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Things in the real world are getting pretty scary, huh? It's time for Charlie Brooker to give us his interpretation of it all, we think. If you, like us, have missed your favorite dose of humbling political black comedy, there's no need to worry. Black Mirror season 7 premieres soon!

Netflix revealed that the show will be back Thursday, April 10, 2025 with quite a number of familiar faces. The full trailer dropped, and fans are pretty excited. Especially because of the chance to get a glimpse of most of the huge list of cast in their respective roles. There are confirmed to be six episodes, each with a different blend of genres.

As ever with Black Mirror, Brooker tells Tudum that the episodes are a mixture of lengths and tones. Viewers can always expect to be scared for their lives in one episode, while crying their eyes out the following episode. Check...

The Sidemen charity match is one of the biggest spectacles in the creator world, and the 2025 edition of the annual soccer showdown delivered on its considerable hype. With big names like MrBeast, iShowSpeed, Logan Paul, Kai Cenat, Mark Rober, and xQc dotting the pitch, the match drew 90,000 in-person attendees, peaked at about 2.5 million online viewers, and raised more than £4.7 million for its chosen charities.

The Sidemen charity match format dates back 2016, but the 2025 iteration took the event series to new heights, thanks in large part to a change in venue. For the first time, the group headlined by creators Ksi, Miniminter, Zerkaa, Tbjzl, Behzinga, Vikkstar123, and W2S brought its footballing fun to London’s Wembley Stadium, the home of the English national team.

The teams that faced off at Wembley possessed enough star power to fill the venue to its maximum capacity. In previous years’ charity matches, the “YouTube...

HBO is reteaming with Succession creator Jesse Armstrong for a new project that will serve as Armstrong's feature directorial debut. The currently untitled film is heading in front of the cameras soon, and will feature an ensemble cast that includes Steve Carell and Jason Schwartzman.

Per a press release from Warner Bros., Armstrong's feature will be an original movie for HBO that begins filming this month in Park City, Utah and will premiere this spring. In addition to Carell and Schwartzman, the film also stars Cory Michael Smith and Ramy Youssef and its official logline reveals that the movie follows "a group of billionaire friends who get together against the backdrop of a rolling international crisis." Armstrong, who is also writing and executive producing the project, had this to say about reuniting with HBO:

RelatedSuccession: 11 Other Movies and TV Shows from Creator Jesse Armstrong to Watch Next

Here's an...

On Monday 3 March 2025, BBC One broadcasts Imagine…!

The Academy of Armando Episode Summary

A new episode of “Imagine…” titled “The Academy of Armando” is set to air on BBC One. This episode will take a closer look at Armando Iannucci, a prominent satirist known for his sharp wit and clever commentary on society and politics.

The program will explore some of Iannucci’s most notable works, including the groundbreaking television shows “The Day Today” and “The Thick of It.” These programs have left a significant mark on British comedy, and this episode will highlight how Iannucci’s unique style has influenced the genre.

In addition to discussing his classic works, the episode will also feature his latest project, a stage adaptation of the iconic film “Dr Strangelove.” This new take on a classic promises to bring fresh insights and humor to the well-known story.

Overall, “The Academy of Armando” aims...

While Japan has Samurai Cinema, and the USA has Westerns, the UK has British comedy. Some of the world’s most influential movies have come from the comedy genre, largely thanks to the way that it tends to take mundane or taboo subjects and turn them into something that can be hilarious, thought-provoking, and in some cases, even revolutionary. Its impact can be seen in everything from entertainment to politics and real-life attitudes toward social classes, racism, gender roles, and so much more.

Choosing the best 25 films to exist in this space is a tough task because of how vast and diverse British comedy is. It’s important to give credit where credit is due to the films that have transcended the medium of film to make an impact on life as we know it. But at the same time, it would be a disservice to create a list that...

There are few satirists in the entertainment industry today who are more clever than Armando Ianucci, the brilliant writer/director of beloved comedy shows like Veep, I’m Alan Partridge, The Thick of It, and Avenue 5. Iannucci has a unique ability to take the most absurd aspects of politics and depict them in an entertaining yet informative way that gives his audience a greater understanding of the unusual systems that dictate their rights. Even if Iannucci built the foundation of his reputation thanks to his work on television, he has proven to be an equally successful filmmaker. Iannucci satirized one of the most climactic moments of the Cold War in his darkly comedic satire The Death of Stalin, a star-studded film that features a standout performance by Jason Isaacs.

“The Academy of Armando” is set to air on BBC One at 11:40 Pm on Monday, March 3, 2025. This special episode of the series “Imagine…” takes a closer look at the life and work of Armando Iannucci, a celebrated satirist known for his sharp wit and unique perspective on politics and society.

The program will explore some of Iannucci’s most notable projects, including the iconic television shows “The Day Today” and “The Thick of It.” These series have left a lasting impact on the world of comedy, showcasing Iannucci’s ability to blend humor with critical commentary. Viewers can expect to see clips and discussions that highlight how these shows shaped modern satire.

