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J.K. Rowling Will Not Be Part Of Harry Potter 20th Anniversary Reunion

J.K. Rowling Will Not Be Part Of Harry Potter 20th Anniversary Reunion

The author's name was mysteriously left off the announcement.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Hogwarts fans around the world have been cheering over the news that their favourite Harry Potter stars are coming together for a reunion.

It's hard to believe it's been 20 years since The Philosopher's Stone premiered on the big screen, but sadly that's how time goes.

To celebrate the momentous occasion, the movie's biggest names will be coming back together under one roof to reminisce how one of the biggest film sagas began.

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have signed on for HBO Max's Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts.

They'll be joined by Philosopher's Stone director Chris Columbus, and actors Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Imelda Staunton, Tom Felton, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch and Ian Hart.

But there was one name that was very obviously missing from the huge lineup and it's one of the most important.

J.K. Rowling, who authored all the Harry Potter books, was mysteriously absent from the announcement and doesn't appear to have any role or appearance in the upcoming reunion.

No reason has been given for the absence, however there's no denying the world-renowned author hasn't had the best press recently.

Alamy

Despite saying that she supports transgender people, she was slammed for speaking out against the trans-inclusionary language used in an article when it referred to 'people who menstruate' instead of women.

Ms Rowling's tweets suggested that men who transition to women aren't truly women because the 'lived reality' of being a woman is inherently different to being born a man and then changing biological sex later in life.

When she double-downed on her comments, she was rebuked by her Harry Potter stars, with Daniel Radcliffe calling the author out.

"Transgender women are women," he said. "Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I."

Warner Bros.

There's no denying that the reception would likely have been a little frosty if any of the actors had to come face-to-face with Rowling for the reunion.

That aside, it sounds the HBO Max special will be incredible.

Tom Ascheim, president of Warner Bros Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics, said in a statement: "It has been an incredible journey since the debut of the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone film, and witnessing how it has evolved into this remarkable interconnected universe has been magical to say the least.

"This retrospective is a tribute to everyone whose lives were touched by this cultural phenomenon - from the talented cast and crew who poured their heart and soul into this extraordinary film franchise to the passionate fans who continue to keep the Wizarding World spirit alive 20 years later."

You can watch the reunion special on HBO Max on 1 January 2022.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Harry Potter, JK Rowling, Entertainment, TV and Film