HBO Max has been making waves over the past two weeks.
The streamer has axed at least six shows and plans to remove multiple titles from its library, including high-end HBO dramas Westworld and The Nevers. However, the company announced it will move some of its canceled programs to third-party FAST services.
These cancellations join HBO Max’s massive content purging.
HBO Max made headlines over the summer after Warner Bros. Discovery caught the industry off guard by canceling the nearly completed $90 million Batgirl feature film. This was followed by the news that the streamer had also axed Scoob!: Holiday Haunt, a follow-up to the 2020 film Scoob.
The streamer has continued to pull content left and right, including at least six HBO Max Original films, 20 original series and nearly 200 episodes of Sesame Street and various specials.
But despite these cancellations, HBO and HBO Max have renewed several titles since the summer. Our Flag Means Death, A Black Lady Sketch Show, Tokyo Vice, Starstruck and Hacks were renewed in June. Plus, The Rehearsal, House of the Dragon and Harley Quinn were renewed in August.
Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin was renewed in September, Industry was renewed in October and The White Lotus was renewed in November.
This week HBO Max also renewed The Sex Lives of College Girls and Sort Of.
So is this a signal of the cancellations coming to an end?
WBD is permitted to deduct expenses made as part of a post-merger reorganization under certain circumstances, but only for a limited period. It appears that removing programs from HBO Max will help the merged company’s upcoming balance statements look better, according to Vulture.
As Deadline notes, restructuring initiatives are expected to be completed by the end of 2024.