Cast of Harry Potter return back to Hogwarts
On Jan. 1, the original cast of the Harry Potter movies gathered together on the film set to recap and celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first film, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” After spending 10 years filming the eight movies together, cast members and filmmakers from across the series used this opportunity to finally sit down and debrief their thoughts from over the past few decades.
The video was divided into segments of two movies each, where the actors and the designated director of said films would discuss the thought process behind the story and procedure to produce the final product.
Over the course of the two hours, actors and actresses including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson were interviewed in different locations around the set. In the Gryffindor Common Rooms, the trio spent their time talking about how surreal the entire experience had been– how it impacted their careers and their growing bond over the course of the eight films. In the Potions Classroom, Gary Oldman and Daniel Radcliffe sat down together to discuss the relationship of characters Harry and Sirius Black, both on set and behind the scenes.
When the first movie was released in 2001, many of the cast members were still children, being only 11 or 12. All of them grew up on these sets and worked with some of the biggest faces in the industry. Not only were the characters growing up throughout the story, but also the cast themselves. By “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” all of the actors slowly transitioned from being treated like kids to teenagers, and later, to adults.
Although the majority of the original cast were able to attend this special, some unfortunately could not. About half way through the showing, cast members take a moment to honor and remember the amazing actors and actresses that sadly passed away before the anniversary. Through retelling personal stories and sharing loving memories, it is evident that Alan Rickman, Helen McCroy, Richard Harris, and so many others will be remembered forever by the cast and fans for their hard work.
Through a variety of newly filmed and old unreleased scenes, the documentary allowed Harry Potter fans around the world to feel a sense of reconnection, as the film crew talk about exclusive behind the scenes stories that many wouldn’t know about up until now. No matter how important this series is to every individual person, this heartwarming special isn’t just a great way to start off the new year, but also an opportunity to see so many interactions that fans have been dying to see.
