HBO greenlights Iannucci’s space comedy ‘Avenue 5’

HBO has given a series order to Armando Iannucci’s space comedy pilot Avenue 5, starring Hugh Laurie, Josh Gad, Zach Woods and Nikki Amuka-Bird.

Avenue 5 was given a pilot order by HBO last September and was filmed in London.

Described as a space tourism comedy, Avenue 5 is set 40 years in the future when “the solar system is everyone’s oyster”.

Hugh Laurie stars as the captain of space cruise ship Avenue 5, while Gad plays Herman Judd, the billionaire behind Avenue 5 and the Judd brand, which includes hotels, fitness clubs and space tourism. Woods is Matt Spencer, head of customer relations. Amuka-Bird portrays Rav Mulcair, head of Judd Mission Control on Earth.

Kevin Loader, Simon Blackwell, Tony Roche and Will Smith will executive produce alongside Iannucci, who directed the pilot.

Iannucci created HBO’s Veep (pictured), now in its seventh and final season, and received an Oscar nomination for his screenplay for the film In The Loop.

He’s currently in post-production on The Personal History of David Copperfield, his film adaptation of Charles’ Dickens’ David Copperfield.