Warner Bros. Discovery has a magical year in store for Harry Potter fans.
The company has unveiled its extensive plans to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, The Hollywood Reporter can exclusively reveal. Released Nov. 16, 2001, director Chris Columbus‘ feature was the first installment in Warner Bros.’ eight-movie series that adapted author J.K. Rowling‘s best-selling novels. With the film franchise having surpassed $7.7 billion at the global box office, the property is set to continue with HBO’s series that launches in 2027.
Festivities kick off this spring, as butterbeer trucks will offer an array of drinks and merchandise in cities worldwide from March to May. Later in the year, official Harry Potter locations and retail stores worldwide will celebrate the character’s birthday on July 31 with products and events. Plus, the popular Back to Hogwarts celebration will take place in August and September to unite fans.
The anniversary will also be marked with theatrical screenings of the first Harry Potter movie that are set to include 10 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage not previously shown on the big screen. The screenings will take place in countries across the globe from Aug. 27-Sept. 3 and involve surprises to be announced later.
Additionally, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone will be seen at Cosm venues in Shared Reality, accompanied by supplemental visuals. With locations in Los Angeles and Dallas — along with venues set to open this year in Atlanta and Detroit — tickets go on sale March 4 ahead of the events that begin this spring.
New products and collections commemorating the milestone will be available from brands including Spin Master, LUG, MGA, Jazzwares, Alex and Ani, Hallmark, Reyn Spooner, Pyramid, Loungefly, Timex, Crocs and Vera Bradley. The Lego Group is launching new sets, while MinaLima will introduce artwork and print offerings. These new and existing product lines will feature a special 25th anniversary logo.
Harry Potter Shops locations in the U.S., London, Tokyo and online are primed to offer such limited-edition 25th anniversary products as a celebration bear.
The celebration extends to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour experiences in Tokyo and London, as the latter location will introduce its new summer feature honoring Sorcerer’s Stone. And Universal theme parks will celebrate the occasion at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with such limited-time offerings as butterbeer season, Back to Hogwarts and other experiences.
Columbus’ film starred Daniel Radcliffe as the eponymous orphaned boy as he enrolls in a school of wizardry. Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith rounded out the cast for the title that became the year’s highest-grossing movie at the global box office.
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