Kevin Reilly News

TNT and All Elite Wrestling announced today the launch of a new weekly podcast, AEW: UNRESTRICTED. Hosted by fan favorite AEW referee Aubrey Edwards and renowned AEW broadcaster Tony Schiavone, AEW: UNRESTRICTED offers fans unique access to the stars of AEW. 

Deadline reports that the original cast of 'Friends' will reunite for an hourlong reunion special on HBO Max.

The creation of Warner Max, a new film label that that will serve as the feature production arm of HBO Max, was announced today by Ann Sarnoff, Chair and CEO of Warner Bros., and Warner Media Entertainment and Direct-To-Consumer Chairman Robert Greenblatt. This unique joint venture between one of Hollywood's most successful movie studios and its sister company HBO Max, which launches in May, will ensure that the new platform has a steady stream of high-quality and highly curated original films.

WarnerMedia Entertainment and New Cadence Productions brings the HA Festival celebrating The Art of Comedy for three days, February 21-23, 2020, to San Antonio, Texas. A variety of live shows, culminating with a 'Best of Fest' TV special, hosted by Anjelah Johnson, will be held in iconic venues in the scenic Riverwalk area of San Antonio, including the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre (226 N. St. Mary's St.). Tickets to the festival are on sale now.

Deadline reports that the cast of Friends is in talks to join an unscripted reunion special that will air on HBO Max.

HBO Max has ordered eight episodes of The Event, an unscripted documentary series. Viewers will be given an unprecedented look behind the scenes of the extraordinary events created by Wolfgang Puck Catering and legendary restaurateur Wolfgang Puck. From Renegade 83, each one-hour episode will follow various members of Puck's team as they strive to amaze clients and surpass even the highest expectations. With events like the Academy Awards® Oscars Party to the 10,000 guest Adobe MAXBash under their belts, the sky's the limit for this impressive team.

HBO Max announced from the stage at the WarnerMedia Television Critics Association (TCA) Day, a greenlight for Oscar® and Emmy® Award-winning writer Adam McKay's (Succession, The Big Short) The Uninhabitable Earth. This anthology series from wiip is inspired by David Wallace-Wells' global best-selling book and New York Magazine article of the same name and will be comprised of stand-alone fictional stories covering a wide range of genres and possible futures that could result from the rapid warming of our planet. McKay, who recently closed a five-year, overall television deal with HBO and HBO Max, is attached to write and direct the first episode. The plan is for the first season to enlist top directors and writers to join in creating a provocative and entertaining series that taps into our unease with just how delicately our planet is teetering on the precipice.

WarnerMedia announced today an expanded relationship with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), the groundbreaking new wrestling league that has already redefined wrestling with resounding success after only a few months. WarnerMedia has extended their deal for AEW: DYNAMITE, a top 20 new cable unscripted series, through 2023. In addition, the parties have agreed to launch another night of AEW action, offering more of the fans' favorite wrestlers, with a second show straight-to-series.

Jori Arancio, former Senior Vice President, Communications, ABC & ABC Studios, has been named Executive Vice President, Communications, HBO Max, TNT, TBS & truTV, it was announced today by Kevin Brockman, Executive Vice President, Global Communications, WarnerMedia Entertainment and Direct-To-Consumer, to whom she will report. In this role, Arancio will be the communications point for the entertainment units under Kevin Reilly, Chief Content Officer HBO Max & President TNT, TBS & truTV, working closely with his teams.  Her first day in the new job will be Monday, Jan. 6, 2020.

 HBO Max has greenlit the half-hour dramedy, Generation, which marks the streamer's first pilot to get a full series order. The series is created by 18-year old Zelda Barnz and her father Daniel Barnz who also directs. Executive produced by Lena Dunham and Ben Barnz, Generation is a dark yet playful half-hour following a group of high school students whose exploration of modern sexuality (devices and all) tests deeply entrenched beliefs about life, love and the nature of family in their conservative community.

Announced today from the stage at the HBO Max WarnerMedia Day, Conan O'Brien and Team Coco will be bringing five all-new stand-up specials to the direct-to-consumer platform launching in spring 2020. As part of O'Brien's joint venture with WarnerMedia announced last year, the specials will launch exclusively on HBO Max and will feature talent handpicked by O'Brien.

Announced today from the stage at the HBO Max WarnerMedia Day is a new collection of kids and family programming from Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios coming to HBO Max. All-new Looney Tunes Cartoons and a new Jellystone series featuring the beloved Hanna-Barbera characters have been picked up from Warner Bros. Animation. New animated series The Fungies! and Tig N' Seek from Cartoon Network Studios have also been greenlit. Tooned Out, a hybrid live-action and animated comedy from Academy Award® winner Robert Zemeckis is also in development. In addition, a collection of classics from the libraries of Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies and Hanna-Barbera have been secured for HBO Max.

Announced today at the HBO Max WarnerMedia Day, the direct-to-consumer offering has secured streaming rights to Adult Swim's Emmy award-winning animated series Rick and Morty in the United States.

Announced today at the HBO Max WarnerMedia Day, Raised by Wolves, a serialized sci-fi series from master storyteller and filmmaker Ridley Scott (The Martian, Blade Runner, Alien: Covenant) will premiere on the direct-to-consumer offering.

Announced today on the stage at the HBO Max WarnerMedia Day are three new projects in the works at the forthcoming streamer: DC Super Hero High from Elizabeth Banks, Rap Sh*t (working title) from Issa Rae and College Girls (working title) from Mindy Kaling.

HBO Max, the upcoming streaming platform from WarnerMedia set to launch May of 2020, has secured exclusive streaming rights in the U.S. to Comedy Central's South Park, announced today by Kevin Reilly from the HBO Max WarnerMedia Day stage. The multi-year licensing deal was completed with South Park Digital Studios, a joint venture between Viacom and South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. All 23 seasons of Parker and Stone's award-winning animated satire will become available exclusively on the streamer in June 2020 followed by three brand new seasons, which will debut on HBO Max 24 hours after each episode premieres on Comedy Central.

Adding to its slate of premium content from leading industry powerhouses, HBO Max has picked up Superintelligence, an original film starring beloved Oscar-nominated actress Melissa McCarthy (Spy, The Heat, Bridesmaids). Directed by Ben Falcone (Life of the Party, Tammy) and written by Steve Mallory (The Boss), the comedy is slated to premiere on HBO Max when the service launches in Spring 2020.

HBO Max will bring the wonder of Japan's legendary, Oscar(R)-winning animation house, Studio Ghibli, to its slate of premium content that will be available at launch in the spring of 2020. HBO Max will be the US streaming home to the entire Studio Ghibli film library, one of the world's most coveted and revered animation catalogues. The landmark deal with North American distributor GKIDS for the twenty-one Studio Ghibli feature films marks the first time these beloved films have been licensed to a streaming platform.

HBO Max strengthens its drama team with a talented group of seasoned players. The senior executives tapped to lead original scripted drama for HBO Max were announced today by Joey Chavez, Executive Vice President, Original Drama, HBO Max. Joining the drama team are Roberto Alcantara, Vice President, Drama; Chika Chukudebelu, Vice President, Drama; and Mark Tuohy, Vice President, Drama. All executives report to Chavez who oversees creative development. With an accomplished collective of skills in scripted, the group will create a rich slate of original dramas for WarnerMedia's direct-to-consumer offering scheduled to launch in spring of 2020.

Deadline reports that cult comedy 'Search Party' has been renewed for a fourth season after making a move from TBS to HBO Max.