Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. introduced"Max," its new streaming platform that will combine HBO content with Discovery+ fare and will eventually feature new shows including a "Harry Potter" series and a new "Game of Thrones" prequel.

The launch of the new service, which will go live on May 23, is part of Chief Executive David Zaslav's strategy to rely heavily on the company's well-known intellectual property. Just as Walt Disney Co. has done with new "Star Wars" and Marvel series on its Disney+ service, Warner Bros. Discovery is betting that new content based on old franchises will drive interest in the service.

"This is our rendezvous with destiny," Mr. Zaslav said in detailing the new service on the Warner Bros. lot Wednesday. "It's streaming's version of must-see TV."

Among the new content in the works for Max is a television series based on the "Harry Potter" books by J.K. Rowling, who will also be an executive producer. Warner Bros. released all the theatrical movies in the "Harry Potter" franchise, and creating new content based on her works has been a top priority for Mr. Zaslav.

The plan is to create a series that could run as long as a decade based on Ms. Rowling's books, the company said Wednesday. Ms. Rowling said that "Max's commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me," adding that a series will allow for a new "degree of depth and detail."

Other projects being created for Max include a new "Game of Thrones" prequel called "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight." This is the second prequel inspired by "Game of Thrones" following "House of the Dragon," which is a big hit for HBO.

Warner Bros. Discovery also announced a series based on "The Conjuring" movies, as well as "The Penguin," starring Colin Farrell as the iconic "Batman" villain.

The company didn't disclose premiere dates for many of the new shows announced on Wednesday.

The combination of HBO Max and Discovery+ to create a one-size-fits-all service was a motivating factor for the （10）2022 merger between entertainment giant WarnerMedia and reality-programming factory Discovery Inc. The tagline for Max is "The One To Watch."

Max's pricing will remain identical to HBO Max's—$9.99 a month for the ad-supported version, and $15.99 for the ad-free version—but Max will have an additional, new $19.99-a-month tier, allowing for up to four programs to be streamed at the same time by different people. Existing HBO Max subscribers will transition to the new platform when it launches.

Mr. Zaslav cited the broad array of content on Max including plenty of children’s fare from the Warner Bros. animation library as an advantage as it tries to distinguish itself in a crowded streaming marketplace.

"It's the place every member of the household can go to," he said.

Streaming services are going through growing pains as content costs continue to rise while subscriber growth slows. Many, including Netflix Inc. are seeking new sources of revenue and scrutinizing programming budgets.

Warner Bros. Discovery, which has more than 96 million global subscribers across its streaming platforms, recently decided to keep Discovery+ available as a standalone streaming service in an effort to avoid risking losing a significant chunk of the app’s 20 million subscribers who might not want to pay the higher price to access that content on Max.

"Our strategy is, no sub left behind," Mr. Zaslav said when he announced that decision in February. During that call with investors, he also announced that a new raft of "Lord of the Rings" movies was in the works.

"We are very fortunate to have a huge share of the most beloved and globally recognized storytelling [intellectual property] in the world, including Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Superman, Batman, Lord of the Rings, and we intend to take full advantage of these one-of-a-kind franchises across our various platforms," he told analysts during that call.

Beyond these well-known franchises, the company on Wednesday said it had recruited comedy creator Chuck Lorre to make a new sitcom for Max that will be derived from "The Big Bang Theory." Mr. Lorre is also creating another show for Max called "How to be a Bookie" starring the comedian Sebastian Maniscalco.

Robert Downey Jr. will also star in a limited espionage series called "The Sympathizer" based on the book of the same name, the company said.

The Max platform will have a new, more user-friendly look, said JB Perrette, Warner Bros. Discovery’s chief executive of global streaming and games, who acknowledged that accessing content on HBO Max could be challenging. "We don’t make it easy to find," he said.

Mr. Perrette said Discovery+ subscribers would be given opportunities to sample Max, but there will be no requirement to join Max.

Max will roll out in Latin America later this year and Europe and elsewhere next year, Mr. Perrette said. 

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1.What is the main strategy behind the launch of the Max streaming platform?

A Focusing on children's content.

B Relying heavily on well-known intellectual property.

C Offering the lowest subscription prices.

D Targeting a niche audience.

解析：选B。B 根据文章第2段可知，Max流媒体平台的推出是CEO David Zaslav的战略的一部分，该战略重点依赖于公司知名的知识产权，以吸引用户对该服务的兴趣。故选B。

2.When is the Max streaming platform set to go live?

A April 19.

B May 23.

C June 15.

D July 31.

解析：选B。B 由文章可知，新服务将于5月23日上线。故选B。

3.Which popular franchise will have a television series produced for Max?

A Star Wars.

B Marvel.

C Harry Potter.

D Indiana Jones.

解析：选C。C 由文章第四段可知，为Max制作的新内容包括一部根据J.K.罗琳的《哈利·波特》书籍制作的电视剧。故选C。

4.What is the name of the new "Game of Thrones" prequel being created for Max?

A House of the Dragon.

B A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight.

C The Long Night.

D The Rise of Valyria.

解析：选B。B 由文章第六段可知，为Max创建的其他项目包括一个名为《七王国的骑士：草席骑士》的《权力的游戏》前传。故选B。

5.Which actor is set to star in a limited espionage series called "The Sympathizer" on Max?

A Robert Downey Jr.

B Chris Evans.

C Tom Hiddleston.

D Chris Hemsworth.

解析：选A。A 由文章第19段可知，小罗伯特·唐尼将出演一部名为《同情者》的限定间谍剧，该剧改编自同名小说。故选A。