When WarnerMedia announced its upcoming plans for its HBO Max streaming platform yesterday there was mention of international expansion to Latin America and several European countries. But Canada wasn’t discussed at all, which surely left Canadians wondering if the service would be coming to Canada. The answer? No. Well, not in the traditional sense. Today Bell Media announced a new long-term exclusive deal with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution that brings original programming from WarnerMedia’s HBO Max to Canada, beginning in 2020.
The deal encompasses new scripted series primarily produced by the divisions of the Warner Bros. Television Group for HBO Max. Series confirmed for Crave and CTV include titles with star power in front of and behind the camera, such as:
- the recently announced new GOSSIP GIRL series that’s set to follow a new generation of New York private school teens, executive produced by the creative team behind the original series;
- THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT, a dark comedic thriller starring and executive produced by THE BIG BANG THEORY’s Kaley Cuoco in her much-anticipated return to television, along with Rosie Perez, GAME OF THRONES alum Michiel Huisman, Zosia Mamet of GIRLS, and more;
- DUNE: THE SISTERHOOD, from Academy Award®–nominated Canadian director Denis Villeneuve and set in the universe of Frank Herbert’s epic Dune novel series;
- and COLLEGE GIRLS (working title) from Emmy®-nominated writer/producer Mindy Kaling (THE MINDY PROJECT, THE OFFICE) about the romantic lives of three young women at an East Coast university.
In addition to the above-mentioned series orders, select future projects in the works at HBO Max from Warner Bros. Television Group include: two DC dramas from Berlanti Productions, GREEN LANTERN and the anthology STRANGE ADVENTURES; DC drama DMZ, from WESTWORLD’s Roberto Patino and Oscar® nominee/Emmy® winner Ava DuVernay; drama CRIME FARM, from executive producer Nicole Kidman; the young adult-focused RED BIRD LANE, from John Wells Productions; drama RULES OF MAGIC from JESSICA JONES’ Melissa Rosenberg and Dana Barrata; drama THE SHELLEY SOCIETY from RIVERDALE’s Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa; the hybrid live-action/animated comedy TOONED OUT from The LEGO™ Batman Movie’s Jared Stern and Oscar® winner Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, Who Framed Roger Rabbit); multicamera comedy DC SUPER HERO HIGH from executive producer Elizabeth Banks; and more.
In other words, you’re still going to get your HBO Max content in Canada, but it’s going to be on Crave and CTV platforms. Which is probably good news for Canadians’ wallets.