Ronit J

The Franchise (2024) Synopsis:

A team trapped inside the dysfunctional hell of creating franchise superhero movies. At the end of the day the question they face: is this Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand? Is this a dream factory or a chemical plant?

The Franchise (2024) Review:

I loved The Studio, ranking it as the best show I watched in 2025. I genuinely can’t wait for the second season. Maybe it’s that I watched that show first, or that this show was made during a time that superhero fatigue had already set in. Either way, HBO’s The Franchise is an interesting show that has a ton of potential but ultimately ends up being too restrained for its own good.

We follow Daniel Kumar (Himesh Patel), a First Assistant Director who runs the show for a mega superhero franchise’s smaller title. The director, Eric Bouchard (Daniel Brühl) is an indie auteur, who’s constantly at philosophical loggerheads with the production. And then there are the actors, Adam Randolph (Billy Magnussen) and Peter Fairchild (Richard E. Grant), one who’s a veteran theatre actor and the other who’s an insecure eye-candy. There are more characters, but they weren’t nearly as interesting to remember. Honestly, I watched this show two weekends ago, and I’m already starting to forget it. So, before I completely forget it, let me get my thoughts out.

Goofy & Interesting

The Franchise features everything that’s perfect for a premise like this. A mega superhero franchise that’s a nod to both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DCEU, bloated beyond comprehension, and focused on everything except what really matters. We also have an auteur filmmaker who is better suited for meaningful indie films, but must make this intellectual-equivalent of a big mac. And then there’s the cast and crew, and all the chaos that follows as a result of clashing egos, studio interference, and more.

Season 1 follows different days of a 118-day schedule of a film’s making. Each day is a new conflict and a new challenge. None of the challenges are logical, but that’s show business, no? From celebrity cameos, to the franchise’s tent pole production neglecting the smaller film, to even an absurd product placement as demanded by the studio, The Franchise is everything that you’ve heard of big studios. It’s goofy, it’s absurd, and it contains several genuinely hilarious moments.

However, the praises end there. Funny jokes and interesting set ups aren’t enough to make for a compelling watch.

Too Restrained For Its Own Good

The biggest problem with The Franchise is its restraint. The goofiness is undercut by the realism. Where tension could’ve built on the anxiety, the cool and easygoing treatment defuses most of the tension. And most importantly, as absurd as the show tries to be, it’s nothing compared to the weird things we’ve actually seen happen in the industry. The Franchise tries and fails to do what The Studio (2025) did brilliantly. Now, that’s not necessarily a fair comparison. However, it is a justifiable one.

Daniel is introduced as the main guy. However, there is no growth in his character. We do learn about his connection to Anita (Aya Cash), but that relationship adds nothing to the show. Dag (Jolly Adefope) was hilariously sassy. Sadly, they never let her be more than just that. The actor rivalry grew stale by episode 3, and the show just progressed in a straight line. The superhero and studio stuff was too grounded to feel interesting. As for the character development and emotional arcs, there were practically none. So, what’s there to watch?

If the show had chosen to be unhinged like The Studio, it could have led to a much more memorable watch. Sadly, even the most epic moments (blowing up the wrong bridge, a VFX guy having a breakdown and threatening people with a knife, etc.) feel like footnotes in a content-saturated world. In a world where The Studio by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg exists, The Franchise is condemned to be forgotten.

The Franchise (2024) Ending Explained

After finding out that Tecto (the film they’re working on) might get cancelled due to Eric’s eccentric ideas, Daniel, Anita (Aya Cash) and Dag (Lolly Adefope) come up with a rewrite and reshoot proposal. They pitch it to Shane directly. However, during a later shoot featuring a VFX scene with Peter, Eric blows up and insults the crew. The VFX guy has a breakdown and the production put under lockdown because he has a knife. During that time, Eric discovers the rewrites and insults Dan.

Once the lockdown is lifted, it’s revealed that the VFX guy had stabbed himself in the knee, and he wasn’t threatening anyone else. Pat (Darren Goldstein) informs them that Centurios 2 is going to be delayed, making Tecto the new tentpole film. Eric is ecstatic and thanks Daniel, but fires him for betraying him.

As Daniel is leaving the studio, Pat approaches him, and informs him that Shane was impressed. He wants Daniel to be involved with the franchise, even if it is as a Director. The ending is clearly meant to set up Daniel’s future as a Director, and maybe even Steph’s promotion to First Assistant Director. However, we’ll never know what the future was going to look like.

Is The Franchise (2024) Worth Watching?

Not really. As quirky and interesting as the show is, it failed to deliver anything memorable or super entertaining.

Will there be a The Franchise Season 2?

No. HBO cancelled the show after one season. With good reason, if I might add.

In Conclusion:

The Franchise (2024) is a quirky and fun, but ultimately forgettable satire on the chaos and anxiety of making a superhero film that’s part of a mega franchise.

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• Project Hail Mary (2026) | Film Review
• Island of the Dying Goddess

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