HBO is getting back into business with Armando Iannucci. The premium cable network to the Veep creator’s latest effort Avenue 5, a space comedy that is being toplined by Hugh Laurie (Veep, House). The size of the order for the show’s first season has not yet been set.
Avenue 5 is a space tourism comedy set 40 years in the future when the solar system is everyone’s oyster. Laurie plays the ship’s captain. Rounding out the cast is Josh Gad, Zach Woods, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Rebecca Front, Lenora Crichlow, Suzy Nakamura and Ethan Phillips.
The series order had been largely expected. The pilot was penned by Iannucci and shot on location in London. That’s notable as Iannucci exited Veep as showrunner after season four due to the “difficulties maintaining his family life in London and producing a show in the states”. In addition to creating Avenue 5 he also directed the pilot and serves as an executive producer alongside Kevin Loader, Simon Blackwell, Tony Roche and Will Smith.
Under the terms of their output agreement with HBO, Sky Atlantic holds UK rights to Avenue 5 and are expected to air its close behind the US broadcast in 2020.
