Avenue 5 Explained

Creator:Armando Iannucci
Showrunner:Armando Iannucci
Music:Adem Ilhan
Country:United States
United Kingdom
Language:English
Num Seasons:2
Num Episodes:17
Producer:Steve Clark-Hall
Editor:Gary Dollner
Cinematography:Eben Bolter
Runtime:28–29 minutes
Company:Dundee Productions

Avenue 5 is a science fiction comedy television series created by Armando Iannucci that premiered on HBO in the United States on January 19, 2020. It stars Hugh Laurie and Josh Gad in lead roles as captain and owner of a fictional interplanetary cruise ship Avenue 5. HBO produced the series in the United States and Sky UK in the United Kingdom. In February 2020, just days before the COVID-19 pandemic led to worldwide lockdowns, the series was renewed for a second season; filming moved forward in late 2021, with a release date of October 10, 2022.[1] In February 2023, the series was cancelled after two seasons.

Premise

Avenue 5 has been described as "set in the future, mostly in space."[2] On board the interplanetary cruise ship, the Avenue 5, a momentary loss of artificial gravity and accidental death of its chief engineer sends the vessel 0.21 degree off course.[3] It is estimated it will take the ship three years to return to Earth, and with only enough supplies to sustain her many passengers for the intended eight-week long cruise, the crew of the Avenue 5 must struggle to maintain order and return the craft safely.

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Episodes

Season 2 (2022)

Production

Development

On September 25, 2017, it was announced that HBO had given a pilot order to a new comedy series created by Armando Iannucci, who was also set to serve as writer and executive producer. In addition to the pilot order, the network also reportedly ordered backup scripts. In April 2019, a series pickup was commissioned by HBO for nine episodes.[4] On February 13, 2020, the series was renewed for a second season,[5] which would also consist of nine episodes.[6] In October 2022, Iannucci told Entertainment Weekly that there are plans for a third season, saying that HBO was "very keen".[7] On February 10, 2023, HBO canceled the series after two seasons.[8]

Casting

In August 2018, it was announced that Hugh Laurie and Suzy Nakamura had been cast in the pilot's lead roles as Captain Ryan Clark and Iris Kimura.[9] [10] On November 7, 2018, it was reported that Rebecca Front had joined the pilot's cast in another leading role as Karen Kelly.[11] In February 2019, Zach Woods, Josh Gad, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Lenora Crichlow were cast as series regulars Matt Spencer, Herman Judd, Rav Mulclair, and Billie McEvoy.[12] [13] [14] [15] Himesh Patel was added in June as comedian on the ship Jordan Hatwal.[16] The main cast members were returned for the second season by the time of its announcement.

Writing

By July 2021, the first six episodes of the second season were plotted out, leaving only the final three to be outlined "next month".[17] Iannucci added, "It's basically about people in isolation. So, we're just waiting to see what the mood might be as to how we pitch. Is it going to be bleak despair, or is it going to be very, very silly? Or maybe silly despair? I don't know. We tried to make season one as silly as possible, but it seems to have strangely become a kind of documentary about present-day conditions."

Filming

Principal photography for the pilot took place in 2018 in London, England. While filming was taking place at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in July 2019, a fire damaged one of the show's sets.[18] Production for the second season was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2021, creator Armando Iannucci confirmed on Twitter that season two would begin filming, "in a matter of days." A post by Josh Gad confirmed the start of filming in August.[19] Another post by Gad also confirmed the end of filming in late November 2021.[20]

Release

The series premiered on January 19, 2020, on HBO.[21] In New Zealand, the series is distributed by Sky satellite television provider's SOHO2 channel and Neon streaming service.[22] The second season premiered on October 10, 2022, on HBO.[23]

Reception

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has an approval rating of 67% based on 52 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The website's critical consensus states, "If Avenue 5 maiden voyage isn't as smooth as its creative clout implies, it's still a hilarious step in a completely new—while still enjoyably caustic—direction for creator Armando Iannucci."[24] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 64 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[25]

Ratings

Notes and References

  1. News: 'Avenue 5' Likely Ending With Season 2, Cast Of Armando Iannucci's HBO Space Comedy Has Been Released . Nellie . Andreeva . May 27, 2022 . . September 13, 2022 . September 15, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220915015852/https://deadline.com/2022/05/avenue-5-canceled-season-2-final-season-premiere-date-hbo-cast-released-1235034663/ . live .
  2. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . September 25, 2017 . 'Veep' Creator Armando Iannucci Gets HBO Pilot Order for Space Comedy . https://web.archive.org/web/20181030084402/https://deadline.com/2017/09/hbo-armando-iannucci-space-comedy-pilot-veep-1202176361/ . October 30, 2018 . live . . August 24, 2018 .
  3. Web site: Kleinman . Jake . January 2, 2020 . 'Avenue 5' Review: Iannucci's Sci-Fi Sitcom Is the Funniest Thing on HBO . https://web.archive.org/web/20200103025243/https://www.inverse.com/article/62064-avenue-5-review-hbo-hugh-laurie-josh-gad-armando-iannucci . January 3, 2020 . live . en . Inverse . January 3, 2020.
  4. Web site: Armando Iannucci's 'Avenue 5' Space Comedy Gets Series Order At HBO . Deadline Hollywood . Nellie . Andreeva . Denise . Petski . April 22, 2019 . April 22, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190422195532/https://deadline.com/2019/04/armando-iannuccis-avenue-5-space-comedy-series-order-hbo-hugh-laurie-1202599799/ . April 22, 2019 . live .
  5. Web site: 'Avenue 5' Renewed For Season 2 By HBO. Deadline Hollywood. Denise. Petski. February 13, 2020. February 13, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200213173349/https://deadline.com/2020/02/avenue-5-renewed-season-2-by-hbo-1202859329/. February 13, 2020. live.
  6. Web site: Avenue 5 Season 2 release date, plot, cast & what we know more Entertainment. July 17, 2021. Devdiscourse. en. July 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184747/https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/entertainment/1594482-avenue-5-season-2-release-date-plot-cast-what-we-know-more. live.
  7. Collis . Clark . Avenue 5 creator says show is not canceled: 'Everyone wants to do more' . . November 25, 2022 . November 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221125164646/https://ew.com/tv/avenue-5-not-canceled-hbo/ . live .
  8. Web site: 'Avenue 5' Canceled At HBO After Two Seasons. Deadline Hollywood. Peter. White. February 10, 202. February 10, 2023. February 10, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230210231905/https://deadline.com/2023/02/avenue-5-canceled-at-hbo-after-two-seasons-1235256408/. live.
  9. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . Petski . Denise . Hugh Laurie To Star In Armando Iannucci's HBO Comedy Pilot 'Avenue 5' . Deadline Hollywood . August 24, 2018 . August 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180823005327/https://deadline.com/2018/08/hugh-laurie-star-hbo-comedy-pilot-avenue-5-armando-iannucci-veep-creator-1202450599/ . August 23, 2018 . live .
  10. Web site: Petski . Denise . Suzy Nakamura Joins Hugh Laurie In Armando Iannucci's HBO Comedy Pilot 'Avenue 5' . Deadline Hollywood . August 24, 2018 . August 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180824215250/https://deadline.com/2018/08/suzy-nakamura-hugh-laurie-armando-iannucci-hbo-comedy-pilot-avenue-5-1202451933/ . August 24, 2018 . live .
  11. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . 'Avenue 5': Rebecca Front To Star In Armando Iannucci's HBO Comedy Pilot . Deadline Hollywood . November 8, 2018 . November 7, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181116031754/https://deadline.com/2018/11/avenue-5-rebecca-front-cast-armando-iannucci-hbo-comedy-pilot-1202497322/ . November 16, 2018 . live .
  12. Web site: Silicon Valley's Zach Woods Joins Veep Creator Armando Iannucci's Sci-Fi Comedy Pilot Avenue 5 at HBO . . Michael . Ausiello . February 20, 2019 . April 22, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190507131934/https://tvline.com/2019/02/20/zach-woods-avenue-5-hbo-space-comedy-cast/ . May 7, 2019 . live .
  13. Web site: 'Avenue 5': Josh Gad To Star In Armando Iannucci's HBO Comedy Pilot . Deadline Hollywood . Nellie . Andreeva . Denise . Petski . February 21, 2019 . April 22, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190422210238/https://deadline.com/2019/02/avenue-5-josh-gad-star-armando-iannucci-hbo-comedy-pilot-1202562221/ . April 22, 2019 . live .
  14. Web site: 'Avenue 5': Niki Amuka-Bird To Star In Armando Iannucci's HBO Comedy Pilot . Deadline Hollywood . Denise . Petski . February 25, 2019 . April 22, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190609052645/https://deadline.com/2019/02/avenue-5-niki-amuka-bird-to-star-in-armando-iannuccis-hbo-comedy-pilot-1202564959/ . June 9, 2019 . live .
  15. Web site: Lenora Crichlow Joins Cast Of HBO's 'Avenue 5' Pilot From Armando Iannucci . Deadline Hollywood . Patrick . Hipes . February 26, 2019 . April 22, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190422233057/https://deadline.com/2019/02/lenora-crichlow-avenue-5-pilot-cast-hbo-armando-iannucci-1202565470/ . April 22, 2019 . live .
  16. Web site: 'Avenue 5': Himesh Patel Joins Armando Iannucci's HBO Space Comedy Series . Deadline Hollywood . Denise . Petski . June 18, 2019 . December 21, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144515/https://deadline.com/2019/06/avenue-5-himesh-patel-cast-armando-iannucci-hbo-comedy-1202634266/ . December 26, 2019 . live .
  17. Web site: Avenue 5 Season 2: First 6 episodes already mapped; production halted for pandemic Entertainment. July 17, 2021. Devdiscourse. en. July 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210717165418/https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/entertainment/1624355-avenue-5-season-2-first-6-episodes-already-mapped-production-halted-for-pandemic. live.
  18. Web site: HBO's 'Avenue 5' Set Damaged In Fire At Warner Bros' Leavesden Studios In UK – Update . Deadline Hollywood . Andreas . Wiseman . July 11, 2019 . December 21, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190929083819/https://deadline.com/2019/07/fire-warner-bros-leavesden-studios-uk-harry-potter-1202644750/ . September 29, 2019 . live .
  19. CSdf7VKs1CG. joshgad. Bezos and Branson floated so that Judd could fly. Time to go back to space bitches. #Avenue5Season2 - "In Space, no-one can hear you scream…other than the passengers and crew of this particular vessel. @hbo. August 12, 2021. Josh Gad. December 1, 2021.
  20. CWlqwEUL78U. joshgad. Love this crew. As we come to an end on Season 2 of #Avenue5 ao couldn't be more grateful for the last five months with this amazing group.. November 22, 2021. Josh Gad. December 1, 2021.
  21. Web site: Schwartz. Ryan. Avenue 5: Hugh Laurie Space Comedy Gets January Premiere Date at HBO. TVLine. December 8, 2019. December 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191227023404/https://tvline.com/2019/12/08/avenue-5-hugh-laurie-hbo-space-comedy-premiere-date-video/. December 27, 2019. live.
  22. News: Brooks . Sam . Space satire Avenue 5 is brilliant, even as it meanders off course . February 12, 2020 . . January 23, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200127025129/https://thespinoff.co.nz/tv/23-01-2020/space-satire-avenue-5-is-brilliant-even-as-it-meanders-off-course/ . January 27, 2020 . live .
  23. HBO Comedy Series AVENUE 5 Returns For Its Second Season October 10. WarnerMedia. September 14, 2022. September 20, 2022. September 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220920002411/https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us/media-release/hbo-comedy-series-avenue-5-returns-its-second-season-october-10. live.
  24. avenue_5. Avenue 5. tv. 1. March 6, 2022.
  25. avenue-5. Avenue 5. tv. 1. March 6, 2022.