HBO Max becomes Max: these are the keys, dates, prices and news like the Harry Potter series

It was an expected movement and already announced in the television world, but it has not caused less noise for that reason.

At a pivotal moment for the industry and as the blockbuster era shows signs of winding down, Warner Bros. Discovery announced Wednesday night that its flagship platform, HBO Max, would be renamed Max in the United States effective May 23. .

The communication and entertainment giant takes advantage of the occasion to show muscle, expand its catalog and announce news such as a series on the Harry Potter universe and another,

, around Batman.

The change is limited for now to the United States.

The company has announced that in Spain it will be effective sometime in 2024 and that more details will be known "when the launch date approaches."

The same date is reserved for Asia and other markets, while in Latin America the change will take place in autumn.

Max absorbs the entire Discovery+ catalog, with which it merges in those countries in which it provided service (although in the United States it is also maintained as a separate offer), so that it will now be able to compete in depth with the Disney+ or Netflix offer , one of the main objectives of the media conglomerate.

Discovery is specialized in information and entertainment and includes in its offer more than 20 channels and prominent

.

The rates announced for the United States start with a basic of 10 dollars with advertising;

a midrange for $16 (or $150 per year, the standard rate currently in operation in the United States), which includes two simultaneous viewing devices and 30 downloads, and a premium for $20 with four devices, 100 downloads and 4K playback quality.

In a process that will later be replicated outside the United States, the company has ensured that the transition will be carried out automatically, without the need to change the user, password or platform.

HBO Max subscriber profiles, settings, viewing history, and any data will be migrated to Max.

The new service "will have a regular update of content with an average of more than 40 new titles and seasons each month," according to the official statement.

“The Max service is a mosaic of powerful content that will be unmatched in the breadth, reach and excellence of its offerings,” Casey Bloys, HBO Chairman and CEO, said during the online presentation from Los Angeles. and Max Content.

Olivia Cooke and Emma D'Arcy in 'The House of the Dragon'.

millionaire budgets

The novelties that accompany this evolution of the platform, which thus unites its brands around the world, aim to be at the level of a catalog that has current series such as

,

or

and television classics from HBO Originals like

,

,

or

.

The first and most notable is a series about the Harry Potter universe.

The platform has been consulting for years and has already prepared the ground in 2022 with

, a meeting of the protagonists in which JK Rowling did not participate.

It is known that there will be seven seasons, one per book, and that at least budget wise it will be up to the latest HBO blockbusters.

The first season will have a budget of 125 million dollars (about 113 million euros) "or more, whatever it takes to reach the necessary quality standard," Bloys said in statements to The Hollywood Reporter after the presentation of the new

.

All eight Harry Potter films—produced by Warner, which also developed the

— have raised more than 6,000 million euros worldwide.

Bloys declined to comment on the controversy surrounding Rowling and the accusations of transphobia to which she has been subjected.

“The Harry Potter books are clearly inclusive, an incredibly positive story about love and acceptance.

Our priority is what comes out on the screen, ”she limited herself to saying.

The British writer, creator of one of the best-selling book series of all time, will be present on the project as an executive producer, but not on a day-to-day basis, as reported by Warner Bros. Discovery.

Colin Farrell in #ThePenguin, a new original series coming to Max in 2024.

#StreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/Jr1hVALixW

— HBO Max Spain (@HBOMaxES) April 12, 2023

This global icon is not the only one that you want to take advantage of in the new project.

A much more frequently exploited universe such as Batman will have a new product.

This is

, a series focused on this character that stars Colin Farrell.

On the platform you can also see the adaptations of the DC comics factory, already present in the current offer and which include adaptations of Batman and Batwoman, Watchmen, Supergirl, Preacher or Justice League.

Additionally, the company has fielded several dozen projects, most notably a Max Original comedy series spin-off of

;

an HBO original prequel to

titled

which will be based on George RR Martin's three short novels

and which follows the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall and a young Aegon V Targaryen, also known as Egg;

a Max Original drama series based on the Magnolia Network

films The

or

was also shown

, a miniseries in which Robert Downey Jr. plays four different characters.

Before taking this leap, the company has spent months reconfiguring its material and its production capacity to adapt it to the sign of the times and to the demands of investors.

Under the direction of David Zaslav, Warner Bros. Discovery has canceled production or removed from its platform more than 70 projects such as

.

We will see if their rivals make a move.

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