New Year 2022 brought much delight to all the Harry Potter fans out there, who proudly call themselves Potterheads for HBO Max’s Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts premiered online, and it took many of us, who grew up with the boy-wizard created by author JK Rowling back to the magical world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry.
Two decades later from when Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter uttered the famous line, “I’m not going home. Not really,” at the end of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (also named Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone), as he prepares to leave Hogwarts after completing his first year of schooling, HBO Max’s retrospective special Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts took us back to commemorate the film’s 20th anniversary along with other stars Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Oliver Phelps, James Phelps, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Gary Oldman, Bonnie Wright, Evanna Lynch and others.
The retrospective special was full of several revelations and resembled a school homecoming for the stars that grew up on the sets of Harry Potter. Behind-the-scene footage from the eight films is shown throughout the special, which segregated into chapters of each film. Alums who shared their magical journeys include directors Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell and David Yates, along with stars Robbie Coltrane, Jason Isaacs, Imelda Staunton, Mark Williams, Alfred Enoch, Matthew Lewis and Ian Hart. However, author JK Rowling did not make an appearance in the special and the reunion did not address the elephant in the room either. However, she was shown in archival footage from 2019, briefly commenting on the difficulties of casting Harry, the emotional moment they found Radcliffe and seeing the set for the first time.
Many of the anecdotes presented were already known by avid Harry Potter fans, like the one where the main trio staying true to their characters and submitting a homework assignment by director Alfonso Cuarón. Emma wrote a 12-page analysis on her character of Hermione Granger whereas Daniel wrote a 5-page essay and Rupert as Ron did not hand it in at all.
Landing the lead roles
The reunion sees the stars talking about landing the roles, how significant the films were in their lives and gushing over each other’s’ talents and declaring their love for each other stating that they are like their family. Daniel accepted that his parents felt him signing on to star in the original seven-film saga could be a ‘huge disruption’ in his normal life. He also revealed that although he was a ‘happy kid’, he apparently learned that he had a ‘really haunted quality’ that made him the perfect Harry and that is why he was cast by Columbus and Rowling. Rupert reiterated and said that he was ‘always attracted’ to Ron’s character and saw himself ‘in quite a deep way’. Emma said that she knew that she would audition for Hermione’s role and revealed that she and her brother were ‘obsessed’ with the books. She said, “I always knew that I was going for Hermoine in a way that terrified my parents because they were like, ‘What are we going to do with her if she doesn’t get the part?'” They revealed that they auditioned with different people when the three read together something gelled. Emma said, “I do remember that when it was the three of us, something felt different and right and easy. Rupert was Ron and Dan kinda was Harry.”
On director Chris Columbus
The golden trio also lauded director Chris Columbus who directed the first two films and taught them a lot since it was the first time for all the kids to be on a film set. Talking about Columbus, Rupert said, “He was such a dad. You could really feel that … like kinda part of his family.” On the other hand, Tom said, “Columbus basically just let us be kids.” Daniel, Emma and Rupert also reminisced while sitting in the Gryffindor Common Room that filming was easy during the first two films. Daniel said, “They kept us having fun the whole time,” and revealed that they played several games on sets including hand slaps.
Oblivious to the senior actors’ stature
The stars also revealed that they had no idea who the older actors were. Tom said, “I thought Richard Harris worked here as a tour guide for a while,” he said of the late actor, who portrayed Albus Dumbledore in the first two movies. Talking about the set filled with “British British royalty of the acting world,” Columbus said, “I don’t think any of the kids had the capability of understanding the gravity of who they were dealing with at the time.” On the other hand, Emma said that the seniors were pretty cool and “the mischief in a funny way” rather than the kids. She said, Robbie Coltrane who played Hagrid was a lot of fun in particular. She said, “Robbie loved making us laugh and he was incredibly good at it.” Coltrane on his part said, “I spent more time with you than my own children.”
Richard Harris thought Fawkes the Phoenix was a real bird
Columbus and Daniel went down the memory lane and revealed that while filming Chamber of Secrets, they unknowingly fooled the late Richard Harris into believing that the animatronic phoenix was a real bird. Columbus said, “Richard came in and looked at the phoenix and said, ‘Wow, they train these animals marvellously these days.'” Daniel added and said, “We never told him,” revealing that the animatronix phoenix had cameras in the eyes which tricked the older actor.
