Elain Brown Culture 08.29.2022 00:Aug AM EDT

J.K. Rowling Explains Absence from 'Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts' HBO Max Special

HBO Max released a Harry Potter special to celebrate the New Year, titled "Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts." A large number of the film's cast and crew members got together for the HBO Max Original, which featured their reunion. However, Rowling's presence in the special was limited to a certain extent.

The author of the Harry Potter books was featured in the film, but she only appeared in archival footage from the show. Rowling was featured in the film through compiled interviews from the past. And when it first premiered on January 1, critics and audiences all over the world took note of her brief appearance in the production.

J.K. Rowling has provided an explanation for her glaring absence from the "Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts" special, revealing that she was not excluded but rather turned down an invitation to take part in it.

J.K Rowling on HBO

Rowling cleared the air about being excluded from the recent Harry Potter special. Some fans assumed that Rowling's absence could be linked to her tumultuous recent public image.

Since she has continued to express opinions that are viewed as harmful to the trans community, such as opposing legislation that would make it simpler for trans people to legally alter their gender, the author has been embroiled in controversy.

On the contrary, Harry Potter stars like Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint have openly talked to the public about their ongoing support for the trans community, which is a contrary belief far from that of Rowling's.

However, according to Variety, when she was interviewed by Graham Norton on Virgin Radio UK, the author stated that her absence from the HBO special was her own choice.

The author clarified that she was not excluded, and implied that HBO and Warner Bros. asked her to be a part of it. She was asked to be in the special but decided not to be, as she thinks the special is more about the movies than the book itself.

Rowling stated, "No one said, 'Don't.' I was asked to do it and I decided not to."

The 'Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts'

The "Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts" event was a one-time movie special that brought together the entire cast of the film for a reunion special.

Rolling Stone reported that the HBO Max special aired on January 1, 2022, and features Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson. The filmmaker, Chris Columbus, and a plethora of crew members from all eight Harry Potter movies also joined the special as they traveled back to Hogwarts.

This HBO special event was also a commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Harry Potter series. It celebrates the enchantment that went into the production of the films as well as the lovely family that was formed at Warner Bros. Studios London twenty years ago.

It celebrated the legacy of the unrivaled legacy of the Harry Potter film franchise and the profound influence it had on families and fans all around the world.

The HBO special also paid tribute to the cast members who have passed away over the years, such as Helen McCrory, Alan Rickman, and Richard Harris.