HBO Greenlights Superhero Movie Parody Series, 'The Franchise'

Following the recent renewal of The Righteous Gemstones and production in motion for season 2 of House of the Dragon, HBO has officially greenlit another new project. The Franchise, a half-hour comedy series, will offer a satirical look at what goes on behind the scenes in the making of a Marvel/DC-esque superhero-style movie.

The show's official logline reads as follows: "The crew of an unloved franchise movie fight for their place in a savage and unruly cinematic universe. The Franchise shines a light on the secret chaos inside the world of superhero moviemaking, to ask the question — how exactly does the cinematic sausage get made? Because every f*ck-up has an origin story."

Himesh Patel of Yesterday and Avenue 5 and Aya Cash of You're the Worst and The Boys will co-star as main characters Daniel and Anita, respectively. Other cast members include Jessica Hynes, Billy Magnussen, Lolly Adefope, Darren Goldstein and Isaac Powell, as well as Richard E. Grant and Daniel Brühl as guest stars.

While specific plot points and release information have yet to be unveiled, it's evident that The Franchise is backed by a stellar team – both on-screen and off-screen. Oscar-winning director of Skyfall and 1917, Sam Mendes worked alongside Armando Iannucci of Veep and Avenue 5 to bring the wry series to life. Jon Brown, of Veep as well as Succession, serves as The Franchise's showrunner.

Amy Gravitt, HBO's Executive Vice President of Programming, is eager for the show to debut, sharing the following: “With a deft touch only he can bring, Sam Mendes has brilliantly captured the romance and the reality of filmmaking today. Jon Brown is superb at sending up worlds we think we already know. Together, with Armando Iannucci, they have delivered a truly hilarious comedy ensemble. I can’t wait to see more.” Stay tuned as more information about The Franchise arises.

Elsewhere in entertainment news, the 2023 Emmy Awards have set a new date.