If you thought Armando Iannucci’s genius was confined to the political realm, brace yourself. The mastermind behind The Thick Of It, Veep, and The Death Of Stalin is back with a vengeance—or should we say, with a cape? This time, he’s executive producing The Franchise, which takes us behind the digital curtains of a superhero blockbuster. Together with Sam Mendes and showrunner Jon Brown, Iannucci dives into a flashy world where blue screens, spandex, and glorified comic book characters collide, threatening to unleash a cacophony of creative chaos. Hold onto your popcorn as ‘Tecto: Eye Of The Storm’ from ‘Maximum Studios’ teeters on the edge of creative insanity, led by a team of bickering visionaries and overzealous executives.
At the heart of the hilarity are Himesh Patel’s First AD Daniel and Lolly Adefope’s Third AD Dag, two souls desperately trying to steer ‘Tecto’ back on the rails while chaos reigns around them. And complicating this delightful mess is Eric, the pretentious director played by none other than Daniel Brühl—whose previous superhero exploits as Zemo in the MCU clearly didn’t prepare him for the circus of reality. “It’s a mad world,” Brühl muses to Empire, summing up the superhero filmmaking experience with a flourish. “There’s power struggles, inflated egos, and money being thrown around like confetti, all in a fairy tale setting where adults grapple with utterly surreal nonsense. But boy, is it serious nonsense!” Well, at least we can count on Iannucci to hold up a mirror to this absurdity.
Brown, in his quest for authenticity, has plunged into the underbelly of superhero film sets, unearthing enough wild tales to fill a comic book. “We’ve talked to quite a few people,” he declares, sounding a bit too much like a supervillain surveying his lair. “While most are keen to craft something spectacular, we learn just how chaotic and dysfunctional these franchises can be. Decisions are dodged like laser beams!” With superhero flicks still raking in the bucks at the box office, Brown hints that if the money keeps flowing, there’ll be an infinite supply of material for future seasons. “With the recent buzz around Robert Downey Jr.’s potential return, just imagine: that could fuel our second season,” he quips. “What happens when nostalgia sets in? Does the franchise go for a mashup of ’90s nostalgia and modern-day superheroes?” Spoiler alert: expect plenty of cringe-worthy flashbacks.
So, if you’re wondering where all the exorbitant superhero movie budgets go—it’s partly into keeping sanity intact amidst the madness. That’s right, folks. Welcome to Hollywood, where money grows on trees, specifically on trees named “Endless Franchises” and “Overzealous Execs.” Get ready for a reality check that’s as entertaining as it is absurd!
Don’t miss Empire’s full exploration of The Franchise in their special feature, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of The Terminator. Mark your calendars—this eye-opening piece hits the stands on Thursday, 26 September. You can even pre-order a copy, ensuring you won’t miss the madness! And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, remember that The Franchise premieres on Sky and NOW on 21 October. Grab your favorite snack; this is bound to be a ride!
