In a time when “superhero fatigue” is something that gets thrown around off the back of  too many productions, the release of The Franchise is somewhat curious. It’s mentality in  tracking the behind-the-scenes movements of a big budget comic book feature clearly  speaks to the evident interest the genre still has, but similar to the satirical nature that  something like The Boys or the meta-ness of Deadpool & Wolverine have – though this  show (based off the first episode) doesn’t submit to the same temperament – this HBO  comedy is hoping to shift any tiredness by poking fun more so at the movie making industry  and the by-committee nature it often adheres to. 

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There’s certainly a pedigree of talent behind The Franchise which speaks to its confidence  in taking the subject on, with Veep creator Armando Iannucci and Oscar-winning director  Sam Mendes on hand as executive producers (Mendes also helms this pilot), Jon Brown (a  writer on Succession) serving as showrunner, and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross handling  the score. They collectively have what it takes to comment on the making of franchise-like  productions, and at the centre of the show is the comic book adaptation of “Tecto: Eye of  the Storm”, a loud, cheesy-looking actioner that clearly no one involved in has any love for. 

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The first episode immediately throws us into the film’s chaotic production, where over worked first-assistant director Daniel (Himesh Patel) has his hands full with a duo of  bickering lead actors (Billy Magnussen’s eager Adam and Richard E. Grant’s contemptuous Peter), a German auteur (Daniel Brühl) whose directorial vision is grander than what the  studio will allow, an ambitious ex-girlfriend (Aya Cash) who is stepping in to oversee operations, and the franchise producer (Darren Goldstein, doing a not-so-sly riff on Kevin Feige’s persona), a frat bro-type who, without hesitation, deflates the cast and crew with  the notion that “Tecto” is no longer a viable tentpole. 

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Having the creator of Veep at the helm certainly plays into The Franchise’s quick paced, ensemble-like mentality as it follows the exhausted crew – namely Daniel, right-hand  Steph (Jessica Hynes) and newly recruited third assistant director Dag (Lolly Adefope) - as they scurry about trying to put out a multitude of fires (the first episode includes “blinding” both Adam and Peter in a lighting stunt gone bad), whilst simultaneously navigating the ever-shifting dynamics of studio big-wigs. It proves an amusing watch, if perhaps a little  expected with some of its industry commentary. 

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Just how much it’ll spiral out of control remains to be seen, but the closing of this first episode certainly suggests the disorder on hand is only going to increase Though the inside-baseball mentality to everything means those with a knowledge of how movie sets operate will find more to tickle them, there’s enough witty remarks overall to make it a seemingly worthy venture.