The producers behind the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts reunion have confirmed that they will replace the image of Emma Roberts that was mistakenly used instead of Emma Watson. The announcement comes just two days following the premiere of the highly-anticipated reunion on HBO Max, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The special features exclusive interviews with the Harry Potter cast and behind-the-scenes insights into the production of the eight-film saga.
Promising exciting appearances by a legion of Harry Potter stars from every film, as well as previously-unrevealed secrets of on-set antics, the reunion was eagerly awaited by scores of wizarding fans. However, the special also appeared to have more surprises than it bargained for. During a segment in which Hermione actor Emma Watson opened up about her childhood, the accompanying image proved to be a photograph of Emma Roberts instead of Watson. The photo itself featured a young Roberts sitting at a table wearing Minnie Mouse ears, and devoted Potter fans were quick to spot the Emma-based mix-up before dutifully bringing attention to it via social media.
Now, following the flurry of online confusion, the producers of Return to Hogwarts have at last addressed this bizarre piece of mistaken identity. In a statement to EW, they congratulated the eagle-eyed Potterheads on noticing an editing error that went unchecked and acknowledged their role in bringing it to their notice. They then went on to reassure fans that an Emma Roberts-free version of the reunion would be uploaded in due course.
Well spotted Harry Potter fans! You brought an editing mistake of a mislabelled photograph to our attention. New version up shortly.
While the producers were quick to release the statement - not forty-eight hours after the photo was correctly identified online - it is still not known precisely why or how the blunder was made in the first place, especially given the number of Potter cast members involved in the reunion and the anticipation surrounding it. That being said, since the producers are adamant that the remastered version will be uploaded "shortly" it can perhaps be safely assumed that it is a relatively high priority back at Warner Bros. HQ. Fans may not have to wait long to see Watson narrate her younger days over a slightly more accurate piece of her personal history.
Whilst the mistake is an unusual one and potentially embarrassing for a company as revered as Warner Bros., it is reassuring to see that they appear to have taken the criticism with good grace. Whereas other production companies may have been more inclined to simply replace the image quietly without addressing it and pretend that it never happened, it is certainly refreshing for a major film company to be so open about its slip-up and promise to rectify it rather than focus simply on excuses for why it happened. But, despite the surprise cameo by the Unfabulous star, the error clearly hasn't made too bad a dent on the reunion's reputation. Given the plethora of fun facts and big reveals that it offers, along with the sheer joy of seeing so many of the cast back together, it's clear that the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary Reunion: Return to Hogwarts is such a satisfying tribute to the Harry Potter franchise that the odd editing fiasco can't undermine the overall glory of returning to the Wizarding World once again.
Source: EW
