Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson Star in ‘Harry Potter' Reunion Special Featurette

HBO Max has shared a behind-the-scenes look at its Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts reunion special ahead of its arrival on New Year’s Day.

Featuring some of the series’ biggest players reflecting on their time shooting the films, the new featurette offers a brief look at what fans can expect. The special sees everyone from Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson to Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter brought back, reliving the experience of setting foot on those grandiose Hogwarts sets once again.

“It has been lovely to see everyone, it really has,” Radcliffe says in the clip. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen any of them,” adds Ron Weasley actor Rupert Grint. Notably, series creator and author J.K. Rowling does not appear in the new clip, essentially confirming reports that she doesn’t appear in the full special at all besides in archival footage.

As for why she wasn’t included, sources told Entertainment Weekly that Rowling’s controversial statements regarding trans people did not factor into the decision to exclude her from the special. Producers ultimately concluded that archival footage featuring her was more than enough for the special, which features cast members who have both defended and criticized Rowling’s comments.

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts debuts on HBO Max on January 1, 2022.