Fans have shared mixed reactions online after it was revealed that Hans Zimmer is set to compose the score for HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series.
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The series is set to premiere in 2027, with Dominic McLaughlin playing the titular character and Alastair Stout, Arabella Stanton, John Lithgow and Paapa Essiedu also part of the cast.
Testerday (Thursday January 15), HBO shared the news that Zimmer and his company, Bleeding Fingers Music, will be composing the score, with Zimmer himself saying: “The musical legacy of Harry Potter is a touch point for composers everywhere and we are humbled to join such a remarkable team on a project of this magnitude.
“The responsibility is something that myself, [Bleeding Fingers Music composers] Kara Talve and Anže Rozman do not take lightly. Magic is all around us, often just beyond reach, but as in the world of Harry Potter, you simply must look for it. With this score we hope to bring audiences that little bit closer to it whilst honouring what has come before.”
The Harry Potter films, which were released between 2001 and 2011, were scored by John Williams, Patrick Doyle, Nicholas Hooper, and Alexandre Desplat, and the new score will honour the legacy of the movies while reimagining their sound for TV.
The news of Zimmer working on the series has been met with a mixed reaction from fans. “Only Hans Zimmer could carry the monumental responsibility of following in John Williams’ footsteps,” said one on Instagram, while another wrote: “Hans is incredible and is one of the few people that could do a score that is as iconic as the original score.”
Some fans said they were more excited about Zimmer’s involvement than about the series itself, one writing on X (Twitter): “Hans Zimmer composing the score for the HBO Harry Potter series is, so far, the only thing that makes me want to watch the show.
Hans Zimmer composing the score for the HBO “Harry Potter” series is, so far, the only thing that makes me want to watch the show.
— Jeffrey Banks (@jefbanks) January 15, 2026
Others wistfully looked back at the movies, one writing: “Will never beat John Williams. You hear that iconic theme song, you’re immediately transported there,” while another asked why the series couldn’t simply reuse Williams’ music.
Some felt Zimmer was one of the composers who could come closest to Williams, however, one saying, “Wow, huge news! What a get! It’s impossible to compare to John Williams theme but Hans Zimmer is certainly someone who can try.”
Wow, huge news! What a get! It’s impossible to compare to John Williams theme but Hans Zimmer is certainly someone who can try 👏🏼
— The Mellon Heads – LOTR Podcast (@mellon_heads) January 15, 2026
Some people criticised Zimmer’s decision to get involved with Harry Potter at all, alluding to the comments author J.K. Rowling has made about transgender people. Rowling has been a vocal opponent of the transgender community since 2019, and has previously shared gender critical posts and tweets which have been described as transphobic.
One said, “He’s amazing but I wish he wouldn’t associate w/ HP,” while another wrote on X, “I’m actually so disappointed in Hans Zimmer for agreeing to do the score for the Harry Potter series. It’s a shame because he’s such an incredible composer and his soundtracks are among my favourites…the fact he’s agreed to do this is just disappointing.”
I’m actually so disappointed in Hans Zimmer for agreeing to do the score for the Harry Potter series. It’s a shame because he’s such an incredible composer and his soundtracks are among my favourites…the fact he’s agreed to do this is just disappointing. https://t.co/wjFUl10a6Z
— megs | met joseph quinn | fred hechinger ceo (@fredhechinger) January 15, 2026
Elsewhere, Zimmer is currently on the shortlist for the 2026 Oscars for his work on F1, while his work is set to be heard on Dune: Part Three and the third season of Euphoria later this year.
Last week, meanwhile, the composer criticised the Golden Globe Awards for not airing the Best Original Score category, saying they shouldn’t be ignored as films wouldn’t be the same without composers. “I think it’s a shame not to honour those people — my friends — who work so hard to become a voice,” he told Variety.
Zimmer, who received a nomination in the category for F1 at the awards, added: “As a person who has been making films forever, everybody who works on a film works their utmost, doesn’t get any sleep, there are no weekends,” joking, “Sometimes my children wonder who I am — I come into the house and they call the police.
“I think the work should always be acknowledged. This year is a fantastic year for composers — don’t ignore them, you don’t have a movie without them.”
