The Dark Wizard
Media Release

HBO Original Documentary Series THE DARK WIZARD Debuts April 14

The Dark Wizard

The Four-Part Documentary Series Chronicles Legendary Climber And BASE Jumper Dean Potter 

 

  • The HBO Original four-part documentary series THE DARK WIZARD, directed by Sender Films’ Peter Mortimer (“The Alpinist,” “The Dawn Wall”) and Nick Rosen (“The Alpinist,” “Reel Rock”), debuts TUESDAY, APRIL 14 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. Subsequent episodes will debut Tuesdays at the same time.
     
  • Synopsis: THE DARK WIZARD is an up-close and unflinching portrait of Dean Potter, one of the world’s most influential and controversial climbers, BASE jumpers, and highline walkers. The series traces the jaw‑dropping feats that made him a legend, as well as the personal turmoil that defined his life.

    From an early age, Dean grappled with inner demons that led him to seek the limits of human possibility. Climbing became his outlet and Yosemite National Park became the canvas for his unique talent and artistic expression. As his accomplishments on El Capitan and Half Dome elevated him to hero status in the adventure sports world, his mental state began to fracture and his fierce competitive drive pushed him to try to outdo both himself and others, including rising star Alex Honnold. Ultimately, it was wingsuiting and his lifelong desire to fly that would prove to be his riskiest and most transcendent endeavor. 

    Drawing from decades of archival footage, Dean’s personal journals, and intimate interviews with those who knew him best, THE DARK WIZARD chronicles the triumphs, tragedies, rivalries, romances, and near‑death moments that shaped the life of a brilliant yet tormented artist and athlete whose imagination and audacity redefined what the body and mind could do.
     
  • Episode Descriptions:

    Episode 1: “The Death Consequence”
    Debut date: TUESDAY, APRIL 14 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
    Dean Potter finds joy and escape through his early success at extreme climbing, where he connects with a community of like-minded people seeking the sport’s freedom and adrenaline. A renegade by nature, Dean’s restless energy compels him to pioneer new ascents and forge new world records, even while at times falling afoul of the establishment and struggling with personal relationships.

    Episode 2: “Dying to Flying”
    Debut date: TUESDAY, APRIL 21 (9:00-10:05 p.m. ET/PT)
    Dean struggles with his inner demons but seems to find relief through death-defying feats from free-soloing, to highlining, to BASE jumping, cultivating a devoted following drawn to his rebellious antihero image. But soon, a new climber named Alex Honnold emerges and threatens to eclipse Dean’s dominance.

    Episode 3: “This is Art, This is Spirituality”
    Debut date: TUESDAY, APRIL 28 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
    The rivalry between Dean and Alex Honnold intensifies as both climbers vie to be the first to free solo a route on the 3000 foot El Capitan. As Dean’s mental state deteriorates, he alienates his inner-circle and accepts a dangerous career opportunity in China.

    Episode 4: “Transcending Human Limitations”
    Debut date: TUESDAY, MAY 5 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
    With a new relationship grounding him, Dean regains emotional stability and his long-held dream of flight comes to fruition when he immerses himself in the cutting-edge world of wingsuit flying.
     
  • Featured Participants: A vast personal archive of Dean Potter is complemented by interviews with friends, family, and fellow climbers including Alex Honnold, Jen Rapp, Brad Lynch, Dean Fidelman, Jim Hurst, Cedar Wright, Jay Epstein, Leo Houlding, Timmy O'Neill, Dan Duane, and Elizabeth Potter.
     
  • Credits: HBO presents THE DARK WIZARD, a Sender Films Production. Directed by Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen; produced by Halle Johns; executive produced by Peter Mortimer, Nick Rosen, Josh Lowell, Zachary Barr, and Elizabeth Potter; edited by Josh Lowell and Joshua Steele Minor; music by Dan Deacon. For HBO: executive producers, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Bentley Weiner; supervising producer, Abtin Motia.

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