The Franchise answers the question of whether superhero films are killing cinema with a resounding yes right off the bat, sending up everything from convoluted cinematic universes

The Franchise,' a new series from HBO premiering Sunday that stars Himesh Patel and Lolly Adefope, takes a comic look at the production of a second-tier superhero movie from a Marvel-like studio.

Is the comics-to-screen formula played out? Yes. Should this series work harder to make good jokes about that? Yes.

Superhero films are make-believe, and The Franchise, the latest from executive producer Armando Iannucci (Veep, Avenue 5), contends that there’s just as much phoniness behind the scenes as there is in front of the camera.

The new HBO satire shows the behind-the-scenes chaos of making a blockbuster, as star Daniel Brühl confirmed, "There's so much truth in it."

The Franchise airs on Sundays on HBO and will be available on Sky and NOW from 21st October. The first three episodes will air on the 21st with new episodes released weekly. Learn more about Den of Geek’s review process and why you can trust our recommendations here.

And it’s the main thing differentiating “The Franchise,” HBO’s latest sendup of the entertainment industry, from all the other satires about superhero movies, Hollywood and the crass commercialization of art.