Tag: max

Daniel Radcliffe Says He’s ‘Definitely Not Seeking’ a Cameo in Max’s Harry Potter TV Series: Report

Daniel Radcliffe is stated to be fine with not returning in Max’s upcoming TV series adaptation of Harry Potter, even in a cameo role. Speaking to ComicBook.com, the British actor, known for playing ‘The Boy Who Lived’ in the eight-film-long franchise, confirmed that he’s not actively seeking a role in the show, adding that he’s quite “excited to have that torch passed.” Warner Bros. Discovery ordered a decade-long series adaptation of the controversial author J.K. Rowling’s books in April, which will feature an entirely new cast. Rowling will executive produce the series, which is rumoured to premiere sometime in 2025 or 2026.

“My understanding is that they’re trying to very much start fresh and I’m sure whoever is making them will want to make their own mark on it and probably not want to have to figure out how to get old Harry to cameo in this somewhere,” Radcliffe said in the interview. “So I’m definitely not seeking it out in any way. But I do wish them, obviously, all the luck in the world and I’m very excited to have that torch passed. But I don’t think it needs me to physically pass it.” Radcliffe’s comments on cameo appearances do hold some weight, with modern blockbusters oftentimes including past actors for nostalgia purposes or simply to drive older audiences to theatres. The Ezra Miller-led The Flash is a good example of that, with the film using multiversal shenanigans as an excuse to carry out somewhat illogical fan service, instead of telling a coherent story.

The Wizarding World on the big screen was originally planned to continue with five films in the Fantastic Beasts series, but development seems to be in a state of limbo after the third one — Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore — possibly due to the latest film’s lacklustre reception. As for the planned Harry Potter Max series, each of Rowling’s seven novels will be adapted into a single season of television, trying to recapture the same magic as Warner Bros’ movies did 25 years ago, albeit tailored for a new generation. The story largely follows the titular 11-year-old orphaned boy, who upon learning that he’s a wizard is whisked away on a whimsical journey to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to harness his magical powers and learn the truth behind his biological parents’ death.

Since his stint in the Harry Potter films, lead Radcliffe has appeared in a bunch of theatre plays and movies in absurd roles — even playing a washed-up zombie in Oscar-winning directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s Swiss Army Man. He will next be seen in the fourth season of TBS’ anthology comedy series ‘Miracle Workers’ as wasteland warrior Sid, navigating a fictional dystopia called Boomtown. Geraldine Viswanathan (Bad Education) co-stars in it as a ruthless warlord, coming to terms with the existential terms of married life and small-town living.

The Harry Potter series is allegedly eyeing a release sometime in 2025–26, exclusively on Max.

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Warner Bros Discovery Said to Be Planning to Add CNN Live Programming to Max Later This Year

Warner Bros. Discovery is planning to add live programming from CNN to the Max streaming service later this year, according to people familiar with the matter, betting that news can help attract subscribers.

CNN’s owner has already decided to add live news to the service outside the US, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing nonpublic information. 

Putting news on Max in the US could be complicated. Pay-TV providers like Comcast and DirecTV typically pay for the right to offer cable channels to their subscribers and are sensitive about efforts by media companies to offer the same programming online.

Warner Bros. Discovery executives are weighing different approaches to offering live CNN programming on Max in the US, including some that don’t require renegotiating deals with TV providers, one person said.

In recent weeks, the team at Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming operation has started work on technical issues related to airing live news on Max, the people said. 

Warner Bros. Discovery introduced Max last month and has pitched the service to consumers as a combination of reality programming from Discovery and scripted shows and blockbuster movies from HBO Max. Chief Executive Officer David Zaslav has said he’ll have more to say about news and sports in the fall. 

News and sports don’t currently play a big role on Max, nor did they feature prominently on HBO Max, the prior version of the service. CNN has a few programs on Max, including shows hosted by Chris Wallace and Anderson Cooper. But those aren’t live. 

While sports have been a major part of the programming lineup at Paramount+ and Peacock, two rival streaming services, it’s less clear what role news will play in the competition. Netflix funds hundreds of documentaries, but has said it isn’t in the news business. Amazon.com and Apple don’t operate large video news services, while Paramount Global, Comcast and Walt Disney Co. have largely kept their news programming separate from their entertainment streaming services.

CNN, one of the largest news organizations in the world, has struggled to find its footing in the streaming era. Last year, the company shut down the CNN+ streaming service just a few weeks after its launch. The network is also seeking leadership stability. Earlier this month, CEO Chris Licht stepped down after a brief and tumultuous tenure at the network. 

While CNN is widely distributed on satellite and cable-TV systems globally, having its live programming appear on Max could provide a significant boost to the network’s audience.

CNN’s subscribers have fallen to 70 million this year from 85 million in 2020, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. At the end of March, Warner Bros. Discovery had about 100 million streaming subscribers between HBO, HBO Max and Discovery+.

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