Before the new series arrives this Christmas, HBO Max is taking us back to where it all began.

An official Harry Potter podcast

HBO Max has just revealed its featured programming for May 2026, and tucked inside the lineup is a treat for fans of the original films: HARRY POTTER: The Official Film Podcast, with its first season debuting on Tuesday, May 19. Details remain scarce for now, but the title says it all: the project looks set to revisit and reflect on the eight movies released between 2001 and 2011, from The Philosopher’s Stone all the way to The Deathly Hallows Part 2.

The move fits neatly into a broader trend HBO has been leaning into for years. The network has launched official companion podcasts for some of its biggest properties: Game of Thrones, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, Succession, Chernobyl and many others. Harry Potter is simply the latest franchise to get the treatment. Based on how those previous podcasts were handled, expect the Harry Potter film podcast to land on all major platforms, not just HBO Max.

All roads lead to december

This podcast feels less like a standalone project and more like a carefully timed warm-up act. HBO’s new Harry Potter series starring Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton as Harry, Ron and Hermione is set to premiere in December 2026. Between the teaser trailer, the behind-the-scenes special already released, and now this podcast, HBO is clearly building momentum slowly and deliberately.

For us, it’s a welcome excuse to go back to the films before a new generation takes over the roles. Harry Potter: The Official Film Podcast season 1 premieres May 19 on HBO Max.