I have to say, I’m actually pretty impressed with how studios have been handling their streaming services so far. When it became clear that every studio under the sun would launch their own service, I expected a disaster. My mind went to the mid-to-late 2000s, when studios kinda hemmed and hawed around the whole idea of streaming and digital downloads, leading to half-baked ideas like UltraViolet, which were created to help combat piracy.

It was clear from the get-go that most simply didn’t understand or respect the impact the internet had on the industry, and the end result was a lots of money lost. The ones who really took advantage of the world of streaming early on were the smaller anime distributors in the U.S. — mostly because they NEEDED to adapt or die. 

A solid decade-plus has passed, and now the larger studios need to do the same: adapt or die. This has led to advent of streaming services such as Disney+, Apple TV+, and of course, HBO Max. Against what I thought would happen, I’m actually seeing studios go all-in, with many actually producing features for their service. Disney has done this, and HBO Max has expressed its willingness to do so as well.

RELATED – Audience Network Shuttering, Original Shows Likely Folded Into HBO Max

Now, Warner Bros. and HBO Max have announced that they have launched a new film label, Warner Max, which will handle the production of films made specifically for the service. The plan is for there to be eight to 10 mid-budget films a year.

“From the get-go we have been strategizing with Toby and Carolyn about HBO Max original films,” HBO Max chief content officer Kevin Reilly said in a statement. “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.”

Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich added, “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.”

I think it goes without saying that this is a smart move. On one hand, you have Netflix, who throws billions of dollars at original content every year, and on the other, you have the I.P. powerhouse known as Disney reimagining their characters for the small and big screen alike. You can’t just become a place to watch movies after they release and expect to survive. In creating this brand, they’ve created a focus, and that’s fantastic.

It’s also been made clear that WarnerMedia will use brands from across their entire portfolio for potential films, including Warner Bros. film and TV, DC Films, HBO original content, New Line Cinema, and Warenr Animation Group.

What I’m really interested in here is how well they take advantage of DC characters. We already know they have done so on the theatrical film and TV front, and we’ve heard talk of live-action DC movies on their service. What about that forever-in-the-works Green Lantern film? Blue Beetle and Booster Gold? Basically anything Greg Berlanti has considered could be considered as potential feature fodder.

So…which Warner Bros. property would you like to see? Let us know your thoughts down below!

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SOURCE: Variety