Alfonso Cuarón’s homework for the cast
Alfonso gave the trio homework when he came onboard as director for Prisoner of Azkaban. Emma said, “He was the first one that assigned us homework.” Rupert said, “Emma writes like 12 pages that are beautifully written,” and revealed that he never completed the assignment. “Rupert didn’t deliver anything,” Alfonso said. “He said, ‘Well I thought that Ron wouldn’t do it.'” Rupert teased and said, “Luckily Alfonso saw that it was very in character for me not to have done it.”
Daniel was starstruck by Gary Oldman
Daniel revealed that the first person he was “in awe of” was Gary Oldman who played Sirius Black in the films. Emma teased Daniel recalling that he seemingly gave a ‘pep talk’ to them to stay cool in front of Oldman. She said, “I remember the Gary chat. You were like, ‘Listen, Emma, you need to be cool because Gary Oldman, it’s a really big deal and you need to be cool,'” to this Daniel said, “Which was really a projection of my own fears!” Alfonso revealed the paternal relationship that Oldman developed with Daniel and said, “It was really sweet to see the two of them. It was almost as if it was mirroring that relationship.” Producer David Heyman said, “You saw them between takes sitting with each other, talking and laughing. You could see in the way that Dan looked at Gary, the adulation and the respect that he had for him.” Alfonso also spoke about the mammoth achievement he felt when he directed the confrontation scene between Sirius Black, David Thewlis (Lupin), Alan Rickman (Professor Snape) and Timothy Spall (Peter Pettigrew) and said, “I had never done a scene with such an amazing cast in my life.”
The Wizarding families of Weasleys and Malfoys
Speaking about being a Weasley, Rupert, Bonnie and James and Oliver said that the Weasley parents played by Julie Walters and Mark Williams acted as their own family offscreen. He said, “They were like my second family. They always stayed in character.” Bonnie said, “Being a Weasley is the best part of being in Harry Potter. We had our Hogwarts family but I felt like so special having an actual, extra family.” They also said that their family was “chalk and cheese” when compared with the Malfoy family.
Issacs admitted that he first auditioned for the role of Gilderoy Lockhart but instead was cast as Lucius Malfoy. He said, “I read through gritted teeth and deeply bitter and, of course, that’s exactly what was necessary and they asked me to play Lucius.” Talking about his craft, Tom recalled that Issacs could become the “most unfriendly, horrible person I’ve ever met” as his stern father Lucius easily. On the other hand, Issacs said, “I adored Tom from the second I met him. He was always just the biggest sweetheart.”
On set crushes, platonic love and lots of hormones flying around
As the Goblet of Fire filming was underway, several of the child actors turned into teenagers and hence there were a lot of hormones flying around. Daniel revealed that he and Emma would go back-and-forth asking each other for advice when texting someone of the opposite gender. Emma said, “We had that old brother, younger sister thing.” Matthew Lewis said, “There was crushes and people went out with each other and broke up,” adding that the set became the “same environment” as school except that they were in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Talking about Goblet of Fire, Daniel said, “That film was probably peak hormone, at least for me. You had a bunch of hormonal teenagers anyway and then bringing two massive groups of new people, all of them purposely hot for the film … It did not take a huge acting stretch for me to tap into my awkward nerdy teenage side.”
The expectations from the Yule Ball
The Yule Ball was a highpoint of Goblet of Fire and the stars had to dance and look presentable in dress robes and evening gowns. Talking about dancing with Dame Maggie Smith in one scene, Rupert said, “I felt self-conscious about it. I never danced with a lady before.” Daniel also said, “I’m not a dancer and I never will be able to dance. I feel like I’m pretty rigid in that dance scene.” They also spoke about their costumes and Rupert said that he pulled off his hilarious robes and said, “It was very Weasley. I pulled it off.” Daniel complimented Emma on her look and said that she looked “beautiful” while he and Rupert looked like, “Austin Power’s mates hanging out on the side.” However, Emma said that her entrance to the Yule Ball was a “big deal,” and said, “I just knew it was the like duckling becomes the swan moment. I knew there was all this pressure suddenly.”
Emma Watson’s crush on Tom Felton
Emma once again spoke about her crush on Tom and said, “I just don’t know how to say it, I just fell in love with him.” Tom said, “Emma and I have always loved each other really. I became very protective over her. I always had a soft spot for her and that continues to the day.” Emma revealed that while they were in tutoring they had been assigned to draw what they feel God looked like and Tom drew a girl with a backward cap on a skateboard and said that after that she would look for his number on the call sheet and if he was there, it would be an “extra exciting day.” She said, “Tom was the one I could often be more vulnerable with. We just love each other. That’s all I could say about that.”
Daniel’s crush and flirtatious attempts on Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter showed Daniel the note he wrote to her when she asked for his autograph at the time of filming. While reading the note, Daniel revealed that he “wished” he had “been born 10 years earlier” to have a chance with her. “That is in my toilet Dan,” she joked. Helena also showed the fake teeth she wore while playing Bellatrix and said, “These are actually relics. It’s 11 years.” Remembering one of the scenes with Bellatrix, Issacs said, “I remember trying to be in charge of a scene and her just having the best time. She’s just allowed to do anything she wanted, you could never really know what’s going to come out of her mouth next.” Helena also joked with Oldman and said, “I killed you didn’t I? … I’m sorry. It had to be done.”
Ralph Fiennes on transforming into Lord Voldemort
Newell applauded Fiennes and said that he believed “he is one of the most potent actors of his generation; he has great, delicate subtle force.” Fiennes revealed that it took him three hours in the makeup department to transition into Voldemort. He also revealed that he would be covered in stickers so that his nose could be digitally removed as Voldemort had no visible nose.
Emma Watson almost did not return to the franchise
Although the films were like a second home for the actors who grew up on the sets, the trio admitted that the success was overwhelming and the fame grew difficult to come to terms with. Emma said, “I think I was scared. I don’t know if you ever felt like it got to a tipping point where you were like ‘This is kinda forever now.' The fame thing had finally hit home in a big way.” She also revealed that she felt “lonely”. However, she said that “no one had to convince me to see it through.” Rupert and Daniel also agreed to this and the latter said, “As a 14-year-old boy, I was never going to turn around to another 14-year-old and be like, ‘Hey, how are you doing? Is everything ok?'”
The onscreen couples
Having grown up with each other and sharing a sibling bond amongst themselves it was difficult for the cast to see their characters developing romantic relationships. Speaking about Harry and Ginny becoming a couple, Daniel said it was odd at first and said, “Bonnie was the youngest one so it was a bit like ‘What? This is weird.” He also said kissing on the set was awkward and said, “Everyone on the set has known me for six or seven years and they watch you grow up.” Rupert and Emma also reminisced about their famous ‘kissing scene’ in the film with the latter describing it as “the most horrifying thing either of us have ever had to go through. I needed like momentum into the kiss in order to do it.” Recalling the scene, Rupert said, “I think I blacked out. I just remember your face getting closer and closer.” Emma rebuked him saying that every time he recalls he makes her seem like a horror show and added, “Every time you talk about this you make it sound like an actual horror show in your head. Kissing Rupert was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. It just felt wrong, so wrong on any level because Dan, Rupert and I are so much siblings.”
Paying tributes to late Richard Harris, Alan Rickman and others
The cast paid tributes to Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, Richard Griffiths, John Hurt and Helen McCrory. Remembering McCrort, Tom said, “She had this ability to show such empathy in her eyes. It was a real treat to work with her.” On the other hand, Emma spoke about Rickman and said, “Alan Rickman never talked to me like I was a child. He always took my thoughts and opinions very seriously which I was always very touched by.”
An identity crisis after the franchise ended
The cast recalled that they felt an identity crisis when the franchise finally ended. Rupert said, “Even my name didn’t feel like my name. I felt like I only really knew how to do one thing: I knew how to play Ron.” They expressed love for each other and proclaimed that they are family. Rupert told Emma, “We grew up together. We’re family. We always will be. Even though we don’t see each other all the time, yeah it’s a strong bond we’ll always have. We will always be a part of each other’s life.” Talking about the cast and crew, Rupert said, “It really is like family. We’re just so intrinsically linked. They’re very important people to me.” A tearful and emotional Daniel said, “The crew on these films were unbelievable. There are people on these films that are foundational to who I am. As a person and an actor I feel so lucky to be where I am and to have the life I have and be able to work with the people I work with now but none of it is possible without this. It was a very good ten years.”
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts is streaming on HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video in India.
(Source: HBO Max/Amazon Prime Video)
