DC Universe could be in jeopardy with HBO Max

(Young Justice among the few DC originals)

While The Geek is very excited about the launch of HBO Max, which is just two weeks away, the new behemoth streaming service could also be nicknamed “The Legion of Doom” for two-year-old DC Universe. While the streaming platform has been popular among hardcore DC fans, it has never really caught fire.

Now a Business Insider report says the platform is in a state of limbo.

“Everything is about HBO Max now,” a former Warner Bros. Digital Labs employee who worked on DC Universe before leaving the company earlier this year. It sounds like the biggest problem is that WarnerMedia now has two competing streaming services, both of which will include DC films and TV shows; as a result, consumers are unlikely to want to pay for both. 


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With HBO Max announcing large live-action DC projects like the Green Lantern series and a Justice League Dark show, it seems that DC Universe is becoming less of a priority.

“Most of the people who I’d worked with were confused about what HBO Max means for DC Universe,” said another former Digital Labs employee. “It seems like DC Universe is emphasizing its comics and nobody really seems to know where video falls into that.”


ALSO READ: HBO Max greenlights animated Silverman, Rogen series


Another insider tells the site that a large number of DC Comics isn’t a “compelling enough reason” to pay for DC Universe, while having a show like Doom Patrol on both platforms further confuses things. It doesn’t help that Harley Quinn is also airing on SYFY and Stargirl on the CW.

“A lot of its content doesn’t have an exclusive feel, which niche services need to secure long-term subscribers,” Richard Cooper, the research director at Ampere Analysis explainsLots of services have superhero content. We’re not going to run out any time soon and it will be bigger budgets and more exclusivity compared to what the service will be able to provide.”

In other words, HBO Max is… “The Legion of Doom.”

The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.

(Young Justice among the few DC originals)

While The Geek is very excited about the launch of HBO Max, which is just two weeks away, the new behemoth streaming service could also be nicknamed “The Legion of Doom” for two-year-old DC Universe. While the streaming platform has been popular among hardcore DC fans, it has never really caught fire.

Now a Business Insider report says the platform is in a state of limbo.

“Everything is about HBO Max now,” a former Warner Bros. Digital Labs employee who worked on DC Universe before leaving the company earlier this year. It sounds like the biggest problem is that WarnerMedia now has two competing streaming services, both of which will include DC films and TV shows; as a result, consumers are unlikely to want to pay for both. 


Subscribe: Sign up for our FREE e-lert here.  Stay on top of the latest advertising, film, TV, entertainment and production news!


With HBO Max announcing large live-action DC projects like the Green Lantern series and a Justice League Dark show, it seems that DC Universe is becoming less of a priority.

“Most of the people who I’d worked with were confused about what HBO Max means for DC Universe,” said another former Digital Labs employee. “It seems like DC Universe is emphasizing its comics and nobody really seems to know where video falls into that.”


ALSO READ: HBO Max greenlights animated Silverman, Rogen series


Another insider tells the site that a large number of DC Comics isn’t a “compelling enough reason” to pay for DC Universe, while having a show like Doom Patrol on both platforms further confuses things. It doesn’t help that Harley Quinn is also airing on SYFY and Stargirl on the CW.

“A lot of its content doesn’t have an exclusive feel, which niche services need to secure long-term subscribers,” Richard Cooper, the research director at Ampere Analysis explainsLots of services have superhero content. We’re not going to run out any time soon and it will be bigger budgets and more exclusivity compared to what the service will be able to provide.”

In other words, HBO Max is… “The Legion of Doom.”

The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.