Netflix & Warner Bros. Discovery ‘in talks’ over HBO deal, as Disney eyes Ryan Murphy

Insecure

Netflix is in discussions with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) over a potential deal for HBO programming, while its star showrunner Ryan Murphy is set to leave the streamer for Disney.

A deal to secure HBO shows for Netflix would underline WBD’s ongoing shifting stance on rights under CEO David Zaslav, who has consistently talked of increasing third-party sales to boost revenue.

Shows under consideration include comedy Insecure, which ran for five seasons on HBO until 2021.

The deal is set to be non-exclusive meaning the show would also be available on WBD streamer Max, according to Deadline which broke news of the talks.

Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

WBD has been casting around for new ways to increase revenue from its library for the past year. In February, it struck deals with The Roku Channel and Fox-owned Tubi to launch FAST channels that carry HBO series such as Westworld.

Murphy on the move

In related news, American Horror Story producer Ryan Murphy is set to leave Netflix following the end of his five-year deal with the streamer.

Murphy, along with Shonda Rhimes, was one of the most high-profile US showrunners to sign overall deals with the streamer, striking a $300m deal in 2018 after leaving 20th Century Fox.

Since then, his output has been patchy with shows such as Halston, Hollywood and movie The Prom, although recent hits have included Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.

He is now set to join Disney, according to US reports, linking up again with Fox exec Dana Walden who worked with Murphy at the then Rupert Murdoch-owned firm.

It was acquired by the Mouse House in 2019, with Walden now co-chairman at Disney Entertainment.

Disney did not comment on the news, with Murphy’s deal set to expire at the end of June. He has, however, continued to work on Fox shows such as American Horror Story during his Netflix pact.