In addition to revisiting his past works, “The Academy of Armando” will also delve into Iannucci’s latest venture, a stage adaptation of the classic film “Dr Strangelove.” This new interpretation promises to bring fresh insights while...

Slow Horses star Christopher Chung has promised fans are in for “a bit of a surprise” with season five. Chung is reprising his role as Roddy Ho in the Apple TV+ series.

Chung’s character Roddy started out as a rogue hacktivist in the political thriller series, before winning over the very reluctant Slow Horses with his hacking skills. In a new interview with The Radio Times, Chung hinted that there will be some important developments in Roddy’s relationship with his team.

Slow Horses Star Christopher Chung Teases Major Developments for Roddy

'He Should Have Been More Ruthless': James Callis Dissects Slow Horses' Claude Whelan

Slow Horses Season 4 star James Callis tells Cbr what his character Claude Whelan has done wrong - and why he's not counting Claude out yet.

“[In] season 5, he becomes a little bit louder and a little bit more self-assured, even more so than he already is,...

In the ongoing streaming wars and the endless discussions about the state of the entertainment industry that they've sparked, NBCUniversal's Peacock has become something of a contentious topic, if not an outright comedic punching bag -- with even Nikki Glaser's opening monologue at the 2025 Golden Globes joking that "The Day of the Jackal" is "about a top secret elite sniper that no one can find 'cause he's on Peacock." Nevertheless, the American streamer counts over 30 million subscribers, and jokes aside, those subscribers actually do have quite a plentiful offer of great television available at their fingertips.

Here, we've ranked the 15 best shows that Peacock subscribers can press "Play" on right now, including classics and gems from both sides of the pond and all eras of television. You'll find something for everybody, even if each show listed here is worth watching in its own right.

Read more: 13 Times Film...

It's been over a year since HBO aired the last episode of Succession. Fortunately, series creator Jesse Armstrong is working on a new project.

Per Deadline, Armstrong is penning the script for an untitled movie for HBO Films. The Emmy-winner will also executive produce the project with Frank Rich, who produced Succession and the hit comedy series Veep. While specific plot details have not been disclosed, the story is said to "revolve around four friends who meet up during the turmoil of an ongoing international financial crisis." The movie is expected to begin production later this year.

Related 10 Shows Like Sons of Anarchy With No Redeemable Characters

Sons of Anarchy is known for housing irredeemable characters, and there are other shows where characters similarly reach the point of no return.

Armstrong has worked on several popular British projects, such as comedies and satirical dramas. He rose to fame as the...

Seven-time Emmy winner and Succession creator Jesse Armstrong has found his next project. Variety reports that Armstrong will re-team with the show's executive producer Frank Rich for a new original film for HBO. The plot will follow "four friends who convene during a dramatic international financial crisis."

There aren't many details right now other than Armstrong is penning the script, and production will reportedly begin sometime later this year. The studio is checking on actors' schedules for availability, though no names have been announced as of this moment. No release date has been announced either.

Armstrong is primarily known for his work on television, and his biggest show, Succession, ended in 2022 after four seasons. During its time on air, the series won a total of 19 Emmys, including three for best drama series, with several statues awarded to Armstrong for his writing. Unsurprisingly, Succession is also one of the most critically-lauded series of all time,...

A first look at Sally Wainwright‘s next project, Riot Women, has been unveiled by the BBC and streaming service BritBox.

The BAFTA-winning writer, known for Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax and Gentleman Jack, has taken on a new six-part series led by Joanna Scanlan (After Love, The Thick of It), Rosalie Craig (Moonflower Murders, Serpent Queen) Tamsin Greig (Sexy Beast, The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin), Lorraine Ashbourne (Sherwood, Alma’s Not Normal) and Amelia Bullmore (The Buccaneers, Vienna Blood).

The newly released images show the five women pulling together as punk rockers, forming a makeshift band for a local talent contest. But in writing their first original song, the group soon discover they have a lot to say. Taj Atwal (Line of Duty), Chandeep Uppal (Holby City), and Macy-Jacob Seelochan (Shadow and Bone) feature as the band’s riotous backing singers.

Sally Wainwright’s ‘Riot Women...

In Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove, United States Air Force Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper goes rogue and launches an unprovoked nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. He is asked by Raf Group Captain Lionel Mandrake — a voice of reason in the madness — to recall the B-52 bombers that will end civilization. Ripper refuses. Mandrake asks politely, in an arch British way, why he feels the need to blow up the world. The general talks of how forces beyond our comprehension are slowly poisoning America with a toxic chemical known as … fluoride.

It’s that time of year again. While some directors annually share their favorite films of the year, Steven Soderbergh lists everything he consumed, media-wise. For 2024––another year in which he not only premiered a new film, but shot another and is prepping another to begin production shortly––he still got plenty of watching in.

