by Thinus Ferreira
The boy who lived and a green lantern will now be on the channel that won't stop the magic - although The Penguin won't - after Warner Bros. Discovery in the United States decided to switch big-budget series under its Max Originals banner to HBO Originals.
Big-budget HBO Originals shows like House of the Dragon - currently in its second season - are guaranteed to broadcast on MultiChoice's M-Net (DStv 101) linear channel as well as its video streaming service Showmax due to existing output contracts.
Max Originals made for Warner Bros. Discovery's streamer Max - a video streaming service that isn't available in South Africa - are not guaranteed to air on DStv or Showmax.
In a strategic rethink, WBD and HBO executives have now decided to move all of its big and expensive series - whether originally earmarked for HBO or for Max - all to HBO. These shows will now debut first as HBO Originals on the HBO linear TV channel.
Expensive shows like the Harry Potter TV series envisioned to run for a decade and the IT prequel series Welcome to Derry, originally earmarked as Max Originals, are now changing to HBO Originals.
HBO also commissioned a new 8-episode live-action drama series, Lanterns, chronicling an Earth-investigation by two Green Lanterns, John Stewart and Hal Jordan, which will now be an HBO Original series from the outset.
Max Originals set for release within the next few months and later this year and which are already marketed and being sold and distributed internationally as Max shows, will however remain Max Originals. One of these is The Penguin, which M-Net told me last week it hasn't acquired the broadcasting rights for.
The Penguin, set for release in September, is an 8-episode limited series with an unrecognisable Colin Farrell starring as the Penguin, reprising his role from The Batman, alongside Cristin Milioti and Rhenzy Feliz.
The science fiction drama series, Dune: Prophecy is likewise a Max Original and since it's also set to be released later this year, will also remain a Max Original.
Green Lanterns detective series
Meanwhile, HBO has announced that Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King will co-write and executive produce the new 8-episode Lanterns live-action drama series, done in association with Warner Bros. Television and DC Comics.
According to HBO "The series follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland".
James Gunn and Peter Safran, co-CEOs of DC Studios, in a statement, say "We're thrilled to bring this seminal DC title to HBO with Chris, Damon and Tom at the helm. John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two of DC's most compelling characters, and Lanterns brings them to life in an original detective story that is a foundational part of the unified DCU we're launching next summer with Superman".
Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and Max content, says "We are elated to be reuniting with both Chris Mundy and Damon Lindelof as they partner with Tom for this fresh take on DC's Green Lantern. As part of James and Peter's vision for the DC Universe, this first new live-action series will mark an exciting new era."
Lanterns which would have been a Max Original is now a HBO Original.
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