HBO Max just dropped a sizzle reel that has TV fans losing their minds.
The streaming giant unveiled first-look footage from its 2026 slate, showcasing highly anticipated returns like “Euphoria” Season 3 and “House of the Dragon” Season 3, alongside fresh projects including the DC series “Lanterns” and Larry David’s mysterious new sketch comedy show.
For fans who’ve waited years for answers, this teaser delivers tantalizing glimpses—but raises even more questions.
From Rue Bennett’s cryptic voiceovers to Green Lanterns literally jumping out of moving cars, HBO is clearly playing for keeps in 2026.
Westeros Returns With Ominous Warnings
The teaser opens with Steve Toussaint’s Corlys Velaryon delivering a weighted line that sets the tone for what’s coming.
You must decide what you want.
Moments later, Olivia Cooke’s Alicent Hightower offers an even darker prophecy about the Targaryen civil war’s escalation.
Rhaenyra will do what she has to do. And what she has to do will be dire.
Season 3 of “House of the Dragon” appears poised to push beloved characters into impossible moral territories. After Season 2’s devastating finale, fans know the Dance of the Dragons only gets bloodier from here.
“Euphoria” Season 3: Rue’s Post-High School Reckoning
Zendaya’s Rue Bennett finally returns, and the footage suggests creator Sam Levinson is taking his characters into uncharted territory.
The teaser shows Rue dancing at what appears to be a party, then alone inside a church—two contrasting images that hint at her ongoing internal battle.
There’s no turning back.
One striking shot shows Rue sprinting down a street, glancing back as if someone’s chasing her. Whether that’s literal danger or metaphorical demons remains unclear.
Life After East Highland High
Rue’s voiceover provides the emotional anchor for the “Euphoria” footage.
A few years after high school, I don’t know if life was exactly what I wished.
That line plays over rapid-fire shots of fan-favorite characters in various states:
- Lexi (Maude Apatow) flashing a huge smile at a formal dinner surrounded by men
- Maddy (Alexa Demie) checking her makeup in a mirror
- Nate (Jacob Elordi) dancing shirtless in front of a television
- Cassie beaming while dressed in an animal costume
- Jules (Hunter Schafer) leaning back in what looks like exhaustion or contemplation
The montage suggests each character has evolved in unexpected ways since graduation.
Desert Danger and a Mysterious New Character
Perhaps most intriguing is footage showing Rue in a passenger seat as a car drives recklessly over desert hills. Later, she approaches a shirtless man wearing a cowboy hat, flanked by two women.
You walk up into my house and you don’t even introduce yourself.
This new character—who’s later shown firing a gun into the sky from a balcony—appears to represent a dangerous new chapter in Rue’s journey. The desert setting marks a dramatic departure from suburban California, hinting at road trip storylines or even relocation.
Green Lanterns Hit Earth in “Lanterns”
DC fans finally get their first look at the highly anticipated “Lanterns” series, which appears to blend superhero action with buddy-cop dynamics.
Kyle Chandler’s veteran Hal Jordan is shown driving alongside Aaron Pierre’s rookie John Stewart, delivering what sounds like classic mentor tough love.
I trained my entire life for this. You’re not ready to get up in front of the class until the ring says you are.
Immediately after this exchange, Hal demonstrates exactly the kind of reckless confidence that presumably comes with decades of intergalactic policing—he jumps out of the driver’s seat and rolls onto pavement as the car careens off a cliff with John still inside.
Whether this is a test, an emergency, or just typical Green Lantern training methods remains to be seen. But it establishes these two characters will have a dynamic, friction-filled partnership.
Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld: Revolutionary Comedy?
In perhaps the teaser’s most delightfully bizarre moment, Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld appear in period costumes from the late 1700s.
I got a really good feeling about this!
David’s enthusiasm in costume suggests his untitled sketch series will feature historical parodies or period-piece satire. Given his track record with “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” expectations are sky-high for whatever creative risks he’s taking with this new format.
Additional 2026 Highlights
Beyond the major showcases, HBO’s sizzle reel teased several other returning and new series:
- “The Comeback” Season 3 starring Lisa Kudrow returns after nearly two decades
- “Half Man” from “Baby Reindeer” creator Richard Gadd
- “Dune: Prophecy” Season 2 continues expanding Frank Herbert’s universe
- “The Pitt” Season 2 brings back the medical drama
- “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” offers another “Game of Thrones” prequel
- “Industry” continues its finance world exploration
HBO Max clearly isn’t holding back with its 2026 programming strategy. By combining franchise powerhouses like “House of the Dragon” with cultural phenomena like “Euphoria” and bold creative swings like Larry David’s sketch series, the streamer is positioning itself as appointment television’s home base.
For fans who’ve weathered lengthy waits between seasons—particularly “Euphoria” devotees—this teaser offers both relief and fresh anticipation. Rue Bennett’s story continues, Westeros burns hotter, and Green Lanterns protect Earth with questionable driving practices.
2026 can’t arrive fast enough.