HBO Max will launch on Amazon's Prime Video and Hulu Japan in October, expanding access to Warner Bros. Discovery's content library in Japan, including a new HBO original "Harry Potter" series arriving at Christmas. The move stems from a global partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery and Nippon Television, which owns Hulu Japan, and marks a significant broadening of HBO Max's distribution reach in the country following its earlier standalone launch there. The companies will also explore taking Nippon TV and Hulu Japan's local programming to international audiences via HBO Max.

From October, Hulu Japan subscribers will receive the HBO Max Standard Tier at no extra cost within their existing plans, while Prime Video users can add it via Standard or Premium tiers. The launch library includes the "Game of Thrones" franchise, DC titles such as "The Penguin" and "Peacemaker", plus "The Last of Us", "The White Lotus" and "Euphoria", alongside the new "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" series debuting at Christmas. Also joining in October are Max originals "The Pitt" and "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe", classic series "Friends" and "The Big Bang Theory", and films including "Barbie" and "One Battle After Another". In Japan, HBO Max will be exclusive to Prime Video and Hulu Japan from 1 October.