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HBO Max is ending its Harry Potter film rewatch podcast and turning it into a companion program for the upcoming HBO TV series adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s work.
The podcast, currently titled “Harry Potter: The Official
Film Podcast,” is being rebranded into “Harry Potter: The Official Series Podcast” beginning Tuesday. The show will continue to be hosted by Rhianna Dhillon who will be joined by Law Sharma as co-host.
This week’s new episode of the podcast, which drops Tuesday, will feature David Heyman, who was a producer on the films and is also serving as executive producer on the HBO series. This episode will serve as the bridge installment that will transition the podcast’s focus from the film rewatch to the TV show’s companion show.
The first season of HBO’s “Harry Potter” TV series is set to debut this Christmas and will star Dominic McLaughlin as the young Harry Potter, joined by Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger.
Per the official description for the rebranded podcast: “Each week, hosts Rhianna Dhillon (‘Harry Potter: The Official Film Podcast,’ ‘BBCRadio 1’) and Law Sharma (‘Hollywood First Look’) will dive into the latest episode of ‘Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone,’ offering their reaction and analysis as well as interviews with the show’s cast and the magic makers behind-the-scenes. The official companion video podcast will be available to watch directly following the series premiere on HBO Max and wherever you get your podcasts.”
The film rewatch podcast first launched in May from HBO Max and has since rolled out episodes covering each of the eight Harry Potter movies produced by Warner Bros.
“I’ve always been a huge Harry Potter fan so I feel like I’ve landed my absolute dream job as host of the Official Companion Podcast – I get to geek out on something that has brought me so much joy and comfort over the years alongside other superfans,” Dhillon says. “I’m so thrilled that we’re getting to delve even deeper into the stories that I fell in love with as a child and experience the magic of the wizarding world all over again.”
Sharma adds: “I’m thrilled to be part of this exciting new era for Potter and to get to explore a world that’s meant so much to so many, while inviting new fans discovering it for the first time. Our podcast will take you behind the scenes, into the conversation, and share the magic behind the magic that you’ll feel through the screen.”
This marks the latest TV show companion podcast from HBO, which has also launched podcasts tied to “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” and “The Pitt.”
News of the revamped podcast was announced in connection with “Back to Hogwarts Day,” the annual Sept. 1 celebration of all things Potter.