Along with catching up on 2024’s new releases, he took in plenty of classics, including Opening Night, Jaws, Casablanca, All About Eve, The Conversation, Alien, and nine viewings of various Star Wars films. He also got an early look at Andrew Patterson’s The Rivals of Amziah King and after beginning production on Black Bag on May 7, he had a first cut on June 23.

See the list below via his official site.

01/02 Blaming, Elizabeth Taylor

01/04 The Conversation

01/05 Predators, American Greed

01/06 The Curse

01/09 The Curse

01/10 Break Point (3)

01/11 Break Point (3), Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone,...

After The Matrix (1999) and V For Vendetta (2005), the Wachowskis were ready to turn from darkness into the bright, bright candy-colored light. The result was Speed Racer (2008), an eyepopping postmodern explosion that honored the gravity-defying spirit of old-school anime…and which audiences couldn’t quite figure out.Host Rico Gagliano talks with Speed Racer star Roger Allam (The Thick of It), legendary special-effects artist John Gaeta (The Matrix), and others about how the movie was made, why it tanked, and why a growing army of acolytes start their days by watching its final action sequence.The latest season of the Mubi Podcast, Box Office Poison, dives into six visionary films...that were also notorious flops. Inspired by the new book of the same name by Tim Robey, film critic for The Telegraph, each episode takes a wild ride through a great movie’s rise, fall, and rise.Listen to episode six...

Steve Coogan stars in Armando Iannucci’s West End adaptation of Dr Strangelove, which will be broadcast in cinemas next year.

“You can’t fight in here, this is the War Room!” is one of the most iconic quotes from Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 masterpiece Dr Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying About The Bomb. Starring Peter Sellers in multiple roles, it told the story of a rogue US general who triggers a nuclear crisis.

Kubrick directed the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with Terry Southern and Peter George.

Satirist Armando Iannucci, who himself co-wrote and directed a film about useless politicians inadvertently triggering a war, the wonderful In The Loop, itself a spin-off from acerbic sitcom The Thick Of It, has adapted the film for the stage with Sean Foley, who also directed the show.

Steve Coogan takes on the daunting task of following in Sellers’ footsteps,...

Armando Iannucci (Veep, The Thick of It, The Franchise) has launched the production company Touchscreen Ltd. with BBC Studios. The partners unveiled a U.K. development partnership Monday.

“The agreement will see BBC Studios and Touchscreen, founded by Armando Iannucci, work together to develop and co-produce innovative, daring and world-class scripted programming for the U.K. and international markets, distributed by BBC Studios,” they said in a press release.

Working alongside Iannucci at Touchscreen will be his long-standing collaborator and producer Kevin Loader, joined by development producer Charlotte Draper.

“The new partnership will be committed to mentoring and championing new British talent, on and off screen, and telling stories that resonate globally,” the partners said.

Said Iannucci: “Touchscreen is focused on making projects that reflect, confront or celebrate the world we live in. I’ll be continuing my relationship with HBO, and now with Touchscreen I have the opportunity to...

Armando Iannucci has launched a production company and is tying with BBC Studios on a development partnership.

The decorated British comedy writer has opened Touchscreen with long-standing collaborator and producer Kevin Loader along with development producer Charlotte Draper. The agreement with BBC Studios will see the pair work on scripted shows for the UK and internationally.

The new partnership will be committed to mentoring and championing new British talent, on and off screen, according to its founders. Iannucci will continue his partnership with HBO, which recently spawned The Franchise comedy with Sam Mendes.

Alongside Touchscreen, Loader will continue running Free Range Films, which he has overseen with Roger Michell since 1996, with credits including The Mother, Enduring Love and Venus. He won a BAFTA for ITV’s The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies in 2015.

Iannucci, whose past credits include Veep, The Thick of It and The Personal History of David Copperfield,...

Exclusive: David Haig (Four Weddings and a Funeral) has joined the cast of Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino’s upcoming ballet dramedy Étoile as a series regular, Deadline has learned.

Haig was cast ahead of production on Season 1, which began in January, but not previously announced. Details on his role are being kept under wraps.

Set in New York City and Paris, the eight-episode first season of Étoile follows the dancers and artistic staff of two world-renowned ballet companies, as they embark on an ambitious gambit to save their storied institutions by swapping their most talented stars.

Étoile is created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, who writes, directs, and serves as executive producer.

Haig joins a cast that includes the Emmy-winning Marvelous Mrs. Maisel alum Luke Kirby, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Gideon Glick, Simon Callow, Lou de Laâge and David Alvarez.

From Amazon MGM Studios, Étoile, which has a two-season order,...

