TV to watch in March, including 'The Studio' and 'Paul American'
The Week Recommends A true crime story adaptation, a reality show about the ultra-American Paul brothers and a new late night series from John Mulaney
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Film reviews: Mickey 17 and Last Breath
Feature An expendable space plebe reaches his limit and a diving team loses a man
By The Week US Published
-
Oscars 2025: Anora’s Cinderella triumph
Feature The film about a stripper who elopes with the son of a Russian oligarch takes home four Oscars
By The Week US Published
-
Gene Hackman: the prolific actor who brought intensity to diverse roles
Feature Hackman was not an easily pigeonholed performer
By The Week US Published
-
Movies to watch in March, including 'Mickey 17' and 'The Woman in the Yard'
The Week Recommends The much-anticipated 'Parasite' follow-up, a new Jaume Collet-Serra horror and a bizarro parenthood trial
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published