WarnerMedia's New Streaming Service Will Be Called HBO MAX and There Are More Details
WarnerMedia has finally revealed the name of their upcoming streaming service. It will be called HBO MAX. The service is described as being “anchored” in HBO’s reputation for high quality TV and film while being “Maximized” by programming from other networks in the Warner Media empire.
The announcement of the name comes with some additional details. The service is expected to launch in spring 2020 and it will also become the streaming home of The CW’s slate of scripted television, including all the DC series as well as the new shows like Batwoman and the Riverdale spinoff, Katy Keene.
On top of that, all 236 episodes of Friends will have a new home on HBO MAX after leaving Netflix. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Pretty Little Liars will also be a part of HBO MAX’s library.
There is also going to be a lot of exclusive content created just for HBO MAX and the studio has hired Arrowverse architect Greg Berlanti and Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning actress and producer Reese Witherspoon to produce that content. Berlanti is signed on to develop four movies aimed at young adults and Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine will produce at least two films.
Max Original series previously announced include:
Dune: The Sisterhood, an adaptation of Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson’s book based in the world created by Frank Herbert’s book Dune, from director Denis Villeneuve
Tokyo Vice, based on Jake Adelstein’s non-fiction first-hand account of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police beat starring Ansel Elgort
The Flight Attendant, a one-hour thriller series based on the novel by Chris Bohjalian, which will star Kaley Cuoco, who is also executive producing alongside Greg Berlanti
Love Life, a 10-episode half-hour romantic comedy anthology series starring “Pitch Perfect” star Anna Kendrick, who will also executive produce alongside Paul Feig
Station Eleven, a postapocalyptic limited series based on Emily St. John Mandel’s international bestseller, adapted by Patrick Somerville and directed by Hiro Murai
Made for Love, a 10-episode, half-hour, straight-to-series adaptation based on the tragicomic novel of the same name by Alissa Nutting, also from Somerville and directed by S.J. Clarkson
Gremlins, an animated series from Warner Bros. Animation and Amblin Entertainment based on the original movie.
Robert Greenblatt, chairman, WarnerMedia Entertainment and Direct-To-Consumer had this to say in a statement:
“HBO Max will bring together the diverse riches of WarnerMedia to create programming and user experiences not seen before in a streaming platform. HBO’s world-class programming leads the way, the quality of which will be the guiding principle for our new array of Max Originals, our exciting acquisitions, and the very best of the Warner Bros. libraries, starting with the phenomenon that is ‘Friends.’ Under the leadership of two of the strongest creative visionaries — Casey Bloys (HBO) and Kevin Reilly (original content and acquisitions) — and two of the most experienced digital experts — Tony Goncalves and Andy Forssell — I have no doubt they and their dedicated teams will deliver the world’s best storytelling to audiences of all ages wherever and whenever they want it.”
Are you excited about HBO MAX? Will you be signing up for it? I hate to admit it, but I’ll probably cave and eventually end up subscribing. Damn all of these streaming services!