HBO and its increasingly aligned streaming sibling, Max, is wrapping a good-bad year. The revived True Detective was a hit by nearly all metrics, House of the Dragon returned to robust ratings and, most recently, Chimp Crazy became the streaming platform’s most-watched doc series. Smaller critical darlings popped up throughout. But because output was diminished by the 2023 strikes, knee-capping its Emmy haul in the process, the narrative wasn’t always that positive.
Casey Bloys seemed aware of this and eager to turn the page when he previewed his portfolio’s 2025 slate on Tuesday morning — offering updates on Euphoria, the Game of Thrones franchise, Harry Potter’s TV timeline and navigating the question no public-facing C-suite denizen can avoid at the moment: How does the election figure into all of this?
“I will respond to what I think a good script is and I leave interpretation politics or cultural moments to the writers,” the chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content told press gathered at the London Hotel in Los Angeles. “I don’t think it works when we say, ‘We should do a show about this.’ Interpreting politics and culture is the job of an artist, and we will follow their lead.”
The topic was unavoidable considering the event took place within a week of Donald Trump’s reelection and featured an appearance by Brad Ingelsby. The screenwriter, who delivered Kate Winslet’s crime miniseries Mare of Eastown in 2022, appeared to promote new effort Task. Like Mare before it, the show is set in suburban Philadelphia and again turns its attention to the trials of the working class. “It’s something I always try to write about,” said Ingelsby, when asked about the subject matter and how it might resonate now. “Every time I try to get a way from working class stories, I get pulled back in. It’s interesting to see how the show will play now in the aftermath of the election — especially in my home state.”
Considering 2024 was a year where the defining Hollywood narrative was lower budgets, fewer orders and overall contraction, Bloys didn’t dwell on industry bummers — nor was he pressed on them. He was, however, very frank about his annual content spend. It will be flat in 2025, but “flat” isn’t exactly how it sounds.
“We’re flat,” he said. “Flat, given inflation, is down.”
But even a little below flat beats the alternative many studios and platforms are facing. So while there are no shortage of challenges, Bloys noted that lingering 2023 fallout is not one of them: “2025 has fully brought us out of the shadow of the strikes.”
As for those 2025 programs (and even some beyond) that he was on hand to hype — The Last of Us, White Lotus and the latest Game of Thrones spin-off among them — here’s a rundown of some of the more interesting updates.
White Lotus Season 4 Is Essentially a Given
The Thailand installment of the The White Lotus arrives early in the new year — and that means, barring any catastrophic drop in quality, it will again be a major player in the Emmy race after taking a year off. Bloys noted that a fourth season is potentially already coming together. “While we were in Thailand, Mike White pitched us on his concept for season four,” said Bloys, later clarifying: “If he wants to move forward, we will do the fourth season of course.”
There Is a Limit to Game of Thrones Spinoffs — And We’re Currently There
After showing a trailer for second Game of Thrones’ spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Bloys dug into the broader plans for the franchise. At the moment, there are none: “I think about ‘How many good Game of Thrones shows are there?” These are the only we’ve felt could go the distance. There’s no blinking green lights on any others right now.” That includes the recently reported movie, which Bloys clarified was still just in development, and the nixed Jon Snow spinoff starring Kit Harington — though Bloys said he’s open to revisiting the latter down the line. As for the latest, he says A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a tonal departure. “By design, we have taken a lighter tone,” he said. “It’s very different from the previous two series.”
HBO Wants George R. R. Martin “Happy”
The second season of Game of Thrones spinoff House of the Dragon prompted some narrative criticism from fans… and its co-creator. Source material author George R. R. Martin was not shy about his disagreements with some of showrunner Ryan Condal’s choices, going so far as to blog about (and then delete) them. “We love George, obviously,” Bloys said when asked about the public spat. “I want him to be happy. He’s very important to us. But when we put shows together, we’re putting marriages together. Marriage can be difficult, especially in the creative decisions of adapting work. Sometimes it gets rocky. Would I prefer that everybody get along? Of course, but it’s a creative process.”
That Harry Potter Show Is Still a Long Way Off
Speaking of complicated authors, Harry Potter scribe J.K. Rowling (and her penchant for anti-trans tirades on social media) also came up. And despite greatly diminished support from her fan base, she remains the captain of her own IP. “She’s been fairly involved, in the process of casting a writer and director,” said Bloys. “I assume she’ll be involved in casting.” As for the show itself, Bloys forecasted the top of 2027 before it sees the light of day. Once it does, however, he says they’re looking at ways to film it in a manner (and time table) that won’t have its cast aging too quickly on camera. “From 11 to 13 is a big jump in kids lives,” he said. “We are going to think about scheduling, so they don’t grow too much between seasons. Annual [release] will be tough, but it depends on how much is written at a time.”
The Euphoria Rumor Mill Cannot Be Silenced
The cast of Euphoria has certainly aged out of their original high school-aged characters — and, in certain cases, their ability to take time out of stacked schedules of feature shoots. But for all the reports of Euphoria’s third season getting delayed again, Bloys insisted that filming is set to begin in January and that all the main players —and by that, I assume we’re talking Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi — are set to return. “Nothing has changed,” he said. “We are happy. We’re moving ahead. It’s eight episodes.”
… Oh, And a Big Little Lies Update
It wouldn’t be a Bloys Q&A without some prodding about the still-hypothetical Big Little Lies season three. Its starry cast, notably Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon, have been vocal about their desire to return for a third go. But it’s on ice until author Liane Moriarty presents her idea. “They’re all excited,” assured Bloys. “And we’re waiting for the book, which I don’t have.”
On a personal note: I should mention that Bloys also screened a trailer of Tim Robinson’s new comedy, The Chair Company, and my spirits are buoyed. Fellow enthusiasts of the I Think You Should Leave and Detroiters cringe auteur are likely to react the same.
English (US) ·