HBO Max is making significant strides in the European streaming landscape, marking its entry into Italy and other major markets with the highly anticipated trailer release of its inaugural Italian original series, 'Portobello.' This six-part drama, helmed by the acclaimed director Marco Bellocchio, promises a compelling narrative that revisits a historical legal blunder. The expansion also sees HBO Max broadening its footprint across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein, solidifying its position in the competitive global streaming arena.
HBO Max Premieres 'Portobello' as Part of Strategic European Launch
On January 13, 2026, HBO Max officially commenced its operations in Italy, alongside Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. A cornerstone of this strategic launch is the unveiling of the trailer for 'Portobello,' Marco Bellocchio's latest limited series. The show delves into the real-life ordeal of Enzo Tortora, a renowned Italian television personality. Tortora, famous for hosting a popular primetime game show also titled "Portobello" on the Italian state broadcaster RAI from 1977, found his career and reputation shattered in 1985. He was unjustly implicated and convicted of conspiring with the Neapolitan crime organization, the Camorra. Fabrizio Gifuni, a frequent collaborator with Bellocchio, portrays Tortora, following his acclaimed role as former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro in Bellocchio's previous series, 'Exterior Night.' 'Portobello' premiered to critical acclaim at the Venice Film Festival last September, subsequently traveling to Toronto and Busan. It is slated for its HBO Max Italy debut on February 20. The series, a collaboration between Mediawan-owned Our Films and Kavav Film, Arte France, RAI Fiction, and The Apartment Pictures, is anticipated to be available globally on HBO Max in the coming months, reaching audiences in the U.S., U.K., Latin America, and other European territories, excluding France and Germany. Future Italian originals from HBO Max include 'In Utero,' set in a Barcelona fertility clinic, and docuseries such as 'Gina Lollobrigida: Diva Contesa' and 'Saman,' which explore the legacies of cultural icons and social injustices.
The strategic introduction of high-quality local content like 'Portobello' underscores HBO Max's commitment to delivering diverse storytelling and expanding its international subscriber base. By focusing on compelling narratives rooted in regional culture and history, the platform not only caters to local tastes but also enriches its global content library, offering unique perspectives to a worldwide audience. This approach highlights the growing trend of streaming services investing in regional productions to effectively penetrate new markets and compete with established players.