HBO Max signs up Lisa Ling

WarnerMedia’s forthcoming SVoD service HBO Max has greenlit travel documentary series Birth, Wedding, Funeral as part of an overall deal with US journalist and author Lisa Ling.

Lisa Ling

The series will explore different cultures’ connection to and celebration of birth, weddings and funerals. Each episode will take viewers to a different country to explore the understanding of each of these three moments in various regions.

The series was created by Dan Rather, Maro Chermayeff and Jeff Dupre, and is produced by New York-based indie Part2 Pictures. Ling and Rather executive produce the series alongside News and Guts’ Philip Kim.

“We are living in a deeply polarised world and I am elated for the opportunity to bring us closer to one another through stories about the most defining moments in people’s lives: their births, weddings and funerals,” said Ling.

This deal marks an expansion of Ling’s relationship with WarnerMedia, and as part of her overall deal HBO Max will have a first look at new projects she will continue to develop for the streamer.

Jennifer O’Connell, executive VP of original content at HBO Max, said: “Lisa has carved out a unique space for herself using her style of gritty, investigative journalism to drive at the heart of every human story she tells. Birth, Wedding, Funeral takes audiences on a global journey through a range of societies, exploring the rituals around three critical life events and we are eager to bring this illuminating storytelling to our HBO Max audience.”