Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

HBO Max Unveils 16-Episode Harry Potter Podcast

5/6/2026

50 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

HBO Max Podcast

HBO Max will debut a 16-episode Harry Potter: The Official Film Podcast on May 19, 2026, with two per film.
Rhianna Dhillon will host with co-hosts.
Both video and audio stream on HBO Max, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Episodes drop each Tuesday from May 19 and feature a “Magic Makers” segment.
The podcast marks the first film’s 25th anniversary and promotes HBO’s Harry Potter TV series for Christmas 2026.

Summary

HBO Max Documentary

HBO Max and Audible released a documentary about the series and full-cast audiobooks starring Hugh Laurie, Riz Ahmed and Matthew Macfadyen.
The 20th-anniversary special *Return to Hogwarts* earned Emmy nominations for Outstanding Variety Special and Picture Editing.
Two-minute clips of new scenes not in *The Sorcerer’s Stone* tease the remake.
Critics warn the podcast’s promotion may backfire because the series copies the films’ aesthetic.

History

Historical Context

Warner Bros. turned J.K. Rowling’s 1999 film-rights sale into a global franchise when the first film released in November 2001, earning $90 million in its U.S. opening weekend and eventually contributing to a $7.7 billion box-office total. That blockbuster model, reinforced by the series’ 20th-anniversary cinema relaunch in 2021, now guides HBO Max’s 2026 sixteen-episode Harry Potter podcast.

1 of 3

HBO Max Podcast

HBO Max will debut a 16-episode Harry Potter: The Official Film Podcast on May 19, 2026, with two per film.
Rhianna Dhillon will host with co-hosts.
Both video and audio stream on HBO Max, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Episodes drop each Tuesday from May 19 and feature a “Magic Makers” segment.
The podcast marks the first film’s 25th anniversary and promotes HBO’s Harry Potter TV series for Christmas 2026.

1 / 3