Steven Soderbergh Inks Three-Year Overall Deal With HBO And HBO Max

Steven Soderbergh extends his partnership with WarnerMedia with a sweeping three-year overall deal for HBO and HBO Max. Under the deal, the Ocean’s director-producer will develop content for HBO and its streamer HBO Max. In addition to that, Warner Bros. Pictures will also have a first-look option for the director’s upcoming films.

The deal builds on Soderbergh’s latest comedic feature with HBO Let Them All Talk starring Meryl Streep. It tells the story of a celebrated author taking a journey with some old friends to live life, have fun, and heal old wounds. And it will premiere this year on HBO Max.

“This arrangement grew out of talks Michael Sugar and I were having with Sarah Aubrey during the negotiations for Let Them All Talk, and there were four things tractor-beaming me toward this deal,” said Soderbergh at the TCA. One, I have a history with both HBO and Warner Bros.; two, my definition of a good product, a good process, and a good working culture is shared by the WarnerMedia family; three, the wide range of potential outlets aligns with my range of interests, and four: I get to witness and participate in the building of something new at a very large scale. Oh, and there is a financial aspect, so that’s probably five.”

According to Deadline, Soderbergh has been working with Warner Bros. since 2001. And he has remained a long-time collaborator for HBO. His works with them include Behind the Candelabra and The Knick and Mosaic.

“From Behind the Candelabra, to The Knick and Mosaic, we know first-hand that Steven Soderbergh’s creative genius knows no bounds,” HBO programming president Casey Bloys said. “An indefatigable innovator, we couldn’t be more excited to continue our relationship with Steven and provide a home for his future projects.”

“Steven is a groundbreaking filmmaker who not only tells unique, irresistible stories, but is also a master of so many genres,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content, HBO Max. “In many ways, he is the anti-algorithm constantly surprising, never predictable and his career is living proof that one gifted filmmaker can impact our culture again and again. I can’t wait for the projects that we’re working on together to premiere on HBO Max.”

Steven Soderbergh’s other works include The Laundromat and High Flying Bird which both premiered on Netflix in 2019. He was also behind films like Unsane, Side Effects, and Magic Mike.