Keep That Same Energy
Like anyone in love with Harry Potter, I was so excited to learn HBO was releasing a reunion special with, at least, most of the main cast returning. I quickly lost faith in the reunion, however, when I learned J.K. Rowling wouldn’t be a part of it and noticed that almost every post I saw about it excluded her name. She’s been the victim of cancel culture for saying things like women have periods, so I was worried how the reunion would be handled. Would they mention her? It would be difficult not to speak about the creator and the source material for one of the most successful movie franchises of all time. No matter what your feelings are on J.K. Rowling, you can’t extricate the author from their work.
I was pleased when, watching the HBO special, Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, they did mention her name, her books, the impact she had on literacy. Children who weren’t reading before picked up the habit once Harry Potter was published, which is a big deal. She impacted my entire generation, and generations after, with her intricately detailed magical world. It was just always fun to read a Harry Potter book, so when the movies started coming out it became another tradition of taking a trip to the theatre to watch the next film. It was exciting seeing everything I had read and imagined in my head come to life on screen. I remember really looking forward to seeing Tonks onscreen and she didn’t disappoint.
Watching the reunion reminded me how much the movies and characters were not only a huge part of my life, but that it was even deeper for the actors playing them. It was the first time I realized they had spent their whole childhoods creating the Harry Potter movies for us. It gave me chills hearing them discuss the magnitude of the films, the legendary actors they got to work alongside and learn from, and just living the best experience of their lives even though it got scary at times. I wish they could’ve delved more into what the main trio went through once they were done playing the people that really shaped them starting at such young ages, 10 and 11. Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, said that he didn’t know who he was after the movies ended, didn’t know what he liked. Emma Watson, who portrayed Hermione Granger, and Daniel Radcliffe, who played the titular character, seemed to understand and agree. It would be interesting to hear how these beloved actors we watched grow onscreen learned to adjust without Harry Potter in their lives. It was nice to hear how much the films and friendships meant to them because of how much they mean to us. The love they have for each other was palpable. It was clear J.K. Rowling changed their lives.
It was emotional hearing that Watson was contemplating leaving the franchise after Goblet of Fire because the fame had become too much with even Rupert saying he had the same thoughts, but none of them talked about it with each other. It was a dark moment to hear she felt that Rupert and Radcliffe had each other and that she was alone. I remember when that news had come out about Watson possibly not returning and how upset I was about another actress possibly playing Hermione. Of course, I didn’t then understand what it was like for these kids to be a part of films that grossed millions, being a kid myself watching them grow up, in a way, alongside me. These actors experienced what very few people ever will and only they get it. I don’t know if Watson had the choice, contractually, to leave, but I’m glad she didn’t because us readers now saw them as the characters when we turned the pages. They sacrificed a lot playing these iconic literary characters, and I can’t see how anyone else could’ve done a better job.
I was frustrated and upset that the reunion didn’t include the author of Harry Potter, instead relying on clips from an interview in 2019. I read somewhere that she was invited to participate but that her team declined noting they could use archival footage. It’s hard for me to believe that’s true, and that her absence had nothing to do with her comments because why else would the creator—who's still alive— not be involved? We’re living in a scary time where woke culture has taken on a whole new meaning; so, maybe she did decline becuase she didn’t want to cause controversy, but even that is sad. It would’ve been nice to see her reunite with the three main actors, the souls of the movies. I appreciated hearing Christopher Columbus (director of the first two Potters) and other cast members state the importance of Rowling’s writings, but it would have been even better to have the woman responsible for the Potter world there to celebrate this huge legacy. The Harry Potter series has already proven to be classic literature, but the movies are even bigger. We wouldn’t have them without Rowling.
I didn’t think I would cry during the special, but that’s how good it was, so I’m glad I decided to watch it. I’ve seen the movies a hundred times and now they’re easy to stream or catch on TV; however, the reunion was such a great celebration of a time in our generation when we experienced this phenomenon. And it all goes back to the writing and how great Rowling’s series is with her universe expanding from the books and films to theme parks, a Broadway play, spin-offs, etc., showing just how much of an impact J.K. Rowling’s pen has had. Thankfully, the HBO reunion didn’t omit her name, which would’ve been impossibly hard to avoid doing, but I am seeing her name less. I think for those who don’t want to give the author credit for writing one of the best stories of all time, who do wish to erase her name yet want to continue celebrating Harry Potter, should keep that same energy and not enjoy anything Harry Potter related because J.K. Rowling is Harry Potter. As a creator your works outlive you, they might even overshadow your name. Two decades after the first novel was published we still haven’t forgotten Harry Potter, it still sells, so as far as I’m concerned she’s winning.