This week on the Film Stories Podcast Network, our array of film and TV chats cover the monster in cinema, the French New Wave and more. Here’s what we’ve been up to…

The CineHistorians Podcast

The first season of CineHistorians begins as Dr. Carl Sweeney and Raquel Stecher, in the first of a two-parter on the French New Wave, discuss Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless from 1960…

Writers on Film

Don’t miss John Bleasdale’s ongoing exploration of Terrence Malick to tie into his new book on the subject, talking 1978’s Days of Heaven, but he also spoke with author Anna Bogutskaya about why we remain obsessed by the cinematic monster…

A Dream Given Form

Baz Greenland and Lukę Winch, joined by guest Brandi Jackola, race toward dark places in Babylon-5 ever more, exploring the crucial mythological episode, 2×17 ‘In the Shadow of Z’ha’dum’…

Britcom Goes to the...

Satirist and The Death Of Stalin writer-director Armando Iannucci will take aim at social media in his next film.

Writer, director and satirist Armando Iannucci has revealed that his next film will poke fun at social media. The project will see him team up with Jon Brown, with whom he previously worked on TV comedy series The Franchise, a satire of superhero movie-making. According to Chortle, Iannucci said on Daniel Merrifield’s The Movie Dweeb podcast, “I’m always interested in where power and influence is, so social media is something actually that Jon [Brown] and I have been working on together, on a film script, which we hope to shoot next year”.

Ianucci went on to say that it would be “set in that world of that next generation of your Zuckerbergs, your Musks and Peter Thiels, and all those people’ – referring to the founder of Facebook, owner of X and Facebook investor respectively.

Comedy has brought fans some of the most iconic and successful TV shows of all time, from long-running sitcoms like Cheers and Friends to satirical shows like Veep. Giving audiences everything from slapstick humor to witty commentary and observational humor, these shows have delivered audiences iconic characters, cultural touchstones and some of TV's best moments. Naturally, some of these series have lasted in the minds of audiences better than others.

Comedy shows range in length and quality, from near-flawless miniseries to failed sitcoms and everything in between. While most shows have their share of dud episodes that fans try to forget, others have maintained impressive consistency from start to finish. Although the quality of art is subjective, some shows consistently managed to appeal to fans across the spectrum, even if not every episode was perfect.

The Thick of It Is a Great Satire

The Thick of It focuses on a...

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The 2024 U.S. elections had to be one of the most entertaining elections in the United States history. While I know that many people are taking it very seriously as they should it is also true that at the end of the day, you have to believe that everything will be fine. So, with that sentiment and because of my love for any media about the complex nature of politics we compiled a list of the best political TV shows that you should watch right now.

The West Wing (Max & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – NBC

The West Wing is a political comedy-drama series created by Aaron Sorkin. The NBC series is set in the West Wing of the White House and it follows the administration of the fictional two-term Democratic President Josiah Bartlet as they deal with...

If you’re able to get to London by January 25th, or to Dublin in February, you can still get yourself a seat to see Dr. Strangelove, adapted for the stage by The Thick of It creator Armando Iannucci and starring Iannucci’s frequent star, Steve Coogan. If you’re not? All you need is a Hulu login to see Coogan’s next most recent performance.

In this week’s episode of What We Do in the Shadows, Coogan débuts as Roderick Cravensworth, father to Matt Berry’s Laszlo — or, to be more precise, his ghost, Roderick having died more than a century ago. It’s reductive to say Roderick is the kind of father who would drive his son to rebel by embracing vampirism, but it might also be true: He’s pompous, he weasels his way into relationships far too quickly and he’s lightly emotionally abusive to...

Brian Cox’s Santa Claus is coming to town in the first trailer for Netflix’s animated holiday comedy That Christmas.

In the film’s first trailer, the Succession actor is sporting Kris Kringle’s standard uniform — a beard, red suit with a white fur trim and boots — as he delivers presents to children on the busiest night of the year, Christmas Eve.

That Christmas is based on a trilogy of children’s books by award-winning writer-director Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually and Yesterday) and marks his first leap into animation. The film features entwined stories about family and friends, love and loneliness and Santa Claus making a big mistake.

In her review, The Hollywood Reporter‘s Lovia Gyarkye praised the “charming animation” while adding that the movie “slyly avoids the usual mawkishness by grounding its whimsical story in the real and prickly emotions of life.

Brian Cox is coming down the chimney.

In the first trailer for Netflix’s animated holiday comedy “That Christmas,” the “Succession” alum suits up as Santa Claus as he tells the story of one of the most challenging nights in his career.

Based on the charming trilogy of children’s books by beloved multi award-winning writer/director Richard Curtis, “That Christmas” follows a series of entwined tales about family and friends, love, loneliness and Santa Claus making a big mistake — not to mention an enormous number of turkeys.

The ensemble cast includes Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, Lolly Adefope, Alex Macqueen, Katherine Parkinson, Sindhu Vee, India Brown, Zazie Hayhurst, Sienna Sayer, Jack Wisniewski, Rosie Cavaliero, Paul Kaye, Guz Khan, Andy Nyman, Kuhu Agarwal, Bronte Smith, Freddie Spry and Ava Talbot with Bill Nighy and Rhys Darby.

Curtis makes his first foray into animation as the Locksmith Animation comedy’s writer and executive producer.

