What’s New on HBO Max in August 2021
It has been about five years since the release of Suicide Squad , the DC Extended Universe’s attempt to produce a “hilarious” superhero film in response to the success of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy . It didn’t quite work – although the film brought the bank, director David Ayer objected to the studio’s attempt to lighten the tone of what he had already done with editing, so Warner Bros. in return, GotG’s James Gunn was hired directly to direct the film. not quite a sequel , which will air on HBO Max and in theaters on August 5. I don’t have a dog in this fight (I haven’t seen Iyer’s movie or comics), but I have to admit Gunn’s take on trailer is filled with cartoon chaos and features some of the weirdest antiheroes appearing on screen this side of The Tick. It looks damn good.
This isn’t the only simultaneous HBO Max theater / premiere we’re looking forward to in August; we also get Reminiscence (August 20), a sci-fi thriller starring Hugh Jackman, in which the former X-Man plays a “private explorer of the mind.” This is the directorial debut of Lisa Joy, co-writer of HBO’s Westworld , so take it whatever you want.
A good month for TV series too, with the premiere of a new reality show based on urban streetwear in The Hype (12 August), a reality show with a hilarious title on FBoy Island (12 August) and 2 seasons of the series. The Other Two , the funniest new series of 2019.
Here’s a list of everything HBO Max is coming (and going) in August 2021. Titles with (HBO) next to them are available on HBO and HBO Max; everything else is exclusive to HBO Max.