Summary

HBO Max is rebranding, transitioning from ‘Max Originals’ to ‘HBO Originals’ to reflect its high-quality content production.
Shows like
The Penguin
and
Dune: Prophecy
will remain as Max Originals, while
Harry Potter
and
Welcome to Derry
will be affected.
The change aims to differentiate between HBO and Max shows, removing the need for dual branding based on production methods and talent.

The streaming service Max is undergoing another rebranding, which will affect upcoming shows like the Harry Potter reboot and the It prequel, Welcome to Derry. Max, the official streaming service of Warner Bros. and HBO, has already had its name changed once before. Officially launched in May 2020, the service (which offered content from Warner Bros., HBO, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, CNN, and others) was originally called HBO Max, before it was shortened to Max in May 2023.

Per Variety, new shows produced exclusively for the streaming service will no longer be called ‘Max Originals’, and will now be known as ‘HBO Originals’. The name change is intended to reflect the high quality of shows HBO is renowned for. The network is responsible for producing some of the most influential and popular shows of all-time, including The Sopranos, The Wire, Sex and the City,Game of Thrones, Succession, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, and many, many more.

The changes will be officially implemented in 2025. Soon to be released shows like The Penguin (starring Colin Farrell) and the eagerly anticipated Dune spin-off show, Dune: Prophecy will still be classed as Max originals. In the report, Casey Bloys, Content CEO for HBO and Max explained the reason for the change, saying:

“We felt like we had to delineate between an HBO show and a Max show. The idea of using Warner Bros. IP as a delineation for Max felt right. At least that gives you a clear lane. But as we started producing those shows, we were using the same methods, the same kind of thinking, as how we would approach HBO shows. In a lot of cases, the same talent that has worked on HBO shows.
What we ended up with is shows at this scope and scale that look great, and 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.
For a show that feels big and cinematic, they already are going to make the assumption that it feels like an HBO show. This is just leaning into that.

Why Did HBO Max Change Its Name in the First Place?

Bloys’ explanation about the new name change makes sense to a lot of Max subscribers and fans, but it begs the question, why did they change the name in the first place? HBO has long been considered the gold standard of TV quality. The Sopranos completely redefined what could be achieved on television, and Game of Thrones was one of the biggest pop culture events of the 21st Century (still going strong with the House of the Dragon prequel).

Related 10 HBO/Max TV Shows That Were Canceled Much Too Soon Some HBO/Max shows lasted one or two seasons, but fans feel they could’ve used a few more.

HBO Max’s name was changed for two key reasons. Firstly, Warner Bros. wanted to reflect a broader range of programming on the streaming app. Many of the previously mentioned networks like Adult Swim and Cartoon Network don’t quite fit the same brand as HBO, and prospective customers might not be aware that such a range of shows are available on the app. Secondly, the name change was to reflect that Max also features family-friendly programming and movies. Alongside their reputation for quality programming, HBO’s flagship shows, like The Sopranos, are also known for their mature themes and content.

The
Harry Potter
series is expected to be released in 2026, while
Welcome to Derry
is expected to debut in 2025.