HBO Max Just Announced a Major Surprise for Original 'Harry Potter' Film Fans
While the upcoming Harry Potter TV series has hogged most of the media spotlight since its announcement, fans of the original film series got their own bit of good news on May 5. HBO Max revealed in a press release that it's partnering with Pod People to launch Harry Potter: The Official Film Podcast on May 19, to celebrate 25 years since Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's (Philosopher's) Stone was released in theaters.
New episodes will drop every Tuesday, with two episodes premiering on May 19. Each episode will run for 60 minutes. In total, fans can expect 16 hours worth of episodes, with two episodes devoted to each of the eight films. The podcast will be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, AntennaPod, or whatever platform you use. For those interested in watching the podcast, videos will also air exclusively on HBO Max.
Self-professed "Harry Potter obsessive" Rhianna Dhillon will host the show, bringing her film-critic expertise and extensive Harry Potter knowledge to the experience.
"Have you ever confidently explained Horcrux mechanics at a dinner party?" Dhillon asks in the podcast trailer. "Genuinely debated the true purpose of a rubber duck? Or declared out of nowhere that Slytherins are vastly misunderstood? Because -- same."
Along with deep dives and dissections of each film, Dhillon will interview those who worked behind the scenes, giving listeners and viewers valuable insider information. She will also be joined by various co-hosts, who love talking about Harry Potter just as much as she does.
Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, the original films ran from 2001 through 2011. When filming began, the actors were 11, 10, and 12 years old. Because they spent the next decade together on film sets, many of the actors from the films remained in touch after filming ended.
Oliver and James Phelps, who played George and Fred Weasley, have stayed more connected to the films than many of their castmates. In 2022, they began Fantastic Friends, a series in which they met up with a different Harry Potter actor each episode. In 2024, they began hosting Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, in which contestants bake Harry Potter-themed desserts. Like Fantastic Friends, many of their former co-stars, such as Evanna Lynch and Bonnie Wright, have appeared as judges.
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This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 1:12 PM.