Star Wars director J.J. Abrams partners with Max for original drama 'Duster'

Warner Bros. Television's latest Max Original drama, Duster, is set to premiere on Friday, 16 May, exclusively on Max.

Created by Emmy-winner J.J. Abrams (Lost, Alias) and show runner LaToya Morgan (The Walking Dead), the eight-episode crime thriller will roll out new episodes weekly, leading up to the season finale on 4 July.

Set against the dusty backdrop of the 1970s American Southwest, Duster follows a fearless getaway driver (Josh Holloway) whose work for a rising crime syndicate quickly spirals from dangerous to outright reckless when a relentless young agent arrives in town determined to dismantle his criminal empire.

The cast includes Rachel Hilson, Keith David, Sydney Elisabeth, Greg Grunberg, Camille Guaty, Asivak Koostachin, Adriana Aluna Martinez, and Benjamin Charles Watson.

Big names and high stakes

With Abrams at the helm and Warner Bros. Television backing the production, Duster is primed to attract both audiences and advertisers.

The first two episodes are written by Abrams and Morgan, with Steph Green (Watchmen, The Book of Boba Fett) directing and executive producing. Abrams and Rachel Rusch Rich serve as executive producers for Bad Robot, while Morgan executive produces under her TinkerToy Productions banner.

Max’s marketing push around the series is expected to create strong engagement across digital, social, and traditional media, providing ample opportunities for integration and sponsorship.

New inventory

The show is the latest in a slew of blockbuster productions announced by Warner Bros. Discovery in anticipation of the launch of Max, ahead of its launch in Australia on Monday 31 March.

At launch, subscribers can choose from one of three plans to suit their needs – Basic with Ads, Standard and Premium. A special introductory launch price will also be available on all plans for subscribers who sign up by 30 April 2025, valid for the first 12 months.

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