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Manori Ravindran International Editor Warner Bros. Discovery is laying off 29 people in Europe over the next 15 months as it shifts its originals model for HBO Max, Variety has confirmed. Variety was first to report in July of HBO Max’s decision to retreat from original programming in a number of European markets, and warn of layoffs within the programming team. Under the new model, Warner Bros. Discovery will continue to invest in local European commissions and acquisitions but original programming will be handled by the local linear and streaming teams. No shows will be commissioned solely for streaming.

Antony Root, the long-serving HBO Max EMEA original programming chief, is to exit his role at Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and retire from the industry.

Naman Ramachandran HBO Max has revealed the first teaser for Max original “García!” (6 x 60′), which will have its world premiere at Austin’s Fantastic Fest in September and European premiere at Sitges.Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Santiago García and Luis Bustos, the series is set in a present-day Spain, which is divided and on the brink of political chaos. It follows an inquisitive millennial investigative reporter Antonia (Veki Velilla) who stumbles on a decades-old conspiracy: the existence of a cryogenically frozen super-agent, García (Francisco Ortiz), created in a laboratory in the 1950s by General Franco’s fascist secret services.

The future of HBO Max’s European originals team has appeared bleak ever since it emerged Warner Bros Discovery was stopping production in the continent, and it now looks to be facing the end.

Paul Giamatti has joined the cast of 30 Coins, the Spanish mystery horror series that premiered on HBO Max in 2020 and was renewed for a second season in February. The eight-part Season 2 is now in production in Spain, Italy, the U.S., France and the UK, with a 2023 premiere date planned on HBO Max worldwide and on HBO in the U.S.

FBOY Island, the hit U.S. dating series, is to be made into local versions by HBO Max in Denmark, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentHBO Max has announced that local versions of its original reality dating competition show FBoy Island have been greenlit for production in Denmark, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands.The hit series will be produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production in each of these territoriesThe “FBoy Island” series concept was created by Elan Gale (“The Bachelor” franchise) and follows three women who move to a tropical island where they’re joined by 24 men – 12 self-proclaimed “Nice Guys” looking for love, and 12 self-proclaimed “FBoys,” there to compete for cold, hard cash.As Variety TV critic Caroline Framke put it in her review “‘FBoy Island’” tries to flip the “Bachelorette” conceit on its head with a self-consciously cheeky twist.

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WarnerMedia EMEA & Asia President Priya Dogra has talked up the U.S. media giant’s plan to “ramp up investment in local creative communities across Europe,” with 40 shows in the pipeline for 2023.

Manori Ravindran International EditorIn one of its first major overtures to the European drama community since expanding across the continent, HBO Max commissioners used a rare Series Mania presentation to lay out their strategies and wish lists for the platform.The team was speaking as part of a panel on Wednesday that drew a queue of at least 500 people who were snaked around the Lille Grand Palais in hopes of getting in. HBO Max is, for many a drama producer in town, the ideal partner in Europe given its existing track record as HBO Europe.

HBO Max Unveils ‘The Thaw’ Trailer

HBO Max has commissioned a second season of Álex de Iglesia and Jorge Guerricaechevarría’s mystery horror 30 Coins.

Antony Root, who heads up WarnerMedia’s originals drive across EMEA, has outlined his vision for the studio’s European content as it continues to roll out HBO Max across the continent.

Jamie Lang Set to launch in Europe later this year, HBO Max has bolstered its originals pipeline with the announcement of “García!” a new series to be produced in Spain based on the popular graphic novel of the same name by authors Santiago García and Luis Bustos.Miguel Salvat, Steve Matthews and Antony Root, the trio behind HBO España’s fan-favorite horror thriller “30 Coins” from Spanish maestro Alex de la Iglesia, are teaming once again as executive producers on the six-hour

Manori Ravindran International EditorWarnerMedia has appointed broadcast executive Annelies Sitvast to the newly created role of head of unscripted production for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).Based in Amsterdam, Sitvast will commission unscripted programming for streamer HBO Max, which will begin rolling out in Europe by year’s end, and will report into Antony Root, head of original production for WarnerMedia EMEA.

WarnerMedia has hired Dutch television executive Annelies Sitvast to the newly created role of head of unscripted production, which will see her greenlight programming for HBO Max.

Ann-Marie Corvin Göteborg’s TV Drama Vision, the drama series and TV industry strand of Scandinavia’s biggest film-TV festival, has unveiled further details of its works-in-progress and project showcases, as well as keynote speakers from HBO Europe to Walter Presents.As HBO Max lands in Europe during the second half of 2021, Antony Root, executive VP original programming and production at HBO Europe and Christian Wikander, commissioning editor and VP of Programming, HBO Nordic, discuss the

Tom Grater International Film ReporterHBO Europe has hired Christian Wikander as Commissioning Editor and VP Original Programming at the company’s Scandinavian arm, HBO Nordic. Starting in September, he will be responsible for all Nordic development and production for HBO Europe. Based in Stockholm, he will report to Antony Root, EVP Original Programming and Production.Wikander is moving from his role as MD at Twelve Town, the London-based producer.