HBO Max Originals Head on the Hunt for Exciting New Cop, Medical, or Legal Dramas to Follow the Success of ‘The Pitt’
HBO Max is expanding its footprint by tapping into the success of its five-time Emmy-winning series, The Pitt, and actively seeking cop, medical, and legal dramas from across the globe.
Sarah Aubrey, head of original programming for the streaming service, highlighted the potential of procedurals in newer European markets where HBO Max is gradually establishing itself. At the recent Content London conference, she pointed out, “You guys order six episodes of things, that’s so crazy to me,” emphasizing her preference for series with longer episode counts.
Aubrey expressed optimism about revisiting traditional television formats within the medical, legal, and cop genres, noting that “audiences eat those up.” She believes that applying lessons learned from streaming, particularly in character development, can lead to significant success in these areas.
Celebrated for its recent achievements, The Pitt is set to launch its second season in the coming weeks. “I hope internationally we can replicate some of that [success] with shows with longer orders,” Aubrey remarked.
During her discussions, Aubrey also highlighted the performance of local shows worldwide that are gaining traction, sometimes outperforming major HBO productions. Titles such as Furia in Spain, which has just been recommissioned, along with The Prince in Turkey and The Eastern Gate in Poland, were singled out for their success.
While HBO Max is not venturing into the realm of microdrama—currently a trending format—Aubrey acknowledged the genre’s appeal, stating, “Our plates are so full with our main jobs.” Nonetheless, she remains “curious” about its evolving landscape.
Currently in London, Aubrey will participate in an HBO showcase and visit the Harry Potter set. She praised the adaptation, saying, “I think it’s such a delightful adaptation of the books… It is created by a British writer, directed by a British filmmaker, and the craftspeople are the best this country has to offer.”
In a recent update, HBO Max announced its upcoming launch dates for Germany and Italy set for January 13. Chief Casey Bloys is expected to address the event later tonight, although no timeline has been confirmed for the UK launch. Aubrey stated that the team is eager to broaden the reach of HBO Max.
