17 HBO and Max Original Series to Get Excited for in 2024

Well, they did it. Since “Game of Thrones” ended in 2019, HBO has faced persistent questions, year in and year out, over how it will survive without its most profitable franchise. The scrutiny died down a bit in 2022, after “House of the Dragon” debuted to dragon-sized numbers, but the network’s exclusive focus on its first spinoff left a few doubters unsatisfied. “OK, sure,” they conceded. “You kept the franchise going. But what happens next? The scale of the production still makes it unreasonable to expect new episodes every year — why not green light more shows? Aren’t you leaving money on the table? Shouldn’t we be getting a new edition of ‘Game of Thrones’ every year, every six months, or every quarter?”

Last year proved HBO could survive just fine without a “Walking Dead”-flood of production from its tentpole, and now, as we get ready for a more-or-less full 2024 slate of HBO shows, “House of the Dragon” is back, ready to roll out Season 2, alongside a slew of exciting HBO original series. There’s a new season of “True Detective,” another Kate Winselt-led limited series, and the final season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Also on the docket: plenty of series no one knew they wanted to watch until HBO announced them, like “The Jinx” Part 2, Jerrod Carmichael’s so-called reality show, and a mind-meld between “Veep” creator Armando Iannucci and James Bond director Sam Mendes.

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Just the new shows and returning favorites HBO has already confirmed are enough to keep TV fans on the edge of their seat through the summer, but the little streamer that could — now known simply as Max — has its own programming to consider. “The Penguin” will try to prove Matt Reeves’ spin on Batman has wings even without the Dark Knight. Conan O’Brien makes his much-anticipated return to television, as do “Hacks,” “Tokyo Vice,” and “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” while a little prequel called “Dune: Prophecy” is still targeting an end-of-year release.

Speaking of release dates: When perusing the list below, it’s best to remember that plans change. Hollywood is still getting back to work following the WGA and SAG strikes, so even though every title included in our HBO 2024 preview have been confirmed, there’s always a chance one or two series move forward or backward. So bookmark this story and circle back throughout the year, as we update the release dates along with any new trailers, photos, and key information as they become available. HBO is still thriving in a post-“Game of Thrones” landscape, and we’ll be sure to keep you updated on everything it’s got cooking.

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