The trailer for Netflix‘s upcoming Christmas family film has arrived. That Christmas is adapted from the successful series of children’s books by Love Actually writer Richard Curtis and the voice cast is packed to the brim with names like Brian Cox [Santa], Fiona Shaw [Ms Trapper], Jodie Whittaker [Mrs Williams], Lolly Adefope [Mrs McNutt], Alex Macqueen [Mr Forrest], Katherine Parkinson [Mrs Forrest], Sindhu Vee [Mrs Mulji], India Brown [Bernadette], Zazie Hayhurst [Sam], Sienna Sayer [Charlie], Jack Wisniewski [Danny], Rosie Cavaliero [Mrs Beccles], Paul Kaye [Yirrell], Guz Khan [Dasher], Andy Nyman [Mr Beccles], Kuhu Agarwal [Nisha], Bronte Smith [Eve], Freddie Spry [Teddy], Ava Talbot [Scarlett], with Bill Nighy [Bill] and Rhys Darby [Mr McNutt].

The official synopsis reads,

“Based on the successful series of children’s books by BAFTA winner and Academy Award® nominee Richard Curtis, Locksmith Animation’s heartwarming film marks the feature film directorial debut of renowned character animation and story artist veteran Simon Otto (How to Train Your Dragon trilogy). That Christmas follows a series of entwined tales about love and loneliness,...

Netflix revealed the official That Christmas trailer, which comes from Locksmith Animation (Ron’s Gone Wrong) and director Simon Otto (How to Train Your Dragon trilogy). Debuting on December 4, the film has been rated PG for thematic elements, some language, and rude humor.

That Christmas is an adaptation of the beloved children’s book series written by acclaimed BAFTA Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated writer and director Richard Curtis.

That Christmas follows a series of entwined tales about family and friends, love and loneliness, and Santa Claus making a big mistake, not to mention an enormous number of turkeys! A film of firsts, it marks Curtis’s first animation project and the directorial debut of animation veteran Otto.

The film stars Brian Cox as Santa, Fiona Shaw (Ms. Trapper), Jodie Whittaker (Mrs. Williams), and Bill Nighy (Bill) as the residents of a charming seaside town where things turn upside down one Christmas.

Leave it to rom-com staple Richard Curtis to transform Logan Roy into Santa Claus.

Curtis is turning to the world of animation with Netflix film “That Christmas,” which stars “Succession” alum Brian Cox as St. Nick. “Love Actually” and “About Time” writer/director Curtis adapted the script from his own bestselling children’s book series; Curtis and Peter Souter share screenplay credit. Veteran character animator and story artist Simon Otto (“How to Train Your Dragon”) makes his directorial debut with the film.

“That Christmas” follows a series of entwined tales about love and loneliness, family and friends, and Santa Claus making one big mistake, according to the official synopsis. Oh, and there is also “an enormous number of turkeys!”

The ensemble cast includes Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, Rhys Darby, Lolly Adefope, Alex Macqueen, Katherine Parkinson, Sindhu Vee, India Brown, Zazie Hayhurst, Sienna Sayer, Jack Wisniewski, Rosie Cavaliero, Paul Kaye, Guz Khan,...

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The Diplomat is a political thriller comedy-drama series created by Debora Cahn. The Netflix series follows the story of Kate Wyler, a career diplomat who is married to a political star as she is recruited as the United States ambassador to the United Kingdom amid an international crisis. The Diplomat stars Keri Russell in the lead role with Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi, Rory Kinnear, Georgie Henley, Ato Essandoh, Ali Ahn, Jess Chanliau, and Nana Mensah starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the hilarious comedy, political thrills, and compelling characters in The Diplomat here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Madam Secretary (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – CBS

Madam Secretary is a political thriller drama series created by Barbara Hall. The CBS series follows the story of Elizabeth McCord, a former CIA analyst...

Seasoned French-Swedish producer Patrick Nebout has inked a co-production pact with German powerhouse Odeon Fiction (Netflix’s “Kitz”) to jointly develop and produce the eight-part English-language dramedy “The Studio.”

The murder mystery and movie industry spoof will be Nebout’s first production for his Stockholm-based Dramanation, a boutique outfit specialised in the creation and packaging of quality European scripted dramas and features with a global appeal.

Under the agreement between Dramanation and Leonine Studios’ banner Odeon Fiction, the German outfit’s exec producer, head of international co-productions Britta Meyermann, will executive-produce and oversee the production alongside Nebout.

Currently in development, “The Studio” is the brainchild of Nebout and his long-time creative partner Henrik Jansson-Schweizer, writer of the duo’s much anticipated satire “Whiskey on the Rocks,” ordered by Swedish pubcaster Svt and Disney +. Their earlier hits include the Oscar-nominated pic “The Hundred Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared...

Gary Oldman and co will be back for a season 6 of Slow Horses on Apple TV+ it’s been confirmed. More details here.

