Photo: Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett
Start binge-watching your favorite shows while you still can.
Since WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc. merged in April 2020, major changes have been made to the company both internally and externally — but another major shakeup was announced as new management has taken action.
In August 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery sparked controversy when CEO David Zaslav confirmed during the company’s 2022second-quarter earningscall that its two flagship streaming services, HBO Max and Discovery+, would be combined into a single, unified streamer — along with an explanation of why the highly-anticipatedBatgirlfilm was canceled, despite it being a $90 million project already in post-production.
The company unveiled the single streamer Max to the public in April 2023, which will feature original material, user-friendly navigation, 4K UHD and more.
Some of HBO and HBO Max original shows have met their fates — asmany projects have been scrapped, despite some being renewed for forthcoming seasons — however, there isa handful of original programmingeventuallyhitting the single streaming service, including a spinoff ofTheBig Bang Theory, a new prequel spinoff series toGame of Thrones, a series adaptation of theHarry Potterbooks and more.
In light of Max debuting in the U.S. in May 2023, here are all the details on the rebranded streaming service — including which shows will be made available and which are on the chopping block.
Who owns Warner Bros. Discovery?
Alison Cohen Rosa/HBO
The company formerly known as WarnerMedia (spun off from AT&T) started HBO Max in May 2020 and featured HBO television shows, in addition to programming from cable networks like TNT, TBS, CNN and the Warner Bros. film studio.
A year later, Warner Bros. brought the revamped platform Max to the public.
“This new brand signals an important change from two narrower products, HBO Max and Discovery+, to our broader content offering and consumer proposition. While each product offered something for some people, Max will have a broad array of quality choices for everybody,” Perrette added.
What is the fate of HBO Max and Discovery+ shows?
HBO Max
In August 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO Zaslav revealed that HBO Max and Discovery+ will share select programming from their respective platforms in the interim period leading up to the new streamer’s launch in 2023, but they also had to reduce their content library.
HBO Max original series such asAnd Just Like That…,The Gilded Age,A Black Lady Sketch Show,Our Flag Means DeathandJulia— as well as the hit HBO showsEuphoria,The Last of UsandThe White Lotus— were marked safe among its merge purge, and Discovery+’s catalog of originals, such as the spinoffs of the popular reality series90 Day FiancéandGhost Adventures, will also appear on the platform.
However, there was unfortunate news for fans ofWestworld,The Nevers,Time Traveler’s Wife,Run,Love Life,Degrassi: The Next Generation,Made for Loveand other projects, as these shows were cut off from productions. Even shows likeMinxwere abandoned, despite already being renewed for a second season. (ThoughMinxdid already find a new home on Starz.)
In addition,Magnolia Network— a joint venture between Discovery andChipandJoanna Gaines— joined HBO Max in September 2022 and will move to Max upon its launch.
How to sign up for the new service Max?
Eddy Chen/HBO Max
HBO Max customers will be able to have their profiles and data automatically transferred over to the new platform, as well as keep their current subscription features for a minimum of six months following its debut.
“Our incredible team has been hard at work taking the best of both legacy technology platforms to deliver a product that works much better,“Perrette said in the press release. “We’re confident that all these enhancements will deliver a stronger experience for our customers, which will drive more engagement, help enhance retention and improve customer satisfaction, which in turn will help us continue to scale.”
What new shows will be under Max?
After disclosing the new streaming service, CEO Bloys revealed that there will be plenty of new original titles.
The streaming service is preparing to launcha “faithful adaptation” of J.K. Rowling’sHarry Potterbook seriesthat will take a “dive deep into each of the iconic books.”
HBO is also set to develop a spinoff ofThe Big Bang Theoryand a prequel spinoff series toGame of Thrones— titledA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, which will follow “two unlikely heroes [who] wandered Westeros … a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg” — as well as launch projects likeThe Idol,The Penguin,The Regimeand more throughout 2023.
When will Max streaming service launch?
When announcing the new-and-improved streaming service in April, Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed that Max will debut in the U.S. on May 23, 2023.
source: people.com
