A signage is seen on the entrance of the theme park “Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter” in Tokyo on June 16, 2023. (Picture by YUICHI YAMAZAKI / AFP)
The third season of HBO’s hit TV sequence “The White Lotus” will premiere in February, adopted months later by the second installment of “The Final of Us,” Warner Bros. Discovery mentioned Thursday, Dec. 5.
Unveiling its upcoming world programming slate, HBO and Max streaming service CEO Casey Bloys additionally confirmed the much-anticipated “Recreation of Thrones” prequel, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” is ready for launch later subsequent 12 months.
Past that, the primary “Harry Potter” tv sequence — introduced final 12 months and presently in casting — is scheduled to start out filming in mid-2025 at Warner Bros.’s Leavesden studios within the UK, Bloys mentioned.
With the mega-selling books’ writer JK Rowling amongst its govt producers, it’s envisaged as “a decade-long sequence” that includes a brand new forged from the movies.
“Succession” director and govt producer Mark Mylod revealed on the London announcement occasion that the casting staff was presently reviewing 32,000 submissions for youths’ roles.
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“We are going to watch each one,” Mylod mentioned, including the staff is presently reviewing between 500 and 1,000 tapes every day. They then hope to “workshop with a few of our shortlisted candidates” in January.
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He famous they took following the “extraordinary actors” from the movies “extremely critically.”
“However we do observe the ethos of the movies in seeking out the cream of British performing expertise, not essentially the largest stars,” he added.
Rowling has confronted accusations of transphobia lately for placing an emphasis on organic intercourse over gender id in feedback about trans ladies. She denies the accusation.
Requested if he was fearful her involvement within the Harry Potter sequence may show problematic, Bloys mentioned he was “not involved.”
Award-winning darkish comedy “The White Lotus” is that this time set in Thailand, with singer Lisa of megastar Ok-pop lady group BLACKPINK among the many forged, alongside veteran Hollywood star Scott Glenn.
In the meantime, the post-apocalyptic drama “The Final of Us,” starring Pedro Pascal, picks up the place the acclaimed first season launched final 12 months ended.
Joined by actor-turned-executive producer Salma Hayek, Bloys additionally introduced that Max has commissioned a second season of HBO’s present Spanish-language hit “Like Water for Chocolate.”
Based mostly on the best-selling 1989 novel of the identical identify by Mexican writer Laura Esquivel, it has been among the many most-watched sequence on the platform following its launch final month.
“It’s been unimaginable to see such an vital Mexican story resonate with audiences world wide,” Hayek mentioned.
“We’re thrilled to verify a second season of ‘Like Water for Chocolate’ and are trying ahead to giving closure to such a robust and highly effective story.”
Bloys mentioned Max was transferring past what some have referred to as “patchy” programming throughout the trade following the Hollywood strikes and Covid-19 pandemic.
“I imagine we’re previous all of that; beginning in (20)25 for the following two years, we’ve obtained a really sturdy slate,” he added.
Max, which streams its personal authentic exhibits and big-budget HBO titles in addition to Warner Bros. movies and different content material, is offered in the US, some Latin American and European international locations, and components of Asia.
It’s set to increase to different international locations, together with the UK and Australia, within the coming years, with a give attention to authentic native programming.
Following the latest success of its first scripted sequence in France, “The Confidante,” it’ll launch a number of new French-language exhibits on the platform subsequent 12 months.
They embrace a reimagining of “Harmful Liaisons,” Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s traditional novel, which shall be referred to as “The Seduction” outdoors of France and stars Diane Kruger.
“It was time for a re-telling,” she mentioned throughout a quick look on the London occasion. “It’s an fascinating tackle the story.”