HBO Max is launching podcasts across Europe starting Tuesday, continuing a U.S. rollout that began in 2019. The slate leans into fan culture with new Harry Potter and Game of Thrones companion shows, plus additional franchise-led podcasts tied to HBO Max serie
The day starts like any other for fans—until HBO Max turns the scroll into something closer to a reunion.
On Tuesday. the streaming platform announced it is adding podcasts for subscribers in Europe. a move it says it has already been building in the U.S. since 2019. The timing lands amid wider momentum across streaming: Netflix has been rolling out podcasts. including from Spotify. while Paramount+ is also reported to be planning a podcast push.
There’s another pressure point, too. Paramount Skydance has agreed to acquire HBO Max parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, and the podcast expansion arrives as the industry’s streaming giants increasingly treat audio as another place to keep audiences inside the same worlds.
HBO Max frames the European launch as “immersive fandom. ” positioning podcasts as companion experiences that can sit alongside series and movies. The company says the goal is to offer “companion experiences. behind-the-scenes access and creator-led conversations alongside its series and movies. ” kicking off “a new era of immersive fandom.”.
That “immersive” promise becomes specific right away. The European podcast push begins Tuesday with Harry Potter: The Official Film Podcast. hosted by film critic and broadcaster Rhianna Dhillon. HBO Max describes it as “a joyful and insightful rewatch of the eight Harry Potter movies. ” with special guests. high-level film discussion. and deep dives into the moments that defined a generation of movie-goers.
The launch is structured in a way that mirrors the franchise itself. Harry Potter: The Official Film Podcast will debut with a special two-episode launch, then move to weekly episodes. Two episodes will be dedicated to each of the eight Harry Potter movies.
Fans won’t just have one place to listen. HBO Max says the video version can be streamed exclusively on HBO Max, while the audio version will also be available on major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
From June. HBO Max plans to roll out a slate of what it calls “franchise-led podcasts” across Europe. with Game of Thrones at the center of the expansion. The company’s lineup includes The Game of Thrones Anniversary Special Podcast. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Podcast. and The Game of Thrones Podcast: House of the Dragon. HBO Max also says a new season of The Game of Thrones Podcast: House of the Dragon will launch next month to accompany season 3 of the series.
The plan doesn’t stop at fantasy kingdoms. Also coming are companion podcasts and in-depth discussions tied to HBO Max series and movies. including The Last of Us. The Pitt. The Comeback and Sinners: In Proximity. Alongside those, HBO Max is adding the complete multi-season rewatch podcast The History of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
For fans. the appeal is obvious: when a story ends—or even when a season closes—podcasts keep the conversations going. For streaming platforms, the pitch is the same but the stakes are bigger. Podcasts turn fandom into a longer runway. and HBO Max is betting Europe will follow the same pattern it has already been testing in the U.S.
HBO Max podcasts Europe launch Harry Potter: The Official Film Podcast Rhianna Dhillon Game of Thrones podcasts House of the Dragon Apple Podcasts Spotify immersive fandom
So now HBO Max is doing podcasts too? cool i guess.
I don’t get it. Are these podcasts like… replacing the shows? Because I already pay for HBO Max and now it’s another thing to “keep you inside the worlds.” Feels a little scammy honestly.
Harry Potter podcast, Game of Thrones companion stuff… ok but where’s the one where they just recap the plot in plain English for normal people? Also the article says HBO Max started in the US in 2019, so why is it “new” in Europe? sounds like delayed marketing.
This is gonna be annoying on my feed, but I’ll probably listen anyway because I have no self control. If Netflix is doing podcasts and Paramount is doing podcasts, then yeah everybody’s copying each other. Plus with the Warner Bros Discovery stuff changing hands, they’re probably trying to lock in fans before it all gets rebranded. Rhianna Dhillon hosting sounds familiar… is she like the same person from that other movie podcast?