‘The Franchise’ Canceled By HBO After One Season

EXCLUSIVE: HBO has opted not to proceed with a second season of The Franchise, its superhero movie satire from creator/executive producer Jon Brown and executive producers Sam Mendes and Armando Iannucci.

“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,” a HBO spokesperson said in a statement to Deadline. “While we won’t be moving forward with another season, we look forward to collaborating with all of them in the future.”

The move, which comes a little over a month after the Nov. 24 Season 1 finale of The Franchise, is not entirely surprising. Showbiz comedies are big swings that not always land with audiences. That was the case with the well reviewed The Franchise (74% on Rotten Tomatoes), which has not cracked Nielsen’s Top 10 streaming rankings.

Iannucci has a longstanding relationship with HBO. He created and executive produced one of the network’s most acclaimed comedy series, Veep, as well sci-fi comedy Avenue 5.

The eight-episode Season 1 of The Franchise follows the crew of an unloved franchise movie fighting for their place in a savage and unruly cinematic universe. Per the official logline, the series shines a light on the secret chaos inside the world of superhero moviemaking, to ask the question — how exactly does the cinematic sausage get made? Because every f*ck-up has an origin story.

Himesh Patel, Aya Cash, Jessica Hynes, Billy Magnussen, Lolly Adefope, Darren Goldstein and Isaac Powell starred in The Franchise, with Richard E. Grant and Daniel Brühl among the recurring cast.

Brown executive produced alongside Iannucci, via his Dundee Productions banner, and Mendes, via his All3Media-backed production company Neal Street Productions. Oscar winner Mendes, who hatched the idea, directed the pilot. Pippa Harris, Nicolas Brown and Julie Pastor also executive produced for Neal Street.