Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter, talks about his favorite part of the franchise’s 20th-anniversary reunion special, Return to Hogwarts. Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the recent 20th-anniversary reunion, mainly Return to Hogwarts, has revealed what he enjoyed most about his return. In 2001, an 11-year-old Radcliffe made his screen debut in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which launched the most successful film franchises. The Harry Potter franchise has seen seven books, eight movies, three Fantastic Beasts spin-off films, and a Broadway play, The Cursed Child, based on J.K. Rowling’s book series, and continues to grow its audience with a new generation.

On January 1, 2022, HBO Max aired Harry Potter’s 20th Anniversary: Return To Hogwarts to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first film.

Many returning cast members and all Harry Potter film directors attended the reunion special to reflect on the series’ success and give a behind-the-scenes look at the franchise’s production. There were disclosures about which cast members had crushes on each other as young actors, how Emma Watson nearly abandoned the franchise, and where all of the Harry Potter stars are now among the many stories told during the reunion event.

The event was emotional for the performers and the audience, bringing back some of the magic of the original Harry Potter series.

In a recent interview with Empire, Radcliffe shared what he appreciated most about returning for the Harry Potter reunion. The reunion was particularly memorable for Radcliffe because he could have “adult conversations” with people he had known as a child. Radcliffe, who is now in his 30s, said he enjoys connecting with actors like Helena Bonham Carter, Chris Columbus, and Gary Oldman differently than when he was younger. Read the whole of his quote below:

“It was wonderful. I am so glad that we went through with it. There’s something nice and satisfying about having adult conversations with someone you’d previously only had children’s conversations with. That was incredibly cool. Helena [Bonham Carter], Chris Columbus, and Gary [Oldman], in particular, but also the Phelps brothers [James and Oliver, who play the Weasley twins]. That was a unique experience. Because, you know, in the movies, we were extremely cordial, but they were older. I was 11 when we started, and they were 14 or 15, which is a huge age gap. Now that we’re all in our 30s, the age gap has narrowed considerably. It was wonderful to see everyone and see how well everyone has recovered. It was something that made me, in fact, really proud of all of us.”

The Return to Hogwarts reunion special was undoubtedly eye-opening for viewers as it was for Radcliffe while filming it. Many moviegoers recall the Harry Potter ensemble as the 11-year-old youngsters who first appeared on screen in 2001 and were followed for ten years into early adulthood. Of course, after the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in 2011, Radcliffe and his co-stars Watson and Rupert Grint have gone on to star in several other films.

Meanwhile, the seasoned cast, Bonham Carter, Oldman, and a slew of other renowned British actors, has solidified their standing as entertainment icons.

It’s reassuring to learn that Return to Hogwarts was as memorable for cast members like Radcliffe as it was for the many others whose lives have been affected by the Harry Potter franchise. The fact that Radcliffe is “proud” of his Harry Potter co-stars is well-deserved. Between 2001 and 2011, the cast and crew worked tirelessly to provide joy to countless viewers, and while many of them have grown up and gone their separate ways, fans can always return to Harry Potter to remember where it all began.