The Franchise Cast Opens Up About the Madness Behind the Scenes And Superhero Fatigue
The Franchise is a fresh TV series pulling back the curtain on the chaos of movie sets, capturing the often-overlooked backstage drama with comedic brilliance. Pop Culture Planet spoke with the cast at New York Comic Con, including Himesh Patel, Aya Cash, Billy Magnussen, and Lolly Adefope, and Daniel Brühl, to dive into what this project means for them.
Being apart of a story like this takes some guts as you’re reading the script knowing you are commenting directly on the industry you work in. So the big question is: what are these creatives channeling from to connect with this story? Brühl set the record straight about the Marvel rumors as he recalled a memorable moment on a set with Robert Downey Jr. where a simple joke led to an invitation to Downey's private village where he was able to connect with many Marvel cast members . He saidd the cast and crew made it an easy transition entering such a huge world. "My reference for this wasn’t Marvel because people think that, but it was another film that really sank the second I arrived,” Brühl clarified. “The vision of the directors, creatives, and staff just didn’t work out,” which, he feels, mirrors the journey of The Franchise characters at the beginning of the series.
Lolly Adefope recalled an unforgettable mishap on the set of Mission: Impossible - Fallout involving Tom Cruise. Although her back was turned at the time, she remembers how Cruise broke his ankle, which halted production for six months. Her cast mate Billy Magnussen joked that people were likely more nervous about their jobs than seeing any humor in the situation.
Beyond the dangers of the set, Magnussen recalled being on a production where millions of dollars were spent on equipment designed to capture seamless scenes, only for someone to manually perform the task anyway. He noted that it wasted money and took focus away from the art of filmmaking.
The cast members share what drew them to the project and their own critiques of Hollywood’s superhero industry. Magnussen offered advice: "Develop the characters more. Use the artists who are actually talented — don’t just throw money at it." He added, "Think outside the box more often."
Patel revealed his preference for "everyday guy" superheroes like Spider-Man, believing that audiences crave relatable heroes. While fully supporting the film industry, the cast is eager to be part of a show that reflects their concerns.
Are they feeling superhero fatigue themselves? The answer is mixed. "Dag is feeling superhero fatigue," but Adefope is hopeful as the show explores "the idea that people want to see an amazing superhero and, when you let creatives do what they do best, you get those films."
Brühl noted that while his character Eric is determined to make a film he’s proud of, superhero fatigue isn't weighing on him. Magnussen, however, is personally over the superhero craze, even if his character is not. "We’re not celebrating new voices or ideas," he said. "There’s a film industry in Atlanta, but the big studios came in, and now small indie films can’t afford crews anymore." He added, "Big studios can kill the ‘bottom floor’ of the film industry."
While each actor respects the inspiration behind a well-crafted superhero film, they see room for growth to foster a more diverse and sustainable industry.
The Franchise is now streaming on Max, with new episodes premiering every Sunday.
