Harry Potter Turns 25 — Warner Bros. Launches Global Celebration
Warner Bros. has announced plans to launch a global celebration to mark the 25th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
THR reports that several promotional events will be taking place across the world to celebrate the legacy of Chris Columbus' first Harry Potter movie, released in 2001. These will include anniversary screenings, brand new merchandise, and collaborations with brands such as LEGO, Hallmark, and Spin Master.
The World Celebrates Harry Potter's 25th Anniversary
The celebrations will kick off in March, when "butterbeer trucks" will arrive in several major cities across the globe to serve the iconic drink from J.K. Rowling's books. They will also be selling exclusive merchandise that has been created especially for the occasion.
On July 31, the official Harry Potter retail stores around the world will celebrate the character's birthday with more original merchandise and exciting events yet to be announced.
In September, the annual "Back To Hogwarts" celebration will take place as usual, bringing fans together to celebrate the first day of the magical school year.
Throughout August and September, theaters worldwide will screen extended editions of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - with ten minutes of extra footage that's never been shown on the big screen before.
Tickets will also be going on sale this March for the 25th Anniversary Cosm events - an immersive shared reality experience where fans can watch The Sorcerer's Stone with supplementary footage in a unique venue. Locations currently exist in Los Angeles and Dallas, with more to open in Atlanta and Detroit later this year.
Brand New Harry Potter Collaborations Are Coming
In addition to these exciting global events, Warner Bros. will also be launching some brand new Harry Potter collaborations with some of the world's leading fashion and entertainment brands. These include LEGO, Hallmark, Crocs, Vera Bradley, Pyramid, Loungefly, Spin Master, and several more.
These limited edition items will be made available throughout the year, with official Harry Potter store locations in the U.S., London, and Tokyo announcing the products very soon.
This global celebration comes just one year before the launch of HBO's widely anticipated Harry Potter reboot series, which will be available to stream in 2027. The series features newcomers Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout, and Arabella Stanton as Harry, Ron, and Hermione - with veterans Jon Lithgow, Janet McTeer, and Nick Frost taking over the roles of Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Hagrid.