Warner Bros. Discovery has made a significant strategic alteration as it shifts its focus on big-budget series. The much-anticipated Harry Potter TV series and the IT prequel, Welcome to Derry, will no longer carry the Max Originals label but are transitioning to become HBO Originals. This decision aligns with a broader strategy that encompasses other series such as the new Green Lantern series.
This is a real moment for us.
said David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, during the launch of the rebranded Max service in April 2023.
Zaslav’s enthusiasm for new content direction comes amid various shifts within the company’s streaming strategy. While it is yet unclear whether upcoming releases such as Colin Farrell’s The Penguin, which features in the 2024 trailer, or Dune: Prophecy will move to HBO, insiders suggest it’s still under consideration.
The shift reflects an emphasis on curating high-quality scripted content rather than based solely on subscriber numbers. As highlighted by Zaslav’s comment, We’ve said it’s not about how many subscribers, it’s about how much money.
The upcoming Harry Potter series is set to be a faithful adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s beloved books, boasting an entirely new cast and dedicating each season to one of the seven original books. As per Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO & Max Content, this new direction aims to delve deeper into the rich narrative tapestry of the Wizarding World. In his words,This new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years.
This change also underscores Warner Bros. Discovery’s approach towards positioning HBO as the premiere destination for high-caliber content while also ensuring accessibility via Max. This may not be necessarily negative; rather it’s a refined alignment in tune with profitability goals, especially after seeing notable increases in profits post-merger despite a drop in subscription numbers.
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