HBO’s satirical superhero show, The Franchise, has been axed after just one season, despite the show’s largely positive critical responses. Created by Succession writer Jon Brown, the HBO comedy provided audiences with a behind-the-scenes look at the production process on a major superhero franchise. Taking aim at the assorted criticisms and real-world dramas that superhero movies have become renowned for, reviews for The Franchise have largely praised the show’s sharp wit and talented cast, earning it a 74% rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.
Per Deadline, HBO has elected not to renew The Franchise for a season 2, despite November’s season 1 finale leaving the door open for a potential return. A spokesperson for the network has provided a statement about the decision, declaring that, while they will not be renewing the show for season 2, they look forward to the opportunity to work with Brown, executive producers Sam Mendes and Armando Iannucci, and the show’s cast at some point again in the future. Check out HBO’s statement below:
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. While we won’t be moving forward with another season, we look forward to collaborating with all of them in the future.
What The Franchise’s Cancellation Means For Future Superhero Satires
The Decision To Scrap The Show Is Not Entirely Unexpected
Given the predominance of major superhero franchises and their place in contemporary pop culture, it is not surprising that the phenomena would also make suitable comedic fodder for shows like The Franchise. Taking aim at everything from the clash of Hollywood egos, overworked visual effect teams, and nearly constant script changes, HBO’s comedy seemed perfectly poised to deliver a biting look at the real-world dramas behind some of the movie industry’s most profitable IPs.
However, as relevant as The Franchise’s satirical subject may seem, viewership numbers would ultimately suggest that the show never managed to find a receptive audience. Failing to appear on the closely watched Nielsen’s Top 10 streaming rankings, the response to HBO’s superhero satire was a far cry from the kinds of success enjoyed by Prime Video’s The Boys, whose 2024 season 4 release marked a continued streak of successive audience growth and drew in 55 million viewers within the first 39 days.
Our Take On The Franchise’s Cancellation
Superhero Satires Are Also Becoming An Oversaturated Genre
Critical responses aside, HBO’s decision to cancel The Franchise makes sense given the show’s viewership data. However, beyond streaming rankings, superhero satires are also steadily becoming an oversaturated genre, a somewhat ironic situation given the impetus behind their creation. Not only is Prime Video steadily expanding its own satirical franchise with the success of The Boys prompting the development of multiple spinoffs, even Marvel is set to poke fun at the superhero movie-making process in the MCU’s upcoming Wonder Man show.
With superhero movies increasingly fighting for the all-important audience share, it is disappointing, yet somewhat fitting, that The Franchise experienced a similar squeeze. As clever as the show may have been, exactly like the movies that it seeks to parody, not every superhero satire is guaranteed to draw sufficient viewers to make it a success.
Source: Deadline
The Franchise is a Max original comedy television series that follows a film crew as they document their increasingly chaotic and hectic work on a Superhero film franchise. Acting as a satire on the industry, the show looks to lampoon the process and the sometimes unreasonable expectations of keeping a long-standing franchise alive and kicking.
- Release Date
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October 6, 2024
- Network
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HBO Max
- Cast
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Billy Magnussen
, Jessica Hynes
, Darren Goldstein
, Lolly Adefope
, Isaac Powell
, Daniel Brühl
, Richard E. Grant - Seasons
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1
- Writers
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Jon Brown
, Sam Mendes
, Armando Iannucci - Streaming Service(s)
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M
- Directors
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Sam Mendes
- Showrunner
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Jon Brown