Lights! Camera! Anxiety!
That was the tagline for the new HBO’s Original Series The Franchise directed by Sam Mendes, who is also one of the Executive Producers, along with Armando Iannucci and Jon Brown – that premieres this weekend!
In this new comedy series, the characters examine the behind-the-scenes of the Hollywood film industry, with all its ups and downs, cast faux pas and on-set hierarchy in full force!
This hilarious show with an amazing cast includes Himesh Patel as the 1st AD Daniel and his assistant played by Lolly Adefope, Daniel Bruhl as the German director on set, Aya Cash as the producer Anita, and Billy Magnussen and Richard E. Grant as the wonderful on-screen duo.
“It’s one of these shows where we all fell in love with each other,” Bruhl said at the LA premiere at Paramount Studios. “I mean it, I’m really looking forward to be here (tonight) and to share this show with the world.” Bruhl said the humor on the show is very different than anything he’s ever done before. “Never ever something remotely as funny,” he said.
Patel’s character Daniel has to adapt to all the last-minute changes in a new Hollywood movie, with producers that come and go, managing actors’ egos and call times, while catering to the director’s view, much like a real film set. This new comedy series is a very accurate depiction of life on set, especially when making a successful Hollywood franchise, for anyone who’s curious to learn more about it – but with a lot of humor on top!
“I think franchises can be wonderful, I think you can make movies within franchises that are great movies…I think you have to concentrate on it being a great movie first and foremost,” Patel said.
The show is available on HBO and Max, and you can stream it starting this Sunday, October 6. It’s definitely binge-worthy!