'Welcome to Derry', 'Harry Potter' and other series move to HBO Originals in rebranding of HBO and MAX

The executive director of content for HBO and the streamer MAX, Casey Bloysannounced that changes will be implemented in the delimitation between what is an “HBO program” and a “Max program,” moving most of Warner Bros.' upcoming big-budget IP projects from Max to HBO.

This means that high-profile series such as the announced series of Harry Potterthe adaptation of Green Lantern, Lanternsy the prequel series of IT, Welcome to Derry, They will now be classified as HBO originals, and not like Max originals.

• It represents a change from another recent decision to position all series based on WB's IP as Max Original, something that was put in place with Bloys and the start of his oversight of Max in 2020.

Here's what Bloys explained to Variety about the rebranding:

“We felt like we had to draw a line between an HBO show and a Max show. The idea of ​​using Warner Bros. intellectual property as a description of Max seemed right. At least that leaves you a clear lane. But when we started producing those shows, we were using the same methods, the same type of thinking, about how we would approach the HBO shows. In many cases, the same talent that has worked on HBO shows.”

“What we ended up with are shows of this scope and scale that look great, and we've worked with great storytelling and talent. The idea of ​​delineation began to seem unnecessary. Why do we do this? Let's just call them what they are: HBO shows..”

The change officially comes into effect with the launch of the aforementioned series in 2025.. It will not apply to series like The Penguin y Dune: Prophecy, which are scheduled to premiere later this year, and will continue to be called Max Original. This is because these series have already been sold abroad under the Max label.

Bloys explained:

“We will start in 2025“While The Penguin would be an obvious choice as an HBO original, unfortunately, the international licensing process has already begun.”

THE ORIGINAL HBO WILL STREAM ON BOTH HBO AND MAX

The mentioned series, Harry Potter, Lanterns, y Welcome to Derry –and those that are added under this criterion over time– They are guaranteed linear transmission (on HBO) in addition to MaxBloys is looking to keep Sundays and Thursdays as original series nights.

“I like the idea of ​​having a Sunday and a Thursday,” he said. “But as we program together for the years 2025, 2026 and 2027, we'll figure it all out and figure out what works best.”

All of these shows will continue to air on the streamer, Max.

Welcome to Derry is a prequel series to the two films ITwith the return of the director of both installments, Andy Muschiettiand that of Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise.

The series that will expand the world of the clown Pennywise, created by Stephen Kingto the small screen, features Andy Muschietti and his sister Barbara Muschietti as executive producers alongside Jason Fuchs y Brad Caleb Kane as coshowrunners and executive producers. Skarsgård is another of the executive producers.

Fuchs co-produced IT: Chapter Two; Andy directed both the 2017 and 2019 adaptations, while Barbara produced them. The Muschietti brothers, together with Fuchs, developed the story of the series, with Fuchs as the screenwriter.

Andy Muschietti is also on board the prequel series as director of four of the nine episodes of the first season.

The cast of the prequel series includes Skarsgard (IT), Taylour Paige (Zola), Jovan Adepo (Watchmen), Chris Chalk (Perry Mason), James Remar (Oppenheimer), as protagonists, with Madeleine Stowe (Revenge), y Stephen Rider (Daredevil) in recurring guest role and regular role, respectively.

The official description generatesl:

“Set in the world of Stephen King's 'It' universe, 'Welcome to Derry' is based on King's novel 'It' and expands on the vision established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in the feature films 'It' and 'It Chapter Two.' '”.

The exact details of the plot are currently being kept under lock and key in some sewer, although this is what was previously discussed:

“The plot of the prequel series will begin in the year 1960.set before the events of IT: Part One (2017), the film based on Stephen King’s horror novel.”

“Also The plot is said to include the origin story of Pennywise the Clown, as well as the dawn of the 27-year curse that haunts small town Maine.”

Warner Bros. Television is the studio behind the project. Warner Bros. is the studio behind the film adaptations of Muschietti, IT: Part One (2017), IT: Part Two (2019), which became a commercial success for the studio, accumulating more than $1 billion at the global box office. Prior to its arrival on the big screen, the novel IT It was adapted for the small screen in 1990 as an ABC miniseries, with Tim Curry playing Pennywise.

HBO has not announced the exact release date of Welcome to Derrybut he did reveal that It will be starting in 2025.