The HBO Max library will have a large selection of titles available upon launch, ranging from DC properties to Looney Tunes. However, one major Warner Bros. property will be missing;Â the Harry Potter film franchise will not be available upon launch, as its distribution rights are currently with NBCUniversal.
In an interview with Business Insider, HBO Max Content Chief Kevin Reilly said the service is attempting to gain the rights to the Potter films. "No timetable, but it is high on our priority list."
"I'll just say there is active engagement around that discussion," he continued. "In terms of the marketplace, there's a lot of opportunities for horsetrading. The marketplace is shifting, with the impact of COVID and different companies launching different services, and it creates a lot of opportunities for horsetrading. We're seeing that across the board."
Based on the highly popular young adult novels by J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter series is one of Warner Bros.' biggest film franchises and it even spawned a spinoff series, Fantastic Beasts. Given the popularity and influence of the Potter films, it makes sense that HBO Max would want to add the franchise to its library.
HBO Max brings together WarnerMedia's extensive streaming library, including programming from HBO, Comedy Central and more, alongside original, exclusive content. The service launches Wednesday, May 27.