“The Franchise” has been canceled after one season at HBO.
The satirical comedy series about the making of a superhero movie was created by Jon Brown (“Succession,” “Veep”) and executive produced by Sam Mendes (“1917,” “Skyfall”) and Armando Iannucci (“Veep”).
The series starred Himesh Patel as a frazzled first assistant director on a big-budget movie that is a minor installment in a larger superhero franchise. Aya Cash, Jessica Hynes, Billy Magnussen, Lolly Adefope, Darren Goldstein and Isaac Powell rounded out the ensemble, and Richard E. Grant and Daniel Brühl were recurring cast members.
“We’re so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with the tremendously talented team behind ‘The Franchise,’ especially Sam Mendes, Jon Brown, Armando Iannucci, and this hilarious ensemble of actors,” an HBO spokesperson said in a statement to Variety. “While we won’t be moving forward with another season, we look forward to collaborating with all of them in the future.”
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“The Franchise” premiered on Oct. 6 and aired eight half-hour episodes weekly on the cable network.
Variety chief TV critic Alison Herman gave “The Franchise” a mixed review, writing that what the show brings to the table “is not fresh insight into the problems that ail popular culture, but the well-honed cynicism of a comedy coaching tree.”
“The half-hour series spews its bile with eloquence and conviction that provide their own momentum, at least to start,” Herman continued. “But ultimately, ‘The Franchise’ is more of a (vociferous, amusing) reaction to the zeitgeist than an entity unto itself.”
Deadline broke the news.