A four-part documentary series from a Boulder-based production company aired on HBO in spring 2026. On March 27, 2026, HBO announced an April 14, 2026 debut for “The Dark Wizard,” made by Sender Films with Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen directing. The first episode was set for 9 p.m. ET/PT that Tuesday on HBO, with streaming on HBO Max, and the other three followed on the next three Tuesdays, ending May 5.
What the Series Covers
Its subject is Dean Potter, known for climbing, BASE jumping and highline walking. HBO’s release describes him as both influential and controversial in those sports, and it places his climbing career in Yosemite National Park, naming Half Dome and El Capitan. The release says the filmmakers had Potter’s own journals and archive footage spanning decades to work with, along with interviews with his family, friends and other climbers.
Halle Johns is credited as producer, with Mortimer, Rosen and Josh Lowell among the executive producers. Sender Films describes itself as based in Boulder and New York. The company says it founded the Reel Rock Film Tour in 2005, and it lists “Valley Uprising,” “The Dawn Wall” and “The Alpinist” among its feature documentaries.
Boulder Saw It Before It Aired
Boulder audiences got a look before the HBO debut. The Boulder International Film Festival’s 2026 program, announced on March 13, 2026, put an advance screening of episodes 1 and 2 on the opening night of its Adventure Film Program, Friday, April 10, and episodes 3 and 4 on Saturday, April 11. The festival listed the Friday screening as the Colorado premiere. “The Dark Wizard” went on to win the festival’s 2026 Jonny Copp Adventure Film Award, and the festival’s May 7, 2026 recap named the screening among the year’s highlights. In that same announcement, the festival gave April 8 to 11, 2027 as the dates of its next edition.
For us, the local point is a plain one: a company based in Boulder produced a four-part documentary series that aired on a national network. If you are looking for production companies, crew, editors or post-production services, search the Creative Directory.
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