Summer Streamin' 24 - The Franchise - Season One

The Franchise is the latest satirical comedy series, by Veep creator Armando Iannucci. The series landed on Binge (AU) and HBO elsewhere.

Now Veep was a hoot, iconic, this sadly is neither of those things. The Franchise depicts a behind-the-scenes look at a film that's part of a larger superhero film franchise. 

Daniel, the first assistant director, as he deals with the day to day problems working on Tecto: Eye of the Storm, which is a minor film in the franchise compared to the higher priority "team-up" film, Centurios 2.

The latest HBO comedy stars, Himesh Patel, Aya Cash, Billy Magnussen, Jessica Hynes, Darren Goldstein, Lolly Adefope, Isaac Cole Powell, Richard E. Grant & Daniel Brühl.

The series opens with Dag (Adefope) beginning her first day on the chaotic set of the comic book movie Tecto: Eye of the Storm. 

Pat (Goldstein), a studio executive, is visiting, so first assistant director Dan (Patel) negotiates with the eccentric director, Eric (Brühl), about the film's lighting. 

Eric begins shooting a scene where the protagonist Tecto (played by Adam (Magnussen)) speaks with The Eye (played by Peter (Richard E. Grant)) in a meeting attended by "Moss Men" and "Fish People", only to be upset by Pat's news that during the production of Centurios 2, a tentpole team-up movie set chronologically prior to Eye of the Storm, the studio decided to massacre the Fish People. 

Eric's impulsive decision to include a new lighting rig has sunburnt the eyes of Adam and Peter. Eric's favored producer is fired and replaced with Anita, with whom Dan has history.

Now is this anywhere as good, or funny as Veep? 100% no. In my opinion this is a HBO one and done. Sadly it totally missed the mark in a world losing interest (fast) on superhero film franchises.

Just look at the latest Joker film, Venom: The Last Stand and Madame Web. Only Deadpool & Wolverine and on TV, the Penguin (fellow HBO series) have bucked the trend.

Sadly for HBO this was a massive fail in my books. I'd be highly surprised if this returns in 2025 (or beyond) for a second season. No spoilers here, however it does leave the story open for a future The Franchise story.

The worst thing for this series is, during my Summer Streamin' 24 viewing, comedy is strong. Fisk finished with a delightfully funny third run, fellow HBO Sunday show Somebody Somewhere is slaying in its swan song season and FX' English Teacher is easily one of the best series of 2024.

So if you like superhero films, you like niche comedies, The Franchise might be ideal summer viewing. If you don't tick those boxes, maybe give it a miss.