Slow Horses, adapted from the novels by Mick Herron, was seemingly destined for great things from the start. Solid source material, some of Britain’s best screenwriters including Will Smith and Morwenna Banks, all centered around a powerhouse performance by Gary Oldman at its centre.

The first four seasons received near universal critical acclaim and now, according to Deadline, the show will be back for a sixth series, the news coming shortly after the end of season 4. Season 5 has already been filmed and will be released next year.

The ensemble cast also includes Jack Lowden, Saskia Reeves, Aimee Ffion-Edwards, Rosalind Eleazar, Christopher Chung and Jonathan Pryce.

The sixth season will be adapted from two of Herron’s novels, Joe Country and Slough House.

The synopsis reads as...

From ‘Curb’ to ‘The Comeback,’ HBO knows comedy.

Writing a list of the top HBO comedy TV shows of all time is hard because it’s subjective. What I think is funny and what you think is funny is different – and we’re both right (except I’m more right). Still, it’s fun to do and I can use the release of the new HBO comedy TV series “The Franchise” as an excuse to do it.

With new episodes dropping on Sunday nights, “The Franchise” follows the crew of an unloved franchise movie as they showcase the secret chaos inside the world of superhero moviemaking. Sam Mendes is co-creator, so he’s bound to bring the realism having spent years and years of his life making franchise movies. More importantly – as this list will exemplify - HBO knows comedy. So, here are the top 7 HBO comedy TV shows of...

Does fiction really reflect reality, or is it the other way around? It’s the election year in the United States that brought Veep back to the top of the ratings charts, five years after it ended. The show was super popular in its time, but it feels completely timeless, showing people that politics will always have an impact.

Still from season seven of Veep (Credits: HBO)

Recently, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who played the character that made her famous, spoke about Selina Meyer and how people still remember her. She boldly admitted that, even though she doesn’t like it, there’s a lot of comparison between the fictional politician Selina Meyer and one of the current presidential candidates.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus Admitted That Her Character In Veep Resembles Donald Trump Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer in Veep (Credits: HBO)

The new generation of voters can gain a better understanding of the political world by watching Veep,...

Though HBO’s latest comedy is called “The Franchise,” there’s never any doubt which franchise creator Jon Brown has in mind. The beleaguered crew, stressed-out producers and insecure stars of “Tecto: Eye of the Storm” comprise a tiny fiefdom of a sprawling empire. Overseen by an invisible puppetmaster, the master narrative is a jumbled knot of continuity errors. Actors get yanked off the set for a day’s cameo elsewhere on the drab, generic backlot as plot holes demand. Directors and performers with prestigious résumés do time for a paycheck, getting praise for their visionary genius as their every contribution is overruled or ignored. If this IP abomination had a name, it’d be Blah-rvel Cinematic Universe. But of course, it doesn’t need one.

A byproduct of the superhero era has been a slew of (barely) fictionalized laments about what the superhero era hath wrought. “The Boys” has...

Episodes viewed: 8 of 8

Streaming on: Sky/Now

There’s been no shortage of superhero movies in the last few years — and no shortage of some less-than-heroic behind-the-scenes reports to go along with them, too. So it’s almost surprising it’s taken this long for a show like The Franchise to come along. The brainchild of Armando Iannucci, Sam Mendes and showrunner Jon Brown, this is — like The Thick Of It or Veep — a workplace satire, one that shines a cutting, sharply funny light on cinema’s comic-book craze.

From episode to episode, there is seemingly no limit to the amount of hilariously undignified chaos unfurling on the set of fictional superhero movie ‘Tecto’. Said chaos ranges from garden-variety nonsense — studio interference, late-in-the-day script edits, actors not leaving their trailers for reasons — to the more superhero-specific. Brown’s targets are keenly tuned in this regard, his barbs sharp. From the...

You ever wonder what really goes on during the making of those mammoth superhero movies? The franchise pulls back the curtain to reveal both the hilarity and heartache of blockbuster production.

This new HBO series premiered in October 2024. It offers a comedic look at a day-on-the-job within Maximum Studios—a place churning out comic book films not unlike Marvel. Through the eyes of overworked crew members like assistant director Daniel, the show exposes the absurd demands placed on these movies.

Masterminds behind The Franchise include Armando Iannucci and director Sam Mendes. They crafted a smart, sharp satire exploring both the laughs and less glamorous realities of big-budget filmmaking. Issues like exhausted VFX teams and studio meddling get spoofed in an entertaining yet insightful way.

Beyond mining comedy from superhero tropes, the series also profiles the unsung heroes that bring these films to life. From harried assistants to overcommitted script supervisors,...

From I Love Lucy to The Larry Sanders Show and beyond, writers in the performing arts have always set stories in the world of show business they know so well. (Even Hamlet makes a pretty memorable scene out of the titular character trying his hand at directing.) Naturally, with superhero movies crowding out all other genres, the process of making them is a target fit not just for fictional dramatization, but for savage mockery. Depending on whether you’ve ever added up how much you’ve spent on tickets to predictable movies about deeply mid comic book characters, you might think HBO’s new satire The Franchise — from some of England’s most eloquent and gifted insult craftsmen — doesn’t go hard enough.

In The Franchise’s series premiere, which airs on Sunday, October 6th, we join the production of a movie called Tecto: The Eye of the Storm on...

The state of big-budget studio filmmaking obviously isn’t as consequential as the state of a dysfunctional, ego-driven, often deeply ridiculous U.S. government. Yet for those who obsessively follow the former, it’s probably more compelling, with the fandom of superhero movies and their ilk adding in a bizarre sports-style overlay of rooting interests. So it follows that “Veep” and “Succession” writer Jon Brown would create the satirical sitcom “The Franchise” with a similar eye for the clueless hubris of an unstoppable yet eminently ruinable machine. Appropriately, “Veep” and ”The Thick of It” mastermind Armando Iannucci is on hand to executive produce.

Also similar to “Veep” is the new show’s mix of schadenfreude for a cursed system and reluctant sympathy for its various cogs (at least the less openly venal ones). It becomes clear early on that it would probably be better for the artistic health of the film...

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Himesh Patel speaks with MovieWeb's Will Sayre about his funny crime thriller with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Greedy People. He also touches on his starring role in the upcoming HBO satire The Franchise, from the great Armando Iannucci. Greedy People is available on digital and on demand.

Greedy People follows the residents of a small island town who must navigate a sensational murder and the discovery of a million dollars, a series of increasingly bad decisions that upend the once peaceful community.

If you thought Armando Iannucci couldn’t find a more colourful world than politics to satirise, think again – the man behind The Thick Of It, Veep, The Death Of Stalin and more is back as executive producer of The Franchise, exploring the chaos unfolding behind the scenes of a major superhero movie. Teaming up with director Sam Mendes and showrunner Jon Brown, Iannucci’s latest series ventures into the realm of blue screens, spandex, gods, and monsters, as the production of ‘Tecto: Eye Of The Storm’ – from ‘Maximum Studios’ – threatens to go spectacularly off the rails. Expect a storm of clashing creative visions, cantankerous stars, and overbearing execs.

While the series centres on Himesh Patel’s First Ad, Daniel, and Lolly Adefope’s Third Ad, Dag, as they desperately try to keep ‘Tecto’ on track, one of the complications in the mix is pretentious director Eric – played by Daniel Brühl,...

Today, BritBox and the BBC announced the cast of Riot Women, the brand-new drama series from the multi-bafta award-winning writer Sally Wainwright.

Leading the cast and the Riot Women band are Joanna Scanlan as Beth, Rosalie Craig as Kitty, Tamsin Greig as Holly, Lorraine Ashbourne as Jess, and Amelia Bullmore as Yvonne.

Anne Reid (The Sixth Commandment) will play Nancy, Holly and Yvonne’s mother, with Sue Johnston (The Royle Family) as Jess’s Aunt Mary. Peter Davison (Doctor Who), Claire Skinner (Outnumbered), and Angel Coulby (Merlin) also join the cast.

In Riot Women, we dive headfirst into the world of five women who, along with two riotous backing singers, come together to create a makeshift punk-rock band in order to enter a local talent contest, but in writing their first original song, soon discover that they have a lot to say – and this is their way to say it.

Sally Wainwright, creator of TV hits Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax, and Gentleman Jack, is turning her attention to a new BBC project, Riot Women.

The six-episode series, from Drama Republic, on Thursday unveiled its cast as filming continues in West Yorkshire, England.

Joanna Scanlan (After Love, The Thick of It) will lead the cast as Beth, along with Rosalie Craig (Moonflower Murders, Serpent Queen) as Kitty, Tamsin Greig (Sexy Beast, The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin) as Holly, Lorraine Ashbourne (Sherwood, Alma’s Not Normal) as Jess, and Amelia Bullmore (The Buccaneers, Vienna Blood) as Yvonne.

In Riot Women, “we dive headfirst into the world of five women who, along with two riotous backing singers, come together to create a makeshift punk-rock band in order to enter a local talent contest,” a plot synopsis reads. “But in writing their first original song, they soon discover that...

Will Smith walked onto the stage at the Emmy Awards on Sunday night. Still, any tension associated with that name and the awards stage was quickly assuaged when he opened his mouth to accept the outstanding writing for a drama series award.

“First of all, relax. Despite my name, I come in peace,” Smith, who is not the famous actor, but the showrunner for the Apple TV hit series Slow Horses, told the crowd at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The crowd laughed at the callback to one of the most notorious moments in recent awards show history.

Many will recall what has been dubbed “the slap,” when the actor Will Smith, of Men in Black and King Richard fame, walked onto the stage during Chris Rock’s presentation and slapped him across the face. This attack on live TV, which shocked the show’s guests and those watching worldwide,...

Hollywood big-budget tentpoles get ready, Armando Iaunucci is coming for you.

The Veep and Avenue 5 creator/writer teamed up with Succession and Veep writer Jon Brown and the pair have crash-landed from the worlds of media, politics and outer space onto a superhero movie set for the satirical series, The Franchise, which has now dropped a teaser trailer.

Sam Mendes (Skyfall, American Beauty) is director and executive producer along with Iaunucci (The Thick Of It, The Death Of Stalin) and Brown, with Brown as showrunner.

“Everything’s exploding at a million miles an hour, and the movie is a scrotum resting on a razor’s edge,” says Himesh Patel to set the tone in the footage. Patel is playing the director an unloved franchise movie “fighting for its place in a savage and unruly cinematic universe.”

Per the logline, “The comedy series shines a light on the secret chaos inside the world of superhero moviemaking,...

If you thought Marvel movies were stressful, you ain’t seen nothing yet. HBO dropped the first teaser for “The Franchise,” the premium cable network’s upcoming high-pressure comedy about creating a superhero franchise in Hollywood. The series will premiere on Oct. 6.

The upcoming show comes from Armando Iannucci, best known for creating “Veep” and “The Thick of It,” as well as Sam Mendes and Jon Brown.

“Just another 83 days, and then we’re done,” Himesh Patel as Daniel says in the teaser while rushing down a hall with people filing after him. “I’d savor every moment.”

As is typically the case with Iannucci’s work, it’s difficult to know how much of that statement is rooted in truth and how much is sarcasm thinly masking an impending mental breakdown. That manic tone continues throughout the teaser as characters call this movie everything from “a scrotum resting on...

Kaleidoscope Entertainment is gearing up for the release of the highly anticipated Scottish thriller Kill, hitting cinemas on 13th September. Produced by Synchronicity Films, the film showcases the best of Scottish filmmaking, featuring a gripping story of betrayal, violence, and survival set against the haunting backdrop of rural Scotland. With a nearly all-Scottish cast, Kill is poised to deliver a cinematic experience as intense as the rugged landscapes in which it was filmed.

Shot on location at an estate in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Kill brings the beauty and menace of the Scottish wilderness to the big screen. Officially selected for the 2023 Edinburgh Film Festival, the film has already received glowing reviews from critics, with The Herald praising it as “Taught and Original” and Loud and Clear declaring it a “Non-Stop Thriller.”

The plot follows three brothers, played by Daniel Portman (Game of Thrones), Brian Vernel, and Calum Ross (Wednesday), who...

In Betrayal, three desperate brothers return to the remote Scottish woodland where they killed their abusive father only to discover his shallow grave is now empty, forcing them to question each other’s loyalty as fear and paranoia set in.

The movie stars Paul Higgins, Brian Vernel, Daniel Portman, Calum Ross, Anita Vettesse, James Harkness, and Joanne Thomson, and is an absolute must-watch. While not a traditional "horror movie" per se, it will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish and features powerhouse performances from its impressive cast.

Last week, we sat down with Higgins to learn more about how he approached the role of Don, the twisted patriarch of Betrayal's family who is one of the most evil characters we've seen on screen in quite some time.

"I was very intrigued by it," the actor tells us in the video below when we wondered...

Prime Video has unveiled the first look at season two of the mind-bending thriller, ‘The Devil’s Hour,’ which will launch exclusively on Prime Video globally on 18th October.

The series stars Jessica Raine (Patrick Melrose, Informer), Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who, The Thick of It), Nikesh Patel (Starstruck), Phil Dunster (Ted Lasso) and Meera Syal. Saffron Hocking (Top Boy) also joins the cast for season two.

Season two sees Lucy (Jessica Raine) and Gideon (Peter Capaldi) forming an uneasy alliance to prevent a recurring tragedy and hunt down an elusive monster. Lucy’s double life sees her torn between family and duty as she finds herself in the crosshairs of her past-life husband, Di Ravi Dhillon (Nikesh Patel). Assisting Dhillon in his investigation is DS Sam Boyd (Saffron Hocking) who was mentored by Di Lucy Chambers in a previous life.

Phil Dunster as Mike

Meanwhile, Isaac (Benjamin Chivers) discovers new emotions...

We spoke with British actor Himesh Patel on the release date of his thrilling new film, Greedy People, a hillbilly neo-noir that brings plenty of laughs and blood-soaked violence. Patel has been keeping busy on the small screen as well, with a highly anticipated new series called The Franchise, which also stars Billy Magnussen. The series comes from satirical legend Armando Iannucci, and will parody the superhero industrial complex by following a film crew as they attempt to produce another Marvel-style blockbuster.

"I had a great time making it, one of the best times I've ever had, really, and I'm very excited that it's coming out so soon," Himesh told MovieWeb. "Billy's great. I think he's an incredibly talented actor, and so funny in the show. I can't wait for people to see what he's done." Patel, has actually worked with the great Iannucci before, on HBO's short-lived but hilarious Avenue 5.