Charlie Brooker has launched a primary take a look at his shock Netflix mockumentary Dying to 2020, which boasts a star-studded solid together with Samuel L Jackson, Hugh Grant and Lisa Kudrow.
Set for launch on December 27, the mockumentary will see the solid – which additionally contains Stranger Things‘ Joe Keery, Leslie Jones and Kumail Nanjiani – play a collection of “specialists, politicos, monarchs and common residents” as they appear again at 2020.
Grant is made up as “repellent” historian Tennyson Foss, Kudrow takes on the position of ‘non-official spokesperson Jeanetta Grace Susan whereas Tracey Ullman performs the Queen.
“A yr whose story couldn’t be instructed till now as a result of it was nonetheless taking place,” the voiceover says, explaining that the movie is the “definitive story of essentially the most historic yr in historical past”.
Dying to 2020 – on @netflix December twenty seventh @NetflixIsAJoke pic.twitter.com/Jgrezd7uMi
— Charlie Brooker (@charltonbrooker) December 21, 2020
“I’d say it was a trainwreck and a shit present, however that will be unfair to trains and shit,” Jones later declares.
Dying to 2020 additionally stars Reality Seekers‘ Samson Kayo as scientist Pyrex Flask, Philomena Cunk actress Diane Morgan as citizen Gemma Nerrick, Palm Springs‘ Cristin Milioti as soccer mother Kathy Flowers and Laurence Fishburne because the narrator.
“Those that solely know me via Black Mirror could not notice that when not writing speculative sci-fi about folks frowning at smartphones, I’ve spent years making comedy exhibits within the UK – together with many topical comedy specials,” Brooker stated.
“So to me, Dying to 2020 feels just like the collision of a number of totally different strands. (Do strands ‘collide’? No. Apologies). However the method for that is fairly totally different to a lot of the topical comedy I’ve accomplished up to now. For one factor I’m not on display presenting it – a reduction for anybody watching in 4K – and it’s extra character-based.
‘Dying to 2020’ Hugh Grant. Credit score: Netflix
“Within the loneliest yr on report, I started working (remotely) with writers and workforce members from my earlier comedies, in addition to many sickeningly proficient individuals who have been new to me.”
He added: “Dying to 2020 options fictional characters discussing actual occasions in a bombastic mockumentary, however fairly a bit sillier than that makes it sound. It felt like an apt format for Netflix, which is thought for high-end documentaries, but in addition like a great alternative to create a special form of comedy particular that offers with the yr head-on whereas additionally showcasing some sensible performers.
“I don’t love the phrase ‘satire’ however there’s a few of that right here, alongside some offended jokes, and a few goofy jokes. And hopefully viewers will discover not less than one joke to their liking — as a result of let’s face it, in 2020, any giggle you’ll be able to emit, regardless of how fleeting, is a small however valuable victory.”
Credit score: BBC
Brooker beforehand shared a cryptic teaser for the project, which stated: “2020. Even the creators of Black Mirror couldn’t make this yr up. However they do have one thing so as to add.”
Talking lately, Grant teased Death to 2020 in an interview with New York Journal, saying: “Charlie Brooker has written a mockumentary about 2020. It’s for Netflix.”
He defined that he was enjoying “a historian who’s being interviewed concerning the yr. I’m fairly repellent, truly! And also you’ll like my wig.”
The final three-episode collection of Black Mirror was launched in 2019, which was preceded in 2018 by interactive particular Bandersnatch.