“The Franchise” is a satirical comedy series that premiered on HBO on October 6, 2024. Created by Jon Brown, directed by Sam Mendes and executive produced by Armando Iannucci, the series offers a humorous glimpse behind the scenes of superhero movie production. The plot follows Daniel (Himesh Patel), the first assistant director, as he deals with the daily challenges of producing “Tecto: Eye of the Storm”, a movie within a larger franchise.
The main cast includes Himesh Patel as Daniel, Aya Cash as Anita, Jessica Hynes as Steph, Billy Magnussen as Adam Randolph, Lolly Adefope as Dagmara “Dag” Nwaeze, Darren Goldstein as Pat Shannon, Isaac Powell as Bryson, Richard E. Grant as Peter Fairchild and Daniel Brühl as Eric Bouchard.
The series has received positive reviews, with a 74% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 54 reviews, and an average rating of 7/10. The critics’ consensus states: “Tormented actors having fun playing clumsy hacks, ‘The Franchise’ doesn’t fully address Hollywood apathy, but overall it’s an acidic treat.”
However, despite the favorable reception, HBO announced in January 2025 that the series would not be renewed for a second season. A spokesperson for the network expressed gratitude to the creative team and cast, saying: “We are so grateful to have worked with the tremendously talented team behind ‘The Franchise’, especially Sam Mendes, Jon Brown, Armando Iannucci and this hilarious ensemble of actors. While we won’t be moving forward with another season, we look forward to collaborating with all of them in the future.”
