HBO Max is getting into the DC TV business with its upcoming launch in 2020. The shows that are currently in the works are Green Lantern, Strange Adventures and DC Superhero High, which are already being seen as ambitious DC projects. With the major streaming service approaching, it’s going to be another platform for Warner Bros. to bring several DC heroes and villains to screen. The CW and DC Universe are currently the home for most DC shows, but HBO Max will officially be a third umbrella for the DC brand. With something as big as Green Lantern and Strange Adventures, it goes to show that Warner Bros. plan on spending a tremendous amount of resources into DC shows on HBO Max.
Given that this will be a major outlet for Warner Bros., those are definitely not the only DC shows that will be produced on the new platform. While it remains to be seen when subscribers will hear announcements for future shows, there are characters and concepts that they should take into account when considering what to launch. With that said, these are 10 DC TV shows that HBO Max should make.
Legion of Super-Heroes
While the Legion of Super-Heroes has popped up on Supergirl, viewers will most likely never see the Legion fully explored beyond what they have now. With the group being set in the future, it would just be really expensive for The CW to be able to give viewers a faithful vision of the Legion. That’s why HBO Max should become the home for a series centered on the iconic group in the actual future. It would probably have to be something that is set in its own continuity. But that shouldn’t prevent the platform in making a series focused on the Legion, telling stories of heroes from a future generation.
Static
It’s still a mystery why someone as popular and beloved as Static has yet to get his own live-action movie or TV series. From the beloved Static Shock animated series to his run in the comics, a live-action project for Virgil Hawkins should have happened a long time ago.
HBO Max will probably want to invest in different kinds of DC shows for an age range. With the younger demographic, having a show centered on Static would be perfect for HBO Max. It would also mark as the live-action debut of another diverse character that deserves to live outside the comic pages.
Secret Six
Heroes shouldn’t be the only ones to get their own series. With the great range of villains that exist in DC Comics, HBO Max will definitely need to take into consideration to have a show featuring some baddies. While CBS ended up scrapping ideas for a Secret Six series, maybe HBO Max can become the platform for a show like that to happen. It would be DC TV’s way of having a Suicide Squad-esque presence on the small screen, but still be able to make it feel like its own thing. Given the characters that exist in that line-up, a show focused on this group would allow for many of them to finally get their live-action debuts.
The Question
With someone as popular as the Question, HBO Max can really take advantage of his popularity. A show centered on Vic Sage (and maybe later on also Renee Montoya) would be one of DC’s grittier series while also being able to feel big in tone.
From the investigate journalism aspect to the street level superhero-ness, not doing The Question would be a missed opportunity for HBO Max. It would also probably be one of the cheaper series to produce where resources could be used to get major talent involved as well as lock some terrific locations. This is a character that fans have been begging to see in live-action for almost a decade now and hopefully, HBO Max will be the platform to make it happen.
Injustice
Given the popularity of the Injustice video games, why not do an actual series based on the games? While a Justice League series may never be possible, a show focused on an alternative take on the beloved group would be a way to crack through the grey area of Warner’s film division. This could even be one of the times where DC does a limited-event series, make it last for maybe 1 season with only a handful of hour-long episodes.
Hawkman/Hawkwoman
One of the biggest romances in DC is and always will be Hawkman and Hawkwoman. While The CW didn’t exactly do the best job with them, the characters deserve to be done right. A series focused on them both, perhaps even on Thanagar, would be a bit of a new area for DC and Warner. Not only would it be a superhero series set on a different planet, but it would be a romance story where both leads are heroes.
Batman Beyond
While Bruce Wayne may never able to get his own live-action Batman show, perhaps Terry McGinnis could? Batman Beyond has one of the biggest fan-following of all time. It’s a wonder how the futuristic Bat hasn’t been able to debut on-screen outside animation and comics. Doing a show centered on Terry wouldn’t conflict with the Batman films while also being able to be its own thing.
Elseworlds
Even though Strange Adventures is set to be an anthology series, it seems that the concept will be episodic. What HBO Max should also consider is doing an anthology series that is season-based. Elseworlds, the DC imprint that tells stories outside the main canon, should be its own show. With the many alternative stories that exist in that brand, every season would almost be like its own series. Whether they adopt something like Kingdom Come or other Elseworlds stories, this is an anthology series that is just waiting to be made.
Booster Gold/Blue Beetle
There is always room for dynamic duos that aren’t Batman and Robin. The same applies to TV and for HBO Max, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle are one duo that would be perfect as a television series. A series centered on this iconic pair-up that can also involve some time travel (thanks to Booster) would be able to be done right on something like HBO Max.
Justice League Dark
While a Justice League Dark movie has been stuck in development hell for years, Warner Bros should just do it as a series on HBO Max instead. DC TV has only a bare supernatural presence and having a team-up series centered on DC’s magical corner would allow for some great characters to get to shine. HBO Max would be the platform that could financially pull off a Justice League Dark series, given the characters involved. Perhaps this is where something like DC Universe’s Swamp Thing could come back to screen again?
