THE APEX TIMES
HBO Max Orders 10-Episode ‘Adventure Time: Bubblegum and Marceline’ Animated Series
The new series, developed by Cartoon Network Studios and led by showrunner Adam Muto, adds another chapter to the long-running Adventure Time universe.
HBO Max has given a 10-episode straight-to-series order for a new animated installment titled Adventure Time: Bubblegum and Marceline, expanding the Adventure Time franchise with a story built around characters from the original universe. The announcement was made by Deadline on June 24, 2026.
The series is described as a new animated show based on Bubblegum and Marceline, two central characters from Adventure Time. HBO Max will be the home for the new episodes under the straight-to-series commitment, which establishes the project for production without being treated as a prior pilot-only test.
Deadline reports that the new series comes from Adam Muto, who previously served as showrunner for Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake and Adventure Time: Distant Lands. Those earlier projects are part of the broader franchise ecosystem that has drawn viewers across multiple animated formats and story lengths.
Cartoon Network Studios is identified as the production studio behind Adventure Time: Bubblegum and Marceline. The involvement of the studio is part of a continuation of franchise development that has kept Adventure Time tied to Cartoon Network’s internal animation pipeline.
As the latest order in an expanding slate of Adventure Time projects, the new series adds to a growing catalog of content connected to the original animated world. Deadline’s report frames the order as “yet again” expanding the franchise, indicating that this release is not the first time the property has been extended through new character-focused or format-specific entries.
Details on casting, specific episode plots, and a release date were not included in the information provided. The next step, following HBO Max’s straight-to-series order, is production by Cartoon Network Studios under the leadership of Adam Muto, with subsequent marketing and scheduling information expected closer to premiere.
Given that HBO Max is set to host the series, the order also affects the platform’s upcoming animation lineup, particularly for viewers familiar with Adventure Time’s established character ensemble and tone. For fans and families following the franchise, Bubblegum and Marceline represent a continuation of the series’ character-driven storytelling approach, now in a standalone, newly ordered season length.
Across the franchise, orders like this typically involve coordinated work across writers, directors, animation production, and voice talent, with deliverables tied to the 10-episode commitment. While specific dates are not stated in the provided reporting, the straight-to-series structure generally means the project moves forward with a defined episode count once production begins.
Why It Matters
- A straight-to-series order with a defined 10-episode count indicates a relatively advanced commitment to the project within HBO Max’s animation schedule.
- The new series deepens character-centered storytelling for family audiences who follow the Adventure Time franchise.
- The involvement of Adam Muto and Cartoon Network Studios ties the project to recent Adventure Time creative leadership and production infrastructure.
- For HBO Max, the addition increases the platform’s inventory of franchise animation content with an established viewer base.
- For the broader franchise, the order indicates continued investment in expanding the Adventure Time universe beyond its earlier releases.
Key Facts
- HBO Max ordered a 10-episode straight-to-series animated series titled Adventure Time: Bubblegum and Marceline.
- The series is based on Adventure Time characters Bubblegum and Marceline.
- Deadline reports that Adam Muto is behind the new project.
- Muto is described as coming from Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake and Adventure Time: Distant Lands.
- Cartoon Network Studios is listed as the production studio.
- The reporting provided does not include a premiere date, casting, or episode-by-episode details.