The much-anticipated preview of HBO Max's upcoming special "Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts," which will stream on January 1 and reunite the cast and directors from the eight-movie series, has been revealed. Only J.K. Rowling, the author of the books on which the films were based, will be absent from the reunion. Rowling has been under fire for comments she made on the trans community after retweeting an op-ed article about "those who menstruate" a year ago.

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," which launched the Wizarding World's cinema arm, was released in November 2001, and the special will mark the franchise's 20th anniversary. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London recorded "Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts," which will reunite stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson.

Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Tom Felton, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Matthew Lewis, and Evanna Lynch are among the cast members. 

The trailer features the actors reminiscing about the films, as well as celebrations in the Great Hall. "It feels like no time has passed — and a lot of time has passed," Watson adds. Radcliffe says one of the things that terrified him was "the idea that the most crucial thing in our lives had been done," but now that everyone is "joyous," he realises "it wasn't."

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