Hacks Co-Creators Hint at Possible Future Beyond Season 5, Including Movie

The critically acclaimed HBO Max series may not be ending with its upcoming fifth season after all.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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The co-creators of the HBO Max series Hacks, Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs, have left the door open for the show to continue beyond its initially planned five-season arc. They have even suggested the possibility of a Hacks movie, drawing comparisons to the Sex and the City films. The fifth season, slated for this year, will see the return of the show's stars Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder to Las Vegas, potentially for a comedic comeback. Aniello and Downs have also signed a new overall deal with Warner Bros. Television, solidifying their position at the studio and allowing them to develop and produce new projects.

Why it matters

The uncertainty surrounding Hacks' future reflects a broader trend in the streaming industry, where successful series are increasingly being considered for extensions beyond their initial planned runs. The potential for a movie demonstrates the value of building a recognizable brand and exploring different storytelling formats, which can significantly increase revenue and audience engagement.

The details

According to the co-creators, Season 5 of Hacks will be a 'full-circle' moment, with Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) returning to Las Vegas, where Deborah's career was launched. Aniello and Downs have 'stretched' the storyline, hinting at a possible extension beyond the original five-season plan. They have even admitted to bringing a preliminary script for a Hacks movie to the DGA Awards to gauge reactions, echoing the 'six seasons and a movie' trajectory seen with other beloved series like Community.

  • Season 5 of Hacks is slated to premiere sometime this year.

The players

Lucia Aniello

Co-creator of the HBO Max series Hacks.

Paul W. Downs

Co-creator of the HBO Max series Hacks.

Jean Smart

Actress who portrays the iconic Deborah Vance in Hacks.

Hannah Einbinder

Actress who portrays Ava Daniels in Hacks.

Warner Bros. Television

The studio that has signed an overall deal with Aniello and Downs, allowing them to develop and produce new television projects through their Paulilu Productions.

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What they’re saying

“Five and a half at least?”

— Paul W. Downs, Co-creator of Hacks

“a lot of things are full-circle”

— Paul W. Downs, Co-creator of Hacks

What’s next

The co-creators have suggested the potential for a Hacks movie, drawing comparisons to the Sex and the City films. They have even admitted to bringing a preliminary script for a movie to the DGA Awards to gauge reactions.

The takeaway

The future of Hacks demonstrates the broader trend in the streaming industry where successful series are increasingly being considered for extensions beyond their initial planned runs. This strategy allows studios to maximize their investment and cater to audience demand by building recognizable brands and exploring different storytelling formats.