As Charlie Brooker reveals more about the show

Netflix has released the trailer for Charlie Brooker’s Death To 2020 – and revealed that it will be released on December 27.

The clip starts with Samuel L. Jackson in his role as Dash Bracket, a reporter for New Yorkerly News, talking about the events of this movements year.

Samson Kayo as a scientist called Pyrex Flask, Lisa Kudrow as a ‘non-official spokesperson’ and Leslie Jones as Dr. Maggie Gravel a behavioural psychologist, The cast also includes Hugh Grant as history professor Tennyson Foss, Tracey Ullman as the Queen, below.

Diane Morgan, whose Philomena Cunk alter-ego originated on Brooker’s previous Wipe shows here plays Gemma Nerrick, described as ‘average citizen’, while Kumail Nanjiani plays Bark Multiverse the chief executive of a tech company.

Brooker said: ‘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.’

He created the show with his long-time collaborator Annabel Jones. She said: ‘This highly unusual year has been dominated by huge global stories affecting everyone's lives. These form the structure of the show and we have added a few surprises along the way.’

Booker assembled a sizeable writing room for the show, including many familiar names from the UK comedy circuit. The team comprises 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.

Death To 200 will be available to view here

Created and executive produced by: Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones
Produced by: Alison Marlow.
Directed by: Al Campbell and Alice Mathias

Published: 21 