Emma Watson has revealed that reuniting with her Harry Potter co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint was an "emotional" and "intense" experience. The HBO Max special, Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, celebrated 20 years since the first cinematic outing for the scarred wizard and his friends in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Featuring rare behind-the-scenes footage as well as exclusive interviews, the special also treated fans to a number of heartfelt reunions between former Harry Potter cast members.
Joining Watson, Radcliffe and Grint were a myriad of the franchise's students, teachers, mentors and enemies, all returning to the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry catch up with one another and reminisce about their filming experiences. Along with this extensive cast list, Return to Hogwarts also saw the return of Harry Potter directors Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell and David Yates, who provided further insight into the behind-the-scenes antics of the hit eight-film saga. However, there were also a number of notable absences among the interviews and reunions, with the special paying a touching tribute to the members of the Harry Potter family who had sadly passed away in the preceding years.
Recounting the reunion in a interview with Vogue following the broadcast, Watson opened up about what her experience was like taking part in the 20th anniversary special. The actress begins by disclosing that it was Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton who alerted her attention to the possibility of a reunion, before proclaiming her delight at being back on the old sets again. But when asked what it was like to be with Radcliffe and Grint again in the Gryffindor Common Room after so many years, the actress admitted it hit her hard. Read Watson's full comments below:
"It was emotional and also intense to have such an intimate moment so closely watched. Mostly I was just so happy to have a mediator who could ask us these questions and get to be part of seeing how differently – and similarly – we had processed things. I love that we remembered different things."
However, Watson goes on to admit that the most emotional moment of the Harry Potter reunion for her was actually her one-to-one moment with Grint later on. The actor's kindness and vulnerability in discussing his friendship with Watson took the star aback, leading the pair to have a particularly heart-warming exchange about how they've both impacted each other's lives. Watson then elaborates on some of her connections with other cast members, including her friendship with Tom Felton as well as how the three Harry Potter leads still remain a huge source of support for each other. And when asked if she'd be up for taking in part in a potential 40th anniversary special, she succinctly replied, "definitely."
For a reunion that proved to be emotionally-overwhelming for a number of fans, it comes as no surprise that Watson found reuniting with her Harry Potter co-stars on the sets they worked on for so many years to be such an intensely emotional encounter. Even so, it will be a relief to many fans to know that, despite this, Watson still clearly loved talking about her time on the Harry Potter series with her old friends, and seeing just where the similarities and differences appear to be in their collective memories. It's certainly apparent that the star is more than up for doing it again. And with the love that Return to Hogwarts has been enjoying since its release, it may be safe to assume that there will be no objections from the cast to a Harry Potter 40th anniversary celebration when the time comes.
Source: Vogue