Charlie Brooker: ’Those who only know me through Black Mirror may not realize that when not writing speculative sci-fi about people frowning at smartphones, I’ve spent years making comedy shows in the UK - including many topical comedy specials. So to me, Death to 2020 feels like the collision of several different strands. (Do strands ‘collide'? No. Apologies). But the approach for this is quite different to most of the topical comedy I’ve done in the past. For one thing I'm not on screen presenting it - a relief for anyone watching in 4K - and it's more character-based. In the loneliest year on record, I got to work (remotely) with writers and team members from my previous comedies, as well as many sickeningly talented people who were new to me.
Death to 2020 features fictional characters discussing real events in a bombastic mockumentary, but quite a bit sillier than that makes it sound. It felt like an apt format for Netflix, which is known for high-end documentaries, but also like a good opportunity to create a different kind of comedy special that deals with the year head-on while also showcasing some brilliant performers. I don’t love the word “satire” but there’s some of that here, alongside some angry jokes, and some goofy jokes. And hopefully viewers will find at least one joke to their liking — because let’s face it, in 2020, any laugh you can emit, no matter how fleeting, is a small but precious victory."
ABOUT DEATH TO 2020
2020: A year so [insert adjective of choice here], even the creators of Black Mirror couldn’t make it up… but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a little something to add. Death to 2020 is a comedy event that tells the story of the dreadful year that was — and perhaps still is? This landmark documentary-style special weaves together a chorus of narration from some of the world’s most (fictitious) renowned voices with real-life archival footage spanning the past 12 months.
Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Hugh Grant, Kumail Nanjiani, Tracey Ullman, Samson Kayo, Lisa Kudrow, Diane Morgan, Leslie Jones, Cristin Milioti, Joe Keery and Laurence Fishburne, Death to 2020 is the cathartic comedy event you’ll never forget about the year you really, really don’t want to remember.
Death to 2020 is created and executive produced by Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, and produced by Alison Marlow. Al Campbell and Alice Mathias both directed the special. Brooker wrote the special with Tom Baker, Kemah Bob, Ken Bordell, Munya Chawawa, Constance Cheng, Alan Connor, Erika Ehler, Charlie George, Eli Goldstone, Mollie Goodfellow, Jason Hazeley, Angelo Irving, Kae Kurd, Ali Marlow, Thanyia Moore, Joel Morris and Michael Odewale.
Character Details
Samuel L. Jackson as “Dash Bracket” - Reporter, New Yorkerly News
Hugh Grant as “Tennyson Foss” - Professor of History
Kumail Nanjiani as “Bark Multiverse” - CEO, Shreekr
Tracey Ullman as “Queen Elizabeth II” - Monarch and Figurehead
Samson Kayo as “Pyrex Flask” - Scientist
Lisa Kudrow as “Jeanetta Grace Susan” - Non-Official Spokesperson
Diane Morgan as “Gemma Nerrick” - Average Citizen
Leslie Jones as “Dr. Maggie Gravel” - Behavioral Psychologist
Cristin Milioti as “Kathy Flowers” - Soccer Mom
Joe Keery as “Duke Goolies” - Gig Economy Millennial
Laurence Fishburne as “Narrator”
DEATH TO 2020 premieres Sunday, December 27th, only on Netflix.
Watch the trailer for Death To 2020 below
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