Warner Max (WB's film label for streaming)

[Hybrid]

https://deadline.com/2020/02/hbo-max...el-1202852403/

Warner Bros and HBO Max said Wednesday that they have created Warner Max, a new film label that will serve as the feature production arm of the streaming service that’s launching in May.

The new joint venture will have a target of releasing eight to 10 mid-budget movies per year, overseen by HBO Max’s chief content officer Kevin Reilly and Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich, who are sharing greenlight responsibility for Warner Max films and will work in collaboration with Warner Bros Pictures Group COO Carolyn Blackwood and HBO Max Head of Original Content Sarah Aubrey.

Warner Bros and New Line Cinema will continue to create mid-budget fare for the traditional theatrical window, while Warner Max will create a new pipeline for filmmakers looking to make a particular type of film or connect with a specific audience that would be best reached in the streaming environment. The first Warner Max titles will premiere on the service in 2020 (yet to be determined), and Warner Bros will be responsible for distribution of these titles in all other media and territories beyond the HBO Max SVOD window.

Will Warner Max titles receive a truncated theatrical release similar to Netflix and Amazon titles? And by that we mean, limited theatrical releases over a shortened window before hitting HBO Max? That’s to be determined. At this point in time the label is focusing on making original films for the streaming service.

New Line said last year that it was taking the Melissa McCarthy comedy Superintelligence to HBO Max, and on Monday the streamer announced it was taking rights to Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick’s Sundance documentary On the Record about Russell Simmons’ accusers. At this point in time, it’s not evident that those titles will be released under the Warner Max label.

Overall, the new partnership will take advantage of the WarnerMedia organization’s vast feature film expertise, library, resources and relationships, with Warner Max tapping Warner Bros Pictures infrastructure including physical production.

Jessie Henderson, EVP Original Feature Films for HBO Max, will expand her role to serve as the day-to-day head of the label and liaison between HBO Max and Warner Bros. Pictures Group and jointly report to Aubrey and Blackwood. Ann Sarnoff, chair and CEO of Warner Bros, and Warner Media Entertainment and Direct-To-Consumer Chairman Robert Greenblatt made announcement today.

“From the get-go we have been strategizing with Toby and Carolyn about HBO Max original films,” said Reilly. “We are going to deliver a collaborative and lean process for talent, make a range of quality films, and provide a platform for each of them to have cultural impact. Now, HBO Max will be home to a robust collection of the legendary Warner Bros film library and a new slate of original WarnerMax films.”

Added Emmerich: “Working with Kevin, Sarah, Jessie and their teams, we’re committed to creating dynamic and compelling films that draw on the depth and scope of the creative resources across WarnerMedia. We’re excited to help make HBO Max a destination for both film-lovers and the creative community, while delivering a win across the entire WarnerMedia organization.”

Said Aubrey: “Warner Bros. Pictures Group has long been the gold standard for filmmaker driven storytelling. We are proud to be in in the features business with them and continue that legacy on our SVOD platform. Warner Max gives us a special opportunity to continue cultivating this style of rich and diverse storytelling and it couldn’t be in better hands than with our head of features, Jessie Henderson, who’s built her career in this space.”

Blackwood added, “It’s been great collaborating with our colleagues at HBO Max to take full advantage of our shared strategic advantages and creative expertise to make Warner Max a competitive player in the original SVOD film space from day one.”

That's cool, and a good point. The theaters have become uncertain and this could give a good platform for the more mid-range works to succeed. There are already some movies that have been announced/teased that I can see being made by Warner Max such as:

Amazons (Wonder Woman spin-off)
Attack on Titan (based on the manga)
Cleopatra Jones (remake)
Coyote vs. Acme
The Dirty Dozen (remake)
Lovecraft
Spy Guys
The Time Machine
The Trench (Aquaman spin-off)

Anyways, what do you guys think of this? Think this is a good move, and anything you would like to see?

Discuss.

[ComicJunkie21]

https://deadline.com/2020/02/hbo-max...el-1202852403/



That's cool, and a good point. The theaters have become uncertain and this could give a good platform for the more mid-range works to succeed. There are already some movies that have been announced/teased that I can see being made by Warner Max such as:

Amazons (Wonder Woman spin-off)
Attack on Titan (based on the manga)
Cleopatra Jones (remake)
Coyote vs. Acme
The Dirty Dozen (remake)
Lovecraft
Spy Guys
The Time Machine
The Trench (Aquaman spin-off)

Anyways, what do you guys think of this? Think this is a good move, and anything you would like to see?

Discuss.

Truthfully I would watch most of the content you just listed. I'm excited for this new service. While there is absolutely no company who executes better than Disney right now, as far as content quality goes Warner Bros has been the top when you take into account everything they make.

[Comic-Reader Lad]

I do think this is a good move, and as an aside, I think down the road, any other streaming service launched by a WarnerMedia subsidiary (e.g. DC Universe, Boomerang, CW Seed, etc.) should be consolidated and moved to HBO Max. I said from the original announcement of HBO Max even before it was so named, that there should be one portal for all WarnerMedia streaming content.

Anyway, regarding the WarnerMax movie label for HBO Max, this is definitely something that should involve DC as a top priority rather than an afterthought.

Yes, Marvel movies make more money, but for Warner Bros. studios, a DC Film has been Warner's top box office grosser for the last several years.

2019: Joker
2018: Aquaman
2017: Wonder Woman
2016: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

From the looks of things, Birds of Prey/Harley Quinn should have been a streamer.

In addition to developing projects targeted to WarnerMax from the get-go, this might be a future path for those on-the-bubble projects -- either movies where market research determines the box office won't be there in huge numbers or movies that did get theatrically released, but don't really warrant a sequel to be theatrically released, but there is enough of an audience to justify a direct-to streaming sequel.

[Jokerz79]

Service sounds good but please don't remake the Dirty Dozen.

[Hybrid]

I do think this is a good move, and as an aside, I think down the road, any other streaming service launched by a WarnerMedia subsidiary (e.g. DC Universe, Boomerang, CW Seed, etc.) should be consolidated and moved to HBO Max. I said from the original announcement of HBO Max even before it was so named, that there should be one portal for all WarnerMedia streaming content.

Anyway, regarding the WarnerMax movie label for HBO Max, this is definitely something that should involve DC as a top priority rather than an afterthought.

Yes, Marvel movies make more money, but for Warner Bros. studios, a DC Film has been Warner's top box office grosser for the last several years.

2019: Joker
2018: Aquaman
2017: Wonder Woman
2016: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

From the looks of things, Birds of Prey/Harley Quinn should have been a streamer.

In addition to developing projects targeted to WarnerMax from the get-go, this might be a future path for those on-the-bubble projects -- either movies where market research determines the box office won't be there in huge numbers or movies that did get theatrically released, but don't really warrant a sequel to be theatrically released, but there is enough of an audience to justify a direct-to streaming sequel.

That's a good point. DC should be very important going forward. I bet those Justice League Dark projects that Bad Robot was given will be hosted on HBO Max. Likewise, if DC Black takes off they might put those movies exclusively for Max. I think this service will be really good platform for DC, as they now have much more freedom to make content.

Service sounds good but please don't remake the Dirty Dozen.

Well, whether or not they should can be debated, but it was announced that David Ayer is directing it.

[Vakanai]

That's a good point. DC should be very important going forward. I bet those Justice League Dark projects that Bad Robot was given will be hosted on HBO Max. Likewise, if DC Black takes off they might put those movies exclusively for Max. I think this service will be really good platform for DC, as they now have much more freedom to make content.



Well, whether or not they should can be debated, but it was announced that David Ayer is directing it.

What's DC Black?


I think this is a good move - it means more content in general, and provides a safer alternative to films that might not be sure hits in theaters. Don't see a down side.

[numberthirty]

What's DC Black?


I think this is a good move - it means more content in general, and provides a safer alternative to films that might not be sure hits in theaters. Don't see a down side.

Something that doesn't actually exist.

When Philips pitched Joker, he pitched it as a part of something like an imprint for similar films.