Last month, Variety broke the news that HBO and Max CEO Casey Bloys had shifted the delineation between what constitutes an “HBO show” and a “Max show.” This change involved moving Max’s big budget, tentpole Warner Bros. IP projects like the Harry Potter TV show, the It prequel series Welcome to Derry and the Green Lantern adaptation Lanterns under the HBO umbrella. However, this shift would not apply to shows premiering before 2025.
As mentioned by Variety, the complexity arose with the fall premieres of The Penguin and Dune: Prophecy, the very shows that had inspired Bloys to reconsider the branding. These shows, Initially sold to international outlets as Max Originals, these shows faced contractual barriers that made rebranding challenging. Bloys expressed his frustration at the time, stating, “The Penguin would be an obvious fit as an HBO Original. Unfortunately, the process of licensing it internationally has already started.”
Despite these hurdles, the HBO team has successfully negotiated to rebrand both The Penguin and Dune: Prophecyas HBO Originals, as stated by Variety. As a result, both series will now air on HBO and stream on Max, showcasing HBO’s commitment to quality and brand consistency.
Bloys was motivated to move this high-budget, prestigious Warner Bros. IP series from Max to HBO after previewing early cuts of The Penguin. According to Variety, he was impressed by the production quality, stating, “What we ended up with are shows at this scope and scale that look great, and have great narratives and talent we’ve worked with. The idea of the delineation kind of started to feel unnecessary. Like, why are we doing this? Let’s just call them what they are: HBO shows.” This strategic shift reflects HBO’s intention to maintain its reputation for high-quality, original content.
According to Variety, Dune: Prophecy delves into the expansive universe created by Frank Herbert (Dune, Children Of Dune, The White Plague) and is set 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides. The series follows two Harkonnen sisters as they battle forces threatening the future of humankind and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit.
The Penguin, an eight-episode series set immediately after the events of the 2022 film The Batman, stars Colin Farrell (The Lobster, Total Recall, The Batman) as the title character. The series explores his rise to power in Gotham’s underworld, cementing his status as one of Batman’s most notorious adversaries.
This strategic rebranding move highlights HBO’s dedication to delivering high-quality, compelling narratives under its esteemed brand.Fans can anticipate that these series will uphold HBO’s legacy of premium entertainment.