Tag: kieran culkin

  • ‘Succession’ to End with Season 4

    Brian Cox in season 4 of HBO's 'Succession.'
    Brian Cox in season 4 of HBO’s ‘Succession.’ Photograph by David Russell/HBO.

    If you’re a fan of the squabbling siblings and cranky patriarch of the Roy family –– AKA the main characters of successful HBO series ‘Succession’, then bad news is on the way.

    Creator/showrunner Jesse Armstrong has told The New Yorker that the show will end with the incoming fourth season.

    Commenting on the reasons for the end, Armstrong said the following,

    “Who knows about the psychological reasons, but the creative ones were that it felt really useful to not make the final, final decision for ages. You know, there’s a promise in the title of ‘Succession.’ I’ve never thought this could go on forever. The end has always been kind of present in my mind. From Season 2, I’ve been trying to think: Is it the next one, or the one after that, or is it the one after that?”

    And as for his decision to tip viewers off about the end of the show, Armstrong said,

    “There are a few different aspects. One, we could have said it as soon as I sort of decided, almost when we were writing it, which I think would be weird and perverse. We could have said it at the end of the season. I quite like that idea, creatively, because then the audience is just able to enjoy everything as it comes, without trying to figure things out, or perceiving things in a certain way once they know it’s the final season. But, also, the countervailing thought is that we don’t hide the ball very much on the show. I feel a responsibility to the viewership, and I personally wouldn’t like the feeling of, ‘Oh, that’s it, guys. That was the end.’ I wouldn’t like that in a show. I think I would like to know it is coming to an end. And, also, there’s a bunch of prosaic things, like it might be weird for me and the cast as we do interviews. It’s pretty definitively the end, so then it just might be uncomfortable having to sort of dissemble like a politician for ages about it. Hopefully, the show is against bullshit, and I wouldn’t like to be bullshitting anyone when I was talking about it.”

     

    Jeremy Strong, Alan Ruck, Kieran Culkin, Brian Cox, and Sarah Snook in HBO's 'Succession.'
    (L to R) Jeremy Strong, Alan Ruck, Kieran Culkin, Brian Cox, and Sarah Snook in HBO’s ‘Succession.’

    Related Article: ‘Succession’ Season 4 Teaser

    Who stars in ‘Succession’?

    ‘Succession’ is the story of the Roy family, headed by Logan Roy (Brian Cox), an elderly but stubborn patriarch and billionaire who is deciding which of his children to hand his giant Waystar Royco business off to. Or whether he wants to at all…

    The competition between the siblings is strong –– there’s driven Kendall (Jeremy Strong), who is plotting to overthrow his father, ambitious Shiv (Sarah Snook) who wants to succeed him, snarky Roman (Kieran Culkin) who is more about having a good time than business but thinks he could do the job. Oldest son Connor, meanwhile, is focused on politics over profits.

    Around this core orbits a group of related family members, staff and advisors, including Shiv’s nervy husband Tom (Matthew MacFadyen), Cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun), and dedicated Roy employee Gerri Kellerman.

    Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, and Kieran Culkin in season 4 of HBO's 'Succession.'
    (L to R) Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, and Kieran Culkin in season 4 of HBO’s ‘Succession.’ Photograph by Claudette Barius/HBO.

    What happens in ‘Succession’ Season 4?

    In Season 4, the sale of media conglomerate Waystar Royco to tech visionary Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgård) moves ever closer. The prospect of this seismic sale provokes existential angst and familial division among the Roys as they anticipate what their lives will look like once the deal is complete. A power struggle ensues as the family weighs up a future where their cultural and political weight is severely curtailed.

    ‘Succession’ Season 4 will start on HBO on Sunday, March 26th.

    Brian Cox in season 4 of HBO's 'Succession.'
    Brian Cox in season 4 of HBO’s ‘Succession.’ Photograph by Macall Polay/HBO.

    Movies Similar to ‘Succession:’

    Buy ‘Succession’ on Amazon

  • ‘Succession’ Season 4 Teaser

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    If ‘Succession’ aired on commercially sponsored network TV, the show might be brought to you by backstabbing and infighting. Because both are key elements of the scathing and supremely entertaining drama.

    Created by Jesse Armstrong and produced by Adam McKay, ‘Succession’ introduced us to the Roys, led by patriarch Logan (Brian Cox). Modeled (loosely… but perhaps not that loosely) on the Murdochs, the show saw the jockeying for position in a family that controls a media empire.

    Brian Cox in season 4 of HBO's 'Succession.'
    Brian Cox in season 4 of HBO’s ‘Succession.’ Photograph by Macall Polay/HBO.

    Logan is a billionaire overseeing things, but when his health starts to falter, the scramble begins to see how among his offspring will succeed him. There’s ambitious but troubled Kendall (Jeremy Strong), who would seem to be the heir apparent since oldest sibling Connor (Alan Ruck) has more political interests in mind. Clever Shiv (Sarah Snook) is also looking to grab power, dragging along wannabe business boss husband Tom Wambsgans (Matthew MacFadyen). And then we have smart/foul-mouthed Roman (Kieran Culkin) who doesn’t seem to have what it takes to run a business, but that doesn’t stop him from trying to inveigle his way in.

    When we last saw the Roy family––and the third season wrapped up in December 2021, so it’s possible some might need a refresher––it was, as always, all kicking off. Shiv was planning to team up with Roman and Kendall to turn against Logan but Tom betrayed her by siding with Logan first, clueing him in on the Roy kids’ incoming revolt. Logan, as is his wont, was not pleased. Cue more of the usual infighting.

    Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, and Kieran Culkin in season 4 of HBO's 'Succession.'
    (L to R) Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, and Kieran Culkin in season 4 of HBO’s ‘Succession.’ Photograph by Claudette Barius/HBO.

    Season 4 will continue that story, and this new teaser promises everything you could want from one of the best shows on TV right now––childish chess-moves via phone call, luxurious locations, Roman’s witty retorts, Tom’s nervous, needy disposition, and the highest of reputational stakes. Plus, we see Connor finally tying the knot with long-suffering partner Willa (Justine Lupe), and the return of Alexander Skarsgård as quirky, unbearable tech CEO Lukas Matsson, who is looking to strike a deal with the Roys. When he’s not being weird.

    “We’re going to make it a musical in Season 4, hopefully,” director Mark Mylod laughed to Variety last year. “I’ll tell you about my experience with Season 4 so far. We’re a good chunk into shooting it, and I had the same experience after Season 2, as well as with Season 3, where it was really well received. So Jesse (Armstrong) and I and the whole team go into the next season just so paranoid, trepidatious about not wanting the bar to lower.”

    And though there has been talk of this as a potential final season, the fact that HBO isn’t flagging it as such means we can likely expect at least one more.

    ‘Succession’ returns to HBO Max on March 26th.

    Brian Cox in season 4 of HBO's 'Succession.'
    Brian Cox in season 4 of HBO’s ‘Succession.’ Photograph by David Russell/HBO.
    Nicholas Braun and Matthew Macfadyen on season 4 of HBO's 'Succession.'
    (L to R) Nicholas Braun and Matthew Macfadyen on season 4 of HBO’s ‘Succession.’ Photograph by Macall B. Polay/HBO.

     

  • HBO Renews ‘Succession’ for Season 3

    HBO Renews ‘Succession’ for Season 3

    HBO

    It didn’t take long for HBO realize it had a hit on its hands, with the premium cable outlet renewing family drama “Succession” for a third season only two episodes into its second.

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, the show has built an impressive audience of loyal viewers, averaging 4.3 million viewers per episode across all platforms in season one, which premiered in 2018. Season two, which debuted on August 11, has already notched more than 1 million viewers each for its first two installments — and counting.

    In a statement announcing the renewal, Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO drama programming, specifically cited the show’s ability to connect with viewers as a key to its, uh, success.

    “We are elated that ‘Succession’ and its exploration of wealth, power and family has resonated so powerfully with audiences,” Orsi’s statement said. “We cannot wait to see how the complex characters that Jesse Armstrong has created continue to navigate this captivating, ruthless world of the uber-rich. In today’s world where the intersection of politics and media is increasingly prevalent, ‘Succession’ presents an especially piercing look behind the curtain of this elite, influential, and cutthroat community.”

    “Succession” follows the wealthy Roy family (a not-so-thinly-veiled fictional version of the Murdochs), whose dysfunctional members are vying to take control of its vast media empire. Brian Cox stars as family patriarch Logan Roy, and the series also features Jeremy Strong, Hiam Abbass, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Alan Ruck, Nicholas Braun, Matthew Macfadyen, and J. Smith-Cameron.

    Season two is currently airing on HBO on Sundays, and will run for 10 episodes. Season three is expected to debut sometime in 2020.

    [via: The Hollywood Reporter]