Armando Iannucci, the brilliant mind behind The Thick of It, Veep, and The Death of Stalin, seems like an ideal choice to critique superhero movie culture.
He excels at deflating the egos of those who take themselves too seriously, and the level of pretentiousness found in the political spheres he navigates is rivaled only by the self-importance of those who exploit pop culture for blockbuster profits.
Iannucci is a producer of the new HBO comedy The Franchise, which focuses on the chaotic production of a high-budget film set deep within an expansive cinematic universe, addressing themes like “superhero fatigue” and “female fan problems.”
Although it doesn’t explicitly target the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), The Franchise satirizes a version of it that grapples with similar contemporary issues surrounding blockbuster filmmaking, such as canceled stars, on-set drama, and even Martin Scorsese’s criticisms about the industry’s impact on cinema.
The eight-episode first season is amusing enough to keep viewers engaged, though some of its targets may seem less challenging compared to Iannucci’s previous works.
This may be partly because Iannucci isn’t in the writer or director role for this project. The Franchise was created by Jon Brown, with the premiere episode directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Sam Mendes.
The duo has assembled a nearly perfect cast, which is crucial for a production of this nature, especially with Himesh Patel serving as an excellent straight man amidst the chaos.
Patel plays Daniel, an Assistant Director on a sequel to “Tecto,” a superhero franchise that lacks a clear definition but appears to share similarities with Thor or Guardians of the Galaxy, featuring whimsical costumes and grand cosmic storytelling.
Director Eric, portrayed by Daniel Brühl, seems out of his depth, a man who may have had a few successful indie films but is now tasked with a job that doesn’t match his experience, leaving Daniel to make many critical decisions.
The situation becomes even more stressful when his ex-partner, Anita (played by Aya Cash, who shines in You’re the Worst), is revealed to be the producer.
Billy Magnussen and Richard E. Grant, both exceptional comic actors, portray the self-absorbed stars of the film within the show—one as the hero and the other as the villain.
Magnussen, known for Game Night, expertly captures the insecurities of emerging action stars who understand that their careers could be jeopardized if their film fails to resonate with audiences. He struggles under the pressure of on-set demands.
Meanwhile, Grant embodies the seasoned character actor capable of stepping into an MCU movie, even a poorly received one, before returning to the more fulfilling roles he prefers.
His contempt for the material is evident, as he only truly comes alive when he passionately discusses his background in Shakespearean theater.
Grant stands out as the highlight of The Franchise, delivering a brilliantly deadpan supporting performance.
Additionally, Lolly Adefope excels as one of Daniel’s allies, and Darren Goldstein is perfectly cast as the studio’s representative, who constantly threatens to shut down the production.
One standout moment features him shouting promotional phrases for an EPK, which is among my favorite scenes in any show this year: “Sparks will fly!”
While the main themes of The Franchise can occasionally feel somewhat predictable, the writers manage to sidestep the most obvious targets just enough to distinguish it from The Bubble, Judd Apatow’s disappointing comedy set in a similar context.
The fourth episode is particularly outstanding, featuring a fantastic guest appearance by Nick Kroll as The Gurgler, a minor character that the production secures as a cameo when their first choice is cast in another film.
The show’s sharpest moments occur during conflicts with another superhero film currently in production, as “Maximus” engages in product placement theft and cameos, prompting thoughts about whether filmmakers like James Gunn and Taika Waititi experience similar rivalries while creating their movies.
A series of scenes involving product placement for a line of Chinese tractors is hilarious, but the clever throwaway lines shine the brightest, such as when a scene is simply referred to as “Big Fight Over Glowy Thing.”
As someone who has reviewed more superhero movies over the past decade than I ever anticipated, I completely understand that reference.
The entire season has been screened for review, and it premieres on Sunday, October 6th.
