Warner Bros Discovery is bringing HBO Max to Japan through new partnerships with Amazon's Prime Video and Hulu Japan, rather than launching a standalone app. From 1 October, HBO Max will operate as a dedicated hub within both services, giving subscribers access to WBD's library, which was previously only available in Japan via a licensing deal with U-Next. The move marks a significant expansion of HBO Max's international distribution strategy and comes as WBD looks to build on strong early engagement with the brand in the territory.

The deal grants access to titles including House of the Dragon, The Pitt, The Penguin, Peacemaker, The Last of Us, The White Lotus and Euphoria, plus films such as Barbie and One Battle After Another, with the upcoming Harry Potter series also set to feature. Hulu Japan, owned by Nippon Television and distinct from Disney's Hulu, will additionally work with WBD to explore bringing Nippon TV and Hulu Japan's local content to HBO Max audiences internationally. WBD's APAC president James Gibbons said the partnerships would extend the platform's reach in Japan ahead of the new Harry Potter series, which he described as hugely popular with Japanese audiences.