The Harry Potter series and Welcome to Derry were initially developed as Max originals, but Warner Bros. Discovery found them a new home. They’ll get a release date on HBO before streaming on Max as a part of the network’s new strategy for their big-budget shows.
The blockbuster Harry Potter series and the It prequel Welcome to Derry are three of the shows currently involved in this decision, along with the Green Lantern adaptation Lanterns. It’s too late to go down the same road with some other Warner Bros. tentpole series, including The Penguin and Dune: Prophecy because they’ve already been sold as Max originals overseas.
HBO and Max content CEO Casey Bloys said they decided to make a shift because they approached these projects with the same methods and kind of thinking as other HBO shows.
“What we ended up with is shows at this scope and scale that look great, and great narratives and talent we’ve worked with… For a show that feels big and cinematic, they already are going to make the assumption that it feels like an HBO show. This is just leaning into that,” Bloys told Variety.
All shows involved in Warner Bros. Discovery’s new release strategy will still be streaming on Max following their linear release on HBO.
