If you’re excited about upcoming Max TV shows like the Harry Potter series and horror prequel Welcome to Derry and DCs Lanternsthen there’s a little shakeup you’ll want to know about: all of these titles will be branded as HBO Originals instead of Max Originals.
While you can still stream the shows MaxHBO Original branding means they’re now guaranteed to run on the linear network in addition to their premiere on Max, so fans who tune in on cable can watch just as well as those who subscribe to one of the best streaming services.
Variety reports that the network is considering holding original series nights for the channel on both Sundays and Thursdays, where they are expected to air in prime time. Release dates for these shows haven’t been confirmed yet, but rest assured they’ll all continue on HBO and stream on Max.
However, it will take a while for these changes to be fully implemented as they will come into effect with the launch of shows in 2025. For example, shows like The penguin And Dune: Prophecy are still called Max Originals.
Why were these series changed to HBO Originals?
HBO CEO Casey Bloys explained the reason to Variety, saying it came down to a clear distinction between what is an “HBO show” and a “Max show.”
“We felt like we had to separate between an HBO show and a Max show,” he revealed. “The idea of using Warner Bros. IP as a boundary for Max felt good. At least that gives you a clear trail. But when we started producing those shows, we used the same methods, the same thinking, as how we would HBO approaching shows. In many cases, the same talent that worked on HBO shows.”
“For a show that feels big and cinematic, they’re already assuming it feels like an HBO show,” he added. “This just leans into that.”
Other HBO Originals over the years include hits like Game of Thrones and its spin-off House of the Dragonas well as video game adaptation The last of us, so it looks like the network is trying to get the HBO name out there by adding other big shows to its growing list of original content.
In the meantime, Max Originals has recorded titles such as Tokyo Vice, The stairs And Peacemaker, so it looks like plans are being made so that viewers can easily differentiate between the two.