WBD says hello to Max, reveals Harry Potter series

Warner Bros. Discovery has revealed its "enhanced" streamer, with a shortened name, family-friendly anchor series and a pledge to 40 new titles and seasons every month.
April 13, 2023

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has pulled back the curtain on its new Max streaming service, revealing a handful of new kids titles and parental controls for families.

Introduced yesterday, Max is WBD’s new platform combining Warner Bros.’ films and series with Discovery’s factual-heavy catalogue. The new service, which launches May 23 in the US, will feature parental controls that can limit the content kids can access, broken down by demo: kids, big kids, big kids plus, pre-teens or teens. It’s launching with three price tiers: ads, ad-free and high-def with downloads.

Like Amazon before it, WBD has put a big, juicy content worm on a hook for household subscribers: a “decade-long” Harry Potter series mirroring the book series and featuring a new cast. It’s being produced by Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television in association with Max. Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts are the show’s executive producers. According to the announcement, David Heyman, who produced all eight Harry Potter films, is in talks to reprise his EP role.

Another multi-generational big name is also on the credits for family-friendly short film, Peter & The Wolf (pictured), newly greenlit by Max and Cartoon Network. Based on the fairy tale, the 2D animation and stop-motion film will feature illustrations from U2 frontman Bono. Producers are UK studio Blink Industries and music company BMG, with Alistair Norbury and Stuart Souter as executive producers for BMG and Benjamin Lole & James Stevenson Bretton EP’ing for Blink.

That film joins more classic IP reworked for modern family audiences, including previously announced kids projects Gremlins: The Secrets of Mogwai (premiering May 23), Tiny Toons Looniversity and Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge.

Warner Bros. Discovery has pledged to launch 40 new titles and seasons every month. Max will feature content from HBO, DC, Harry Potter and Discovery’s cataogue of reality, food and comedy content. All Warner Bros. movies released this year and onward will launch on Max following the theatrical window.

About The Author
News editor for Kidscreen. Ryan covers tech, talent and general kids entertainment news, with a passion for kids rap content and video games. Have a story that's of interest to Kidscreen readers? Contact Ryan at rtuchow@brunico.com

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