The infamous “Harry Potter” series celebrated its 20th anniversary with a “Harry Potter”  Special called “Returned to Hogwarts.”

   The revival was released on HBO Max on Jan. 1st, 2022; it was rather nostalgic, as it centered around the actors’ recollection of their time together while filming the series.

   The list of actors who participated include Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), Rupert Grint (Ronald Weasly), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasly), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) and Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom).

   The actors recalled details that were revealed on camera; such as Helena Bonham Carter stealing some items from the set, and the awkwardness surrounding Rupert Grint (Ronald W.) and Emma Watson’s (Hermione G.) kiss in the “Deathly Hallows.”

   The actor’s also revealed their struggle to separate themselves from their character. As Rupert Grint (Ronald Weasly) puts it, “I felt like I lost track of who I was and who the character was. I didn’t know where they ended or began.”

   The theme of the revival was to acknowledge that the “Harry Potter”  series was a journey that captured the struggles between good and evil.

   “Harry Potter” enthusiasts were pumped about this reboot; many people anxiously waited for its arrival after they announced the release date. The reboot not only offers an analysis of the popular series in retrospect, but it signifies the prominence of Harry Potter in today’s society (despite it being 20 years old).

   J.K. Rowling (the author) was sidelined from the reboot, for an “unidentified” reason. Some fans suspect that the true reason for the revival is to save the image of the franchise from J.K. Rowling’s recent transphobic comments online that are ruining the magic of Hogwarts for many wizards. However, the revival still offers a reconnection to the wizarding world.

   Previously, the “Fantastic Beasts” series (a continuation of the Wizarding world) failed horribly. Many fans were disappointed as the plot became more confusing and the magic of the series seemed to wither away.

The “Harry Potter” fandom has long asked for a continuation of the series, and many have taken this into their own hands. Fans on social media forums like Reddit, Wattpad and Twitter have taken up the hobby of coming up with new storylines, adding their own twists and opinions to the classical story.

As the “Harry Potter” world continues to expand, fans are excited to see what the entertainment industry will produce next.