In a surprising strategic move, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has decided to move its highly anticipated series, such as Welcome to Derry and the live-action adaptation of Harry Potter, from its streaming platform Max to HBO.
HBO recently announced an eight-episode Green Lantern series directed by Chris Mundy. The attention-grabbing series, titled Lantern, will air on HBO and not on Max as originally planned. This change is not a standalone issue but part of a broader strategy. In addition to Lanterns, Welcome to Derry and the Harry Potter series will be moving to HBO, marking a significant change in WBD’s programming policy. However, it is yet to be confirmed whether other major titles such as Penguin or Dune: will follow suit.
A new house of terror
Last month, it was confirmed that Bill Skarsgård would be making a comeback with It/Pennywise in a film titled Welcome to Derry. Set in the universe of Stephen King’s novel, the series expands on the vision created by Andy Muschetti in the film It and It: Chapter Two. In addition to Skarsgård, the cast also includes Taylor Page, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk and James Remar.
The series is produced by HBO Max and Warner Bros. It’s television, with Jason Fuchs writing the script for the first episode, based on a story by Andy Muschetti, Barbara Muschetti and Fuchs. Andy Muschetti will direct four episodes, including the first, and will also executive produce alongside his sister Barbara Fuchs, Brad Caleb Kane and Skarsgård.
WBD adjusts its original content strategy
The shift to these series is seen by many as a fulfillment of WBD CEO David Zaslav’s promise to reduce the focus on original direct-to-streaming content. This decision indicates that productions with high budgets and high viewership will be more involved on HBO to maximize their reach and profitability.
The HP series, one of the most anticipated by fans, will also benefit from this strategy. Moving on to HBO, this adaptation is expected to leverage HBO’s strong subscriber base and reputation for quality in production and promotion.
The future stream
This strategic shift raises questions about Max’s future. Although the platform will continue to be a key component in WBD’s offering, it appears that much larger and more expensive productions will be moving to HBO. This could mean a redefinition of Max, with a greater focus on additional content and less on large original productions.
The decision to move both series reflects a trend in the entertainment industry where companies want to balance investment in content with return on viewership. In an increasingly competitive market, HBO’s quality and prestige could give these brands a huge advantage.
Return to the origin
The original Derry sequel promises to expand the horror universe, and with Bill Skarsgård returning as Pennywise, fans can expect to delve deeper into the origins of the evil that is befalling the town of Derry. The inclusion of actors like Taylor Page and Jovan Adepo adds new talent to the cast, ensuring a rich and immersive narrative.
The cinematic quality and detailed narrative approach of this series production under the HBO label confirms the characteristics for which the network is known. With Andy Muschietti directing several episodes, the series maintains the dark atmosphere and visual style that make the films successful.
Heritage of HP
On the other hand, HP’s live-action adaptation is a great project that wants to capture the magic of the original books and movies while introducing the story to new generations. This series has the potential to become a cultural phenomenon like its predecessors, and its move to HBO ensures that it will receive the treatment and attention it needs to satisfy fan demand.
WBD’s strategy of moving major productions to HBO reflects a renewed focus on quality and long-term impact. Both series promise to deliver memorable and well-crafted experiences to viewers, not just HBO. With these changes, HBO will establish itself as a major content creator, while Max will find its own niche in the WBD streaming ecosystem.