DC Universe ($7.99 a month)
DC Universe wasn't even mentioned during the splashy HBO Max launch event this week, but reps for the streamer did post a message on their official messageboards afterwards. It read in part:"Our WarnerMedia partners made some exciting news today, and we’re psyched! We also want to assure you that DC Universe is still going strong with an exciting year of super-fan service coming through this year and next. From our original programming, library of beloved series, ever-expanding comic library, real world events, and our just launched all-new Community, we’re just getting started."
As for what you'll be getting from the DC Universe app, Doom Patrol Season 2 will be running concurrently here as well as on HBO Max. It makes a lot of sense as Doom Patrol was the best-reviewed show that DC Universe launched, becoming a critical darling and a fan favorite. As for the rest of the programming from DC's streaming service, the status quo is still unclear.
Let's discuss what they'll be keeping for now. First up is Titans, the popular teen superhero drama that was DC Universe's first hit. It's exclusive to DC Universe for now, but it also has a second window deal with Netflix international, which has given Titans an international audience that DC Universe has yet to harness (as the service is still only available in North America). But how long that will last is anyone's guess with HBO Max launching next May (and plans to launch localized versions in Latin America and Europe in 2021). We also know that DC Universe's Stargirl show is still scheduled to debut in early 2020.The highly anticipated third season of Young Justice debuted on DC Universe in January of this year and was recently renewed for a fourth. The return of the beloved series was a project driven by fans and their passion for the show, which currently only streams on DC Universe. The HBO Max presentation didn't mention relocating Young Justice but HBO does have a history of creating complex, interesting animated shows so we wouldn't be surprised if that changed. It would likely be a controversial decision, though, as Young Justice was a key selling point of DC Universe and brought a lot of fans to the platform who might never have otherwise committed.
There's also the new Harley Quinn animated series, which debuts on the service in November, and an animated anthology called Bizarro TV in the works. Meanwhile, the underrated southern gothic drama Swamp Thing is dead. The first and only season will still stream on DC Universe but it looks like it's canceled... for good. Another thing that currently plays alongside Swampy and doesn't seem to be affected by the new streaming service is the first season of the recently canceled Syfy Superman series, Krypton, although whether the second season will be joining soon is unknown. And if you're a fan of the more nostalgic DC TV properties then DC Universe's lineup of classic shows like Wonder Woman, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, and hard to find stuff like Superboy, Shazam, and Super Friends is still an unmatched treasure trove. But again, it's hard to imagine that HBO Max wouldn't want to access this back catalog at some point... though the company's execs were very clear about the idea of "Curated Content" during their presentation so maybe they aren't as interested in the lesser known and sometimes forgotten shows that have graced DC Universe.
Two of the other things that have set DC Universe apart include their impressive comic book library which you can enjoy on any device including your TV -- which would be a cool but niche addition to HBO Max so don't hold your breath there -- and their flagship news show DC Daily. The series is still adding new cast members and creating new community-based content, and the streamer recently launched a competition to create more "unscripted" properties (dubbed DCYOU: Unscripted), so it doesn't look like it'll be stopping anytime soon. Maybe DC Universe will become more of a fan hub than an original programming and streaming space? If so, will fans still be happy to shell out $7.99 a month?One of the biggest surprises at the HBO Max reveal was the fact that DC Universe's extensive lineup of the company's lauded animated films wasn't mentioned at all, especially next to the celebrated and impressive announcement of the full Studio Ghibli library. The collection of DC animated films has long been one of the most impressive animated canon outside of Disney, with films like Justice League: Gods and Monsters, All-Star Superman, Batman: Under the Red Hood, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, and more recent offerings like Batman and Harley Quinn, Wonder Woman: Bloodlines, and Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. A rotating selection of these currently live on DC Universe alongside fan faves like Batman: The Animated Series, Teen Titans, and The New Batman Adventures, but Batman: TAS could be spotted in an HBO Max sizzle reel at the launch event, so it seems some of these titles will be shared between services. Speaking of which...
DC Universe and HBO Max Shared
Doom Patrol Season 2 heading to both platforms doesn't offer any easy answers to worried fans. For now it seems like it will be the only property shared between the two, which makes sense as Kevin Reilly, Chief Creative Officer of Turner Entertainment and Chief Content Officer of HBO Max, talked about the necessity for exclusivity on the new platform during this year's Television Critics Association tour. "You can expect the crown jewels will end up on a new service. I think for the most part sharing destination assets is not a good model and should be exclusive to the new service." That sentiment is understandable but might be slightly depressing for fans of the more affordable DC Universe service who are unsure about its fate.HBO Max ($14.99 a month or with an HBO subscription)
The biggest news in the brief DC segment of the HBO Max presentation was the announcement that when the service drops in May 2020 it will include a massive slate of live-action DC movies, including the current box office smash Joker. The appeal of having every Batman, Superman, Justice League, Catwoman, Wonder Woman, and *ahem* Green Lantern movie is certainly big, especially in the face of Disney+ which will launch with far less than the full MCU roster. Speaking of Green Lantern, a huge surprise was the tease of a new space-set show "inspired by Green Lantern" and helmed by the Arrowverse's own Greg Berlanti. The property has been notoriously hard to adapt outside of animated films so it'll be very interesting to see what Berlanti and company bring to the series, especially as there are so many brilliant GL stories to pull from in the comics.The second new live-action series that was announced was Strange Adventures, which though a rather niche title, shouldn't come as a huge surprise. Both DC and Marvel have been known to seed or program comics in conjunction with upcoming adaptations and there's a new Tom King, Mitch Gerards, and Evan "Doc" Shaner Strange Adventures book in the works right now. Although little was revealed, the hour-long show will be an anthology series that will feature all kinds of characters from throughout the DC canon and will tell singular stories about the intersections between human and superhuman life. Don't be surprised if it centers on or utilizes the cosmic hero Adam Strange too, seeing as it's named after his comic book series.Another new show will be Elizabeth Banks' DC Super Hero High, which will center on teenagers who will one day become DC superheroes. Details are currently scarce but this sounds very similar to DC Super Hero Girls, the popular animated franchise which focuses on Super Hero High and all of its teenaged inhabitants. Although this will be live-action, we'd be unsurprised if the massive popularity of DC Super Hero Girls hadn't inspired this choice. DC Super Hero High could be a really cool way for HBO Max to create its own young adult audience and continuity away from the world of The CW's Arrowverse.
Speaking of which, the future of the wildly popular DC TV universe that started with Arrow in 2012 has long been a topic of conversation among fans. When DC Universe originally launched it was expected but never confirmed that when the Netflix second window deal with The CW ended early next year, the shows would be streaming on DC Universe. That feels near-impossible now, and with the confirmation that new CW shows like Batwoman and Katy Keene will exclusively stream on HBO Max after their seasons end on The CW network, it looks like we could see other shows like The Flash, Arrow, and Legends of Tomorrow following a similar route in the new year.
Time will tell where this is all going, but for now at least it seems that DC fans have a choice to make -- unless they're content to subscribe to different services in order to get all their current DC content.