Zack Snyder & Marvel Star’s Underrated Movie Is Leaving HBO Max

A 2010 animated film by Zack Snyder is scheduled to leave HBO Max’s library next week. Featuring the voice of an MCU star, the fantasy adventure film follows a young barn owl who gets kidnapped by the sinister Pure Ones.

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole is leaving HBO Max

HBO Max subscribers won’t be able to stream Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, featuring the voice of Hugo Weaving, from Thursday, April 30, 2026 (via The Direct).

The film is based on Kathryn Lasky’s fantasy book series, Guardians of Ga’Hoole. Lasky’s series includes 16 books, but the film adapts only the first three: The Capture, The Journey, and The Rescue. Zack Snyder directed the film with a screenplay from John Orloff and Emil Stern. Meanwhile, the Australia-based studio, Animal Logic, animated the film.

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole centers on Soren, a young barn owl fascinated by stories of the noble Guardians of Ga’Hoole. After his brother, Kludd, gets jealous of him for learning to fly faster, Kludd tries to push Soren off a tree. His attempt causes them both to fall off the branch. Soon, the brothers are abducted by owls, who are a part of the tyrannical Pure Ones. While Kludd adapts to the evil ways of his captors, Soren escapes the place in search of the Guardians.

The film’s voice cast includes Weaving, known for appearing in Marvel’s Captain America: The First Avenger as Red Skull, in the role of Noctus, Jim Sturgess as Soren, and Helen Mirren as Nyra. Further, it also features the voices of Geoffrey Rush (Ezylryb), Joel Edgerton (Metalbeak), and Anthony LaPaglia (Twilight), among others.

The film premiered in theaters in the U.S. in 2010. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an average critic approval rating of 52% and a user score of 64%. The film received praise for its incredible visuals. But it also garnered criticism for its troubled pacing. Commercially, it ended its theatrical run with a global haul of over $140 million (via Box Office Mojo).

Source: Comingsoon.net