HBO has already benefitted from JJ Abrams' canny producing style – his Bad Robot company is behind Westworld. But now, under the terms of his recent huge deal with parent company Warners, the companies' new HBO Max streaming service will develop three new shows from Abrams, including Justice League Dark and Overlook, inspired by The Shining.
Justice League Dark, which had already hit the rumour-wires, should finally bring the darker supernatural side of the DC universe fully to screens (Constantine had a short-lived show and then joined Legends Of Tomorrow). The concept has been explored as a potential film before (most famously by Guillermo del Toro), but the series should allow for more depth and the streaming service destination means it can be properly dark.
As for Overlook, it sees Abrams dipping back into the well of Stephen King's imagination after Castle Rock for a series based on his famous tome. The new show seems likely to feature Rock creative duo Dustin Thomason and Scott Brown in charge.
And finally, there's the third series, a new original show that will boast Abrams co-writing with The Walking Dead veteran LaToya Morgan. Duster is set in the 1970’s Southwest. It revolves around the life of a gutsy getaway driver for a growing crime syndicate that goes from awful to wildly, stupidly, dangerously awful.
Looks like Abrams is aiming to compete with super-producer Greg Berlanti for sheer number of shows on screens. Only 14 or so more to go, JJ...