Warner Bros. Tentpole Series Including ‘Harry Potter’ Prequel ‘Welcome to Derry’ to Be Rebranded as HBO Originals

HBO is making a significant shift in how it categorizes its original content, blurring the lines between what constitutes an “HBO show” versus a “Max show.” Casey Bloys, the CEO of HBO and Max content, is spearheading this change by moving many of Max’s high-budget Warner Bros. IP projects under the HBO umbrella.

This strategic decision means that major upcoming projects such as the “Harry Potter” TV show, the “It” prequel series “Welcome to Derry,” and the recently announced Green Lantern adaptation “Lanterns” will now be branded as HBO originals. This marks a departure from the previous practice of placing all Warner Bros. IP-based series in the Max category, a distinction that was introduced when Bloys took on oversight of Max in 2020.

The rationale behind this shift, according to Bloys, was to differentiate between the creative approaches of HBO and Max shows. Initially, using Warner Bros. IP as a defining factor for Max shows seemed logical. However, as production unfolded, it became clear that the same level of talent and storytelling approach was being applied to both HBO and Max series.

For instance, the upcoming series “Lanterns” boasts a writing team that includes industry veterans like Chris Mundy from HBO’s “True Detective” and Damon Lindelof, known for his work on HBO’s “The Leftovers” and “Watchmen.” The quality and scale of these productions, coupled with the talent involved, led to a reevaluation of the distinction between HBO and Max shows.

The transition to branding major projects like “Harry Potter” and “Lanterns” as HBO originals will officially commence with shows launching in 2025. While some series like “The Penguin” and “Dune: Prophecy” will retain their Max branding due to prior international licensing agreements, the shift reflects a strategic realignment of HBO and Max Originals.

The restructuring also extends to the comedy and drama genres, with a focus on aligning the content with the respective brand identities of HBO and Max. While delineating budget thresholds between HBO and Max shows, Bloys emphasized a nuanced approach to ensure each series receives the appropriate branding and platform placement.

Looking ahead, the consolidation of HBO and Max content under the HBO banner aims to streamline the viewer experience and reinforce the network’s commitment to delivering high-quality programming. This shift underscores HBO’s adaptability in an evolving streaming landscape, where clarity in branding and content differentiation is key to engaging audiences and maintaining creative flexibility.