HBO Max: Harley Quinn renewed as DC Universe exits scripted content

Good news for fans of Harley Quinn! The well-received and fan-favorite animated program has been renewed for a third season at HBO Max. With the renewal also comes the news that the DC Universe streaming service will no longer house scripted programming and will be a strictly comic-centric platform called DC Universe Infinite.

Harley Quinn has picked up a lot of steam since its first two seasons arrived on HBO Max. The renewal followed a round of negotiations that hinged on a new budget for the series and that process had been stalled by the major executive shake-up at the streamer that saw senior leaders Bob Greenblatt and Kevin Reilly pushed out and oversight of the platform given to HBO's Casey Bloys. On the series, a single Harley Quinn sets off to make it on her own in Gotham City. The series features the vocal talent of Kaley Cuoco, Lake Bell, Alan Tudyk, Ron Funches, Tony Hale, Jason Alexander, Diedrich Bader, Christopher Meloni, J.B. Smoove

The fact that DC Universe is out of the scripted business comes as no surprise. Once talks of all of the scripted programming transitioning previous seasons to HBO MAX began, the writing was on the wall that fresh seasons would likely be sent to HBO Max because DC Universe never quite gained the traction necessary to succeed. Titans and Doom Patrol did well enough and were loved by critics but the canceling Swamp Thing debacle didn't help and the looming arrival of HBO Max made its fate pretty clear. 

Harley Quinn will join Doom Patrol and the previously announced third season of Titans as an HBO Max originals. Previous seasons of all three shows will also now migrate to HBO Max and the trio of Greg Berlanti-produced dramas from Warner Bros. TV will join other originals Young Justice and Stargirl. HBO Max will also now be the home for DC library titles like the original Wonder Woman, among others. Other library titles will likely make the move to HBO MAax but it's all a part of a dealmaking process to move platforms.

Are YOU happy to see Harley Quinn return? Will YOU miss the DC Universe streaming service?