‘Friends’ Leaving Netflix in 2020, Heading to New WarnerMedia Streaming Service HBO Max
On the heels of The Office leaving Netflix in 2021 for NBCUniversal’s new streaming service, Friends will be following suit leaving the streaming giant for WarnerMedia’s new streaming service, HBO Max.
Per WarnerMedia, HBO Max is currently scheduled to launch in the spring of 2020, where it boasts it will feature “10,000 hours of premium content” upon its premiere. In addition to Friends, HBO Max also has the exclusive streaming rights to The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Pretty Little Liars and new dramas set to premiere on The CW this fall, including Batwoman and Riverdale spinoff Katy Keene.
While WarnerMedia doesn’t explicitly spell out whether HBO programs like Game of Thrones or The Sopranos will be available for streaming upon launch, both shows are featured in the services trailer/hype video below. WarnerMedia does boast that HBO Max “…brings together HBO, a Robust Slate of New Originals, and Programming from Warner Bros., New Line, DC Entertainment, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, The CW, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth, Looney Tunes and More to offer Something for Everyone in the Home.”
Also currently unknown is the pricing structure of HBO Max, however, The Wall Street Journal is reporting the service will cost “slightly more” than $14.99, whatever that means.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCS4CaZ9dwg
HBO Max will also bring a slate of original programming, including the following seven series listed by WarnerMedia in their HBO Max press release:
- “Dune: The Sisterhood,” an adaptation of Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson’s book based in the world created by Frank Herbert’s book Dune, from director Denis Villeneuve
- “Tokyo Vice,” based on Jake Adelstein’s non-fiction first-hand account of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police beat starring Ansel Elgort
- “The Flight Attendant,” a one-hour thriller series based on the novel by Chris Bohjalian, which will star Kaley Cuoco, who is also executive producing alongside Greg Berlanti
- “Love Life,” a 10-episode half-hour romantic comedy anthology series starring “Pitch Perfect” star Anna Kendrick, who will also executive produce alongside Paul Feig
- “Station Eleven,” a postapocalyptic limited series based on Emily St. John Mandel’s international bestseller, adapted by Patrick Somerville and directed by Hiro Murai
- “Made for Love,” a 10-episode, half-hour, straight-to-series adaptation based on the tragicomic novel of the same name by Alissa Nutting, also from Somerville and directed by S.J. Clarkson
- “Gremlins,” an animated series from Warner Bros. Animation and Amblin Entertainment based on the original movie
