HBO comedy ends, as Hugh Laurie finds a new job

Armando Iannucci’s space comedy Avenue 5 has officially ended.

US cable network HBO – which produces the show with Sky in the UK – confirmed the long-expected news to industry website Deadline.

A spokeswoman said: ‘Going to space with Armando Iannucci has been an incredible journey. While we will not be moving forward with a third season of Avenue 5, we look forward to many more adventures together.’

Iannucci already has another project with the broadcaster. He is shooting a pilot of The Franchise, about a film crew trapped inside the ‘dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyous hellscape of franchise superhero movie-making’ with director Sam Mendes.

The series starred Hugh Laurie as the captain of a luxury space cruise ship adrift in the universe and featured co-stars including Josh Gad, Zach Woods, Rebecca Front and Suzy Nakamura.

It launched in January 2020, with the second, Covid-delayed, series airing in October last year. The hiatus meant cast options had lapsed as a result, Deadline reports.

Earlier this week, it was announced Laurie was joining the case of Apple TV+’s Tehran. He will play a South African nuclear inspector in the spy thriller.

Iannucci will be working with a raft of British writers on The Franchise, including Marina Hyde, known for her satirical newspaper column in The Guardian; Keith Akushie, who created the Charlotte Ritchie and Tom Stourton sitcom Siblings; and Dead Pixels creator Jon Brown, who will be the showrunner.

Published: 11 Feb 2023