Report: WarnerMedia Won’t Touch DC Universe Despite Launch of New Streaming Service HBO Max
From the moment it was announced, WarnerMedia’s pursuit to create its own streaming service had many worried about the future of DC Universe. In a new twist, a report seems to allay fears the under-pressure app is going away.
The Hollywood Reporter is saying DC Universe, as well as other streaming services under the Warner umbrella including CW Seed, “will remain as-is” while emphasizing that could change.
Warner’s new streaming service will be called HBO Max and a new trailer was put out for it. Featured offerings teased include DC Extended Universe movies (among them Justice League), Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Game of Thrones, and DC Universe originals such as Doom Patrol.
https://youtu.be/LCS4CaZ9dwg
The nascent platform’s biggest acquisitions were the hit 90s sitcom Friends and Greg Berlanti’s CW dramas — which encompass Riverdale, the Arrowverse, and the yet-to-air Batwoman, to name a few. AT&T acquired the streaming rights to Friends for a $85 million per year according to CNBC.
HBO Max will launch in 2020. A beta version will reportedly be test-driven later this year. THR’s rundown of the video library is as follows:
“HBO Max will also feature library content from WarnerMedia outlets, including features from Warner Bros, New Line, DC Entertainment, CNN, TNT, TBS, TruTV, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and more. HBO series set to stream on the new service include the upcoming entries Watchmen, The Outsider (from Stephen King), J.J. Abrams and Jordan Peele’s Lovecraft Country, Joss Whedon’s The Nevers, David Simon’s The Plot Against America and veteran offerings like Issa Rae’s Insecure.”
CNBC also reports WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey’s goal for the new platform is to get 70 million subscribers. That is double the current number of U.S. subscribers for HBO.
DC Universe launched in 2018. Its extensive library is host to comics, movies, cartoons, shows, and original content. Titans was the first original program upon launch, followed by Doom Patrol. Its status was believed to be in some sort of limbo and there were rumors of a low subscription count and potential termination of the service.
Swamp Thing’s premature cancellation was one cause for concern. In a vague statement about Swamp Thing, a forum moderator assured users DC Universe has plans for the future and all rumors to the contrary were false. That did little to quell speculation or anxiety.
How do you feel about HBO Max? Do you think it will end up having any impact on DC Universe? Let us know.