“Veep” and “The Thick of It” creator Armando Iannucci is teaming with “Skyfall” director and “Penny Dreadful” producer Sam Mendes on a comedy pilot titled “The Franchise” at HBO.
The half-hour project follows “a hopeful crew trapped inside the dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyous hellscape of franchise superhero movie-making. If and when they finally make the day, the question they must face – is this Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand? Is this a dream factory or a chemical plant?”
The series will be executive produced by Iannucci and Mendes, with the latter directing the pilot. Jon Brown, a writer on Iannucci’s “Avenue 5,” will serve as showrunner and will both write and executive produce alongside Marina Hyde and Keith Akushie.
Pippa Harris, Nicolas Brown, and Julie Pastor will also executive produce. The news keeps Iannucci in the HBO business as the upcoming and completed second season of “Avenue 5” will be the show’s last.
Source: Deadline
