The Franchise star Himesh Patel reflects on the series’ cancellation after one season. Created by Jon Brown, Sam Mendes, and Armando Iannucci, The Franchise follows a team trapped inside the dysfunctional process of creating franchise superhero movies, and features talent including Patel, Aya Cash, Billy Magnussen, Daniel Brühl, Jessica Hynes, Lolly Adefope, and Darren Goldstein. Despite its cancellation, the superhero satire garnered a solid critical reception, earning a 74% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
In a recent interview with ScreenRant‘s own Grant Hermanns at Sundance for his new film Bubble & Squeak, Patel expressed his disappointment over the series’ cancellation. Patel described his experience working on The Franchise as deeply fulfilling. While acknowledging the sadness surrounding its end, Patel recalled his enjoyment of participating in the project and the camaraderie among the cast and crew. Check out his comments below:
Yeah, it was really disappointing, obviously, because I loved making that show. I really, really enjoyed it. So, I’m sad for everyone involved. I loved making it because of those people, I’m sad, it was a great time, and people have enjoyed it.
What This Means For The Franchise
Sometimes Critical Reception Isn’t Enough
The Franchise’s cancellation is notable for the current TV landscape, particularly for HBO. Despite generally favorable reviews, and its final episode clearly teasing a second season, the show was unable to maintain the viewership necessary for a renewal. Unfortunately, this indicates that even with critical acclaim, a show can still face cancellation if it doesn’t meet the network’s expectations for audience engagement and financial reward. Also, this highlights the growing importance of streaming metrics and audience retention behind series renewals.
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The show’s premise, which poked fun at the growing prevalence of superhero narratives, stood out among other superhero-related content with its self-aware writing and the well-developed cast of characters. With superhero shows dominating television and film, The Franchise offered a different take by satirizing the genre. The decision to cancel the show after one season, despite its mixed critical success, signals that audiences’ appetites for satire may not always translate into long-term viewership, especially in a competitive landscape like HBO’s. Nevertheless, it will remain a fond memory for Patel, who perhaps can find a way to work with his co-stars on other projects.
Our Take On The Franchise’s Cancellation
The Franchise Will Be Missed
While The Franchise offered a unique perspective on the production of superhero media, its cancellation underscores the harsh realities of the streaming market. HBO’s decision seems to reflect the challenges of sustaining interest in a niche format, even when it receives considerable praise. Its cancellation is a reminder that television success isn’t just about critical reception, it’s also about drawing and maintaining an audience. In the end, The Franchise was a missed opportunity for what could have been a standout show in HBO’s current portfolio.
The Franchise
- Release Date
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2024 – 2023
- Network
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HBO Max
- Showrunner
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Jon Brown
- Directors
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Sam Mendes
- Writers
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Jon Brown, Sam Mendes, Armando Iannucci