Stuart Fails to Save the Universe premieres on HBO Max
The Big Bang Theory spin-off Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is set to debut on HBO Max. Sources differ on the exact premiere date, with one outlet citing Wednesday, July 22 and another citing Thursday, July 23 at 9 p.m. ET. The 10-episode first season was created, written, and executive produced by Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady, and Zak Penn, and stars Kevin Sussman as comic-book-store owner Stuart Bloom alongside Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn, and John Ross Bowie. The sci-fi comedy centers on Stuart and his friends attempting to repair a multiverse after he breaks a device created by Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter, with a teaser confirming Wil Wheaton's appearance.
Harry Potter 25th anniversary celebration
Warner Bros. Discovery unveiled its 2026 "Back to Hogwarts" program marking the 25th anniversary of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." The celebration includes a weeklong theatrical re-release of the original film with 12 minutes of previously unseen behind-the-scenes footage, plus a worldwide screening of all eight Harry Potter films from August 27 through September 3. HBO Max will stage its first Back to Hogwarts celebration in London on September 1, timed to build anticipation for the HBO Original series' Christmas debut. Live events are also planned in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, China, Australia, and Japan, with a large-scale wand lesson staged at Paris' Château de Versailles.
Harry Potter reboot shifts to Friday nights
The Harry Potter reboot series will abandon HBO's traditional Sunday night slot in favor of Friday releases, marking a 28-year departure from HBO's longstanding Sunday programming tradition that has housed series such as Game of Thrones and The Last of Us. Warner Bros. is positioning the move as a response to streaming habits, betting that viewers will seek out new content on the platform regardless of the day. The reboot is slated for a Christmas 2026 debut.
The Gilded Age and broader HBO Max lineup
HBO Max released a trailer offering first looks at upcoming 2026 programming, including a fourth season of The Gilded Age, with executive Francesca Orsi highlighting the show's continued popularity. The trailer also previewed new original series such as "Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness" and "Monsters of God," signaling a diversified content strategy across genres. The platform is positioning the Harry Potter series, The Gilded Age, and original content as central pillars of its 2026 slate.
Other streaming arrivals across platforms
The Dink, a comedy starring Jake Johnson alongside Ben Stiller, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris, and Patton Oswalt, premieres Friday on Apple TV. Kevin Hart's bachelor-party comedy 72 Hours arrives Friday on Netflix. Ransom Canyon returns for Season 2 with Minka Kelly and Josh Duhamel on Netflix, while Star Trek: Strange New Worlds debuts its fourth season on Paramount+. The Stuart Fails to Save the Universe launch is the centerpiece of HBO Max's weekly streaming additions.
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