HBO Cancels ‘Avenue 5’ After Two Seasons

HBO has decided to officially cancel Armando Iannucci’s space comedy Avenue 5 after just two seasons.

The Warner Bros. Discovery premium cable network has finally confirmed that the series will not return for a third season.

Deadline revealed nearly 8 months ago that the series would likely come to an end. Hugh Laurie, who starred in the show, also recently emerged as the star of Season 3 of Apple TV+’s Tehran.

“Going to space with Armando Iannucci has been an incredible journey,” said an HBO spokeswoman. “While we will not be moving forward with a third season of Avenue 5, we look forward to many more adventures together.”

Season 1 of the show, which also stars Josh Gad, Zach Woods, Rebecca Front, Suzy Nakamura, Lenora Crichlow, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Ethan Phillips, premiered in January 2020 and was quickly renewed for a second season in February 2020.

Due to the pandemic, however, filming on the second season didn’t begin until August 2021, wrapping in November 2021. Season 2 eventually aired in October 2021, two and a half years after its first season. As a result of the delays, cast options had lapsed.

Created and executive produced by Iannucci, Avenue 5 is set 40 years in the future, when traveling the solar system has become a booming, multibillion-dollar business.

The series followed the captain (Laurie) and crew of a luxury space cruise ship as they navigate disgruntled passengers and logistical obstacles in an effort to safely return to Earth after the accidental death of the chief engineer.

HBO will remain in business with Veep creator Iannucci, who recently teamed up with Sam Mendes on The Franchise, a wry look at superhero movie-making that has been ordered to pilot, which is expected to film later this spring.

Avenue 5 is executive produced by Iannucci, Kevin Loader, Simon Blackwell, Tony Roche, Will Smith; co-executive produced by Peter Fellows and Becky Martin; produced by Steve Clark-Hall. The series is also co-produced by Sky UK.