Ethan Hawke Teams Up With iHeartMedia for Supernatural Horror Podcast 'Midnight Radio'

According to Variety, acclaimed actor Ethan Hawke is stepping into the realm of supernatural audio drama by starring as the host in a brand-new scripted horror podcast titled "Midnight Radio." Produced in collaboration with iHeartMedia, the upcoming project is strategically slated for release during the Halloween season of 2026 across the United States. The announcement has immediately generated excitement among fans of both the horror genre and immersive audio storytelling, combining Hawke's distinctive dramatic presence with the intimate, spine-chilling medium of podcasting.

In "Midnight Radio," Hawke portrays a conspiracy-themed late-night AM radio show host, a character well-suited to the eerie late-night frequencies of traditional terrestrial radio. The narrative kicks into gear when the host receives a deeply unsettling and mysterious call while on air, dragging both him and his listeners down a rabbit hole of the paranormal and the unexplained. The premise taps into the classic nostalgic dread of late-night talk radio broadcasts, where isolation, static, and unknown callers merge to create an atmosphere of escalating tension. Scripted audio fiction has experienced a massive resurgence in recent years, and pairing a high-profile Hollywood talent like Hawke with a dedicated supernatural concept highlights the growing production value and ambition within the audio entertainment sector.

iHeartMedia has positioned the series as a premier seasonal release, designed to capture the attention of horror enthusiasts looking for immersive frights as autumn deepens. The auditory nature of a podcast allows for profound psychological depth, using sound design, vocal delivery, and pacing to build suspense in a way that visual media often achieves differently. Listeners across the United States can expect a meticulously crafted acoustic landscape that enhances every whisper, broadcast artifact, and supernatural occurrence encountered by Hawke's beleaguered radio host character.

As the entertainment industry continues to explore innovative avenues for storytelling, hybrid projects bridging cinema-caliber acting with digital-first audio formats demonstrate a powerful appeal. The creative team behind "Midnight Radio" is banking on the unique intimacy of headphones and late-night listening habits to amplify the terror of the narrative. Fans eagerly awaiting the Halloween season of 2026 will find themselves tuning into a frequency where every broadcast could be the last, as Hawke navigates the dark mysteries unfolding live on the airwaves.