HBO Max in Latin America is significantly expanding its original content universe, building on the unprecedented success of previous releases, particularly "Chespirito: Not Really on Purpose." These strategic announcements were unveiled by Mariano César, senior VP of general entertainment content and programming strategy for HBO Max in Latin America, at the 2026 upfronts held across Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina on November 25.

Leveraging the enduring popularity of Roberto Gómez Bolaños's iconic characters, HBO Max is developing two new series. The first is "Don Ramón," a live-action, single-camera comedy inspired by the original character from the legendary 1970s sitcom El Chavo del Ocho. César noted that Don Ramón—a kind-hearted but grumpy, debt-strapped widower and father—was a "unique character" and that the new series presents a "great opportunity to have a more young adult kind of humor and content." HBO Max is actively engaging potential screenwriters for this scripted reimagining.

The second series, "The Colorado," is an animated show based on El Chapulín Colorado, another beloved Mexican superhero comedy created by Gómez Bolaños, known as Chespirito. Set to premiere early in 2026, The Colorado promises an updated version of the puny, weak hero who often triumphs through sheer luck or the help of others. Both Don Ramón and The Colorado are produced in collaboration with THR3 Media Group.

The platform is also reinforcing its successful franchises with new seasons of highly anticipated local content. Season 2 of Like Water for Chocolate, produced by Salma Hayek, is slated to return on February 15. Rooted in Mexican culture and magic realism, the series delves into expressing emotions through food and melodrama. It achieved immense global success, ranking among the top three most-watched original series globally on HBO Max in its first month, and filming for the final season began in April 2025.

Additionally, Margarita: Make Your Story Count, a hit youth musical series from Cris Morena and a spin-off of Florecienta, has been renewed for a third season, with episodes set to premiere in 2026 following the release pattern of Season 2. City of God: The Fight Rages On will also return for a second season in the latter half of 2026, continuing the narrative of Rio slum characters 20 years after the Oscar-nominated film. New cast members, including Matheus Nachterangle, will join as the community unites against the militia.

HBO Max is making a definitive push into the melodrama genre with its original novelas, building on the phenomenal success of Scars of Beauty (Beleza Fatal). Created by acclaimed Brazilian screenwriter Raphael Montes, the series became an "audience phenomenon," ranking as the top Brazilian scripted title for views and new subscriptions, marking HBO Max’s full entry into the genre. César highlighted that novelas are "deeply rooted in our DNA as Latin American audiences" and expressed confidence in their power within a streaming environment, moving beyond acquired Turkish and Spanish telenovelas.

Upcoming original novelas include Brazil’s Madame Beja, set to premiere on February 2. This reinterpretation of the 1986 telenovela and literary work tells the empowering story of a 19th-century woman who defied societal norms. It is billed as a "major production" with meticulous reconstruction of the colonial era. Collision, HBO Max’s first original novela in Mexico, produced with Telemundo, will debut in the second half of 2026, focusing on the intense conflict between a mother and daughter with opposing worldviews and a shared secret from the past.

In addition to fiction, HBO Max is significantly expanding its docuseries slate, planning to release six titles in 2026, five of which largely fall into the true crime genre. This builds on the success of Marcial Maciel: The Wolf of God, which achieved record-breaking viewership. These docuseries aim not just to shock but to illuminate critical social issues. The lineup includes:

• The Flores Massacre (Argentina), a three-part series executive produced by Oscar winner Juan José Campanella, narrating the 1994 house fire from the perspective of its only survivor.

• Los Asesinos de Colosio (Mexico), exploring multiple theories surrounding the 1994 assassination of presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio.

• The Cannibal Poet (Mexico), profiling one of Mexico’s most notorious serial killers.

• Tragedia en la Corregidora (Mexico), revisiting the 2022 mass soccer fan battle and its irregularities.

• Death And Mystery In The Amazon (Brazil), investigating a 40-year-old lost-city mystery using LiDar technology.

• Escravos da Fé: Os Arautos do Evangelho (Brazil), portraying an ultra-conservative religious group accused of crimes and abuses.

HBO Max's production strategy emphasizes high production standards and relevance over sheer volume. César affirmed that the focus remains on quality, with planned production levels similar to or slightly above the current year. The platform seeks to create content that sparks meaningful conversations, acknowledging that the biggest risk in the current content landscape is irrelevance. This commitment is reinforced through collaborations with powerful production partners such as Salma Hayek’s Ventanarosa, THR3 Media Group, Telemundo, Cris Morena Group, and Oscar-winning talent like Juan José Campanella. César concluded that for Latin American content to succeed globally, it must remain "truly loyal to the local audience," allowing creative freedom and sufficient development time rather than relying on a universal formula.

Other notable original series include Cautiva (Argentina), a six-part true crime fiction series about a nun escaping abuse to seek justice, and Black Widows: Whores & Hustlers Season 2 (Argentina), HBO Max’s most-watched Argentine original, a dark comedy about two former "black widows" forced back into action, set to premiere its second season in September 2025.