A familiar face from the MCU navigates the world of a superhero cinematic universe in the trailer for HBO’s *The Franchise*. Created by *Veep* mastermind Armando Iannucci and directed by Oscar-winner Sam Mendes, this upcoming comedy series is a reflection of the superhero genre’s dominance in the film industry for over ten years. As the MCU shows signs of revitalization with the likes of Deadpool and Wolverine, the DCU undergoes a transformation, and Amazon’s Prime Video crafts its own universe with *The Boys*, HBO chooses a more self-referential route by focusing on the crew behind the scenes of superhero magic.
HBO has now released the inaugural trailer for *The Franchise*, announcing its premiere on October 6, with streaming available on Max.
The trailer highlights the struggles of a superhero film’s production team, featuring Daniel Brühl, seemingly portraying the director of this chaotic project. Brühl, known for his BAFTA-nominated role in Ron Howard’s *Rush*, is recognizable to Marvel fans as Baron Zemo from *Captain America: Civil War* and *The Falcon and The Winter Soldier*. HBO also provided a logline for the series:
*THE FRANCHISE* follows the crew of a disregarded franchise movie as they fight for relevance in a ruthless and disorderly cinematic universe. This comedy series offers a glimpse into the hidden turmoil of superhero moviemaking, posing the question — how exactly does one create a cinematic masterpiece? After all, every blunder has an origin story.
Key Insights into *The Franchise*
#### HBO’s Perspective on Superhero Films
The upcoming series centers exclusively on the often-tumultuous process of creating superhero films. However, *The Franchise* is not HBO’s first venture into satirizing superhero movies. The 2022 limited series *Irma Vep*, directed by Oliver Assayas, features a running gag where Alicia Vikander’s character repeatedly declines a female Silver Surfer movie despite her team’s insistence on its potential.
In addition to Brühl, *The Franchise* stars *Station Eleven*’s Himesh Patel as Daniel, *The Boys*’ Aya Cash as Anita, *Spaced*’s Jessica Hynes as Steph, and *Aladdin*’s Billy Magnussen as Adam. Lolly Adefope from Hulu’s *Shrill* also joins the cast, alongside Darren Goldstein and Isaac Powell. Richard E. Grant, an Oscar nominee for *Can You Ever Forgive Me?*, and another MCU alum, features as Peter, having portrayed Classic Loki.
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While the cast is noteworthy, the true allure may lie in the show’s creative team. The concept for *The Franchise* originated with Mendes, celebrated for directing *1917*, *American Beauty*, and the James Bond films *Skyfall* and *Spectre*. He directed the pilot and serves as an executive producer, collaborating with Iannucci, renowned for his incisive political satire in *Veep*. The series is helmed by Jon Brown, a three-time Emmy-winning writer for *Succession*, and may emerge as a strong contender for one of the year’s best.
Source: HBO
The Franchise
- Comedy
The Franchise is a Max original comedy television series that follows a film crew as they document their increasingly chaotic and hectic work on a Superhero film franchise. Acting as a satire on the industry, the show looks to lampoon the process and the sometimes unreasonable expectations of keeping a long-standing franchise alive and kicking.
