In celebrating the 20th anniversary of the ‘Harry Potter’ film series, the reunion special titled ‘Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts’ premiered on HBO Max on January 1, 2022. While many familiar faces from the world of the series came together for it, David Thewlis, known for his role as Remus Lupin, was absent. The actor had a rather unique reason for his no-show.
As fans began questioning this absence from the reunion, the actor decided to address the curiosity on social media. Taking to Instagram, he shared a comical image of himself, seemingly distraught, covering his eyes with his hands. In the caption, Thewlis explained:
“Many of you have been asking why I was not present at the recent ‘HP’ cast reunion. Well, last year, as some of you may recall, I foolishly posted what I thought was an amusing picture of a Lupin action figure to which I had attached some comically large feet. It seems I did this on a sensitive anniversary, upsetting many.”
He further added, reflecting more on his absence:
“This led to an enormous number of fans (and some cast members) taking to the streets in protest and signing a petition demanding that I be banned from any future Potter celebrations. In my defense, it was my wife’s idea. I did not realize the significance of the date, and following the advice of my legal team, the post has since been removed. I hope that has cleared things up.”
However, it should be noted that this explanation was delivered with a tongue-in-cheek tone, and there is no actual evidence of such a post on the internet. He chose not to give the actual reason behind his absence in the post, leaving room for playful speculation.
The fans also gathered under his post; some found his explanation funny and weird. They encouraged others not to take his post too seriously, emphasizing that he was joking and fabricating stories, which was in line with his typical comedic style.
‘Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return To Hogwarts’ brought together key cast members, including appearances from the main trio – Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint – alongside other players from the films, including Tom Felton, Gary Oldman, Helena Bonham Carter, and Ralph Fiennes.
You can see the photo he posted below.
