J.K. Rowling Will Not Return for HBO Max’s ‘Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts,’ But Will Be In Archival Footage

J.K. Rowling will not partake in any of the reunion festivities involved with the upcoming Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts… Sort of. After HBO Max teased the special’s guests — including original cast members Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, as well as Sorcerer’s Stone director Chris Columbus — the original Harry Potter author’s absence was noted. People has since confirmed that she will not be involved with the special, though she will appear in archival footage throughout.

According to People’s source, Rowling “will not make a personal appearance in any new content for the special.” This news comes after Rowling went under fire for a slew of anti-transgender statements made, starting in June 2020 and continuing over time. Although she denied that her views on feminism were transphobic, she penned an essay on her controversial opinions in a lengthy post shared to her website a few days after appearing to target trans people in a flurry of tweets.

The three lead actors of the film series — Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint — have all spoken out against Rowling’s remarks about the trans community. Radcliffe published an essay with The Trevor project, sharing that “transgender women are women.”

“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,” he wrote at the time.

Along with the main trio and the first movie’s director, other folks returning for the special include 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, Ian Hart, and more.

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts will air on HBO Max on Jan. 1. Scroll up to watch the trailer for the reunion special.