Harry Potter fans are still more than a year away from seeing the “Boy Who Lived” return to screens in HBO’s new TV adaptation of the novels of J.K. Rowling, but in the meantime, another show based on the Wizarding World is cooking up a storm right now. Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking is back on the HBO Max chart after the release of its latest episode, currently at number eight on the U.S. chart and number six on global.
The first season of the magic-themed cookery show was an immense success, and Season 2 is following the same way. With HBO deeply invested in the Harry Potter franchise, even at this early stage it looks like we can probably expect more seasons of the Food Network/Max co-production in the future.
The series taps into the ever-popular baking contest format, explained in the official series synopsis:
“Eight teams of pastry chefs and cake artists are tasked with crafting spellbinding edible showpieces inspired by moments and themes from the Harry Potter saga.”
The competition is hosted by former Harry Potter stars James and Oliver Phelps with judges Carla Hall and Jozef Youssef. The series currently airs on Food Network, and debuts on HBO Max the following day.
‘Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking’s Reception Has Been Lukewarm
The first season of Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking seemed to be doing most things right, with audiences calling it “fun and delightful,” and many being in awe of the mystical and magical creations being made by the contestants. Critics were more divided. While some clearly saw the series as a baking show with a specific theme, and were happy to praise it for doing that well, others called the show a “brainfart” idea, something that someone at Warner Bros. came up with to make more cash from the Harry Potter franchise while they waited for the other Harry Potter series to arrive.
Season 2 has received only two reviews, and as you may expect, there is a common theme in their damnation of the program that all revolved around J.K. Rowling and the ongoing controversy surrounding the author. Both reviews give the show ½ a star, but seemingly not because of anything related to the show.
Meanwhile, the main Harry Potter scripted series is actively filming for HBO Max. Production began in July 2025, and the series is expected to air sometime in early 2027. Several set leaks have revealed first looks at the main stars of the series, including Dominic McLaughlin as Harry and John Lithgow as Dumbledore. While the Wizards of Baking series is clearly being watched by Potter fans, there is really only one series that they are waiting to see, for better or worse.