HBO has found the main cast for the Sam Mendes-directed comedy pilot The franchising.
The pilot, which Mendes directs for American television for the first time, is set against the background of the production of a superhero film. Billy Magnussen (Game night, made for love), Jessica Hynes (Spaced apart), Darren Goldstein (Ozark), Lollipop Adefope (shrill) and Isaac Powell (American horror story) star, and Daniel Bruhl (inglorious bastards) and Richard E. Grant (Can you ever forgive me?) will have recurring roles The franchising go to series.
The franchising, as the description of the show will follow, “a hopeful crew trapped in the dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyful hellscape of franchise superhero filmmaking. If and when they finally make the day, the question they’ll have to face is: Is this Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand? Is this a dream factory or a chemical factory?”
Mendes came up with the idea for the show and will direct. Jon Brown (HBO Veep and Avenue 5) wrote the pilot and will serve as showrunner. Mendes, through his Neal Street Productions, and Brown will executive produce with Veep creator Armando Iannucci; Pippa Harris, Nicolas Brown and Julie Pastor of Neal Street; and Keith Akushie, Marina Hyde, and Jim Kleverweis.
Magnussen is represented by UTA, Anonymous Content and Sloane Offer; Hynes by Independent Talent Group and Seven Summits Pictures & Management; Goldstein by Cornerstone Talent Agency and Suskin/Karshan Management; Adefope by Dawn Sedgwick Management; Powell by CAA, Impression Entertainment and Schreck Rose; Brühl by UTA, Tavistock Wood and Players; and Grant by Curtis Brown in the UK and WME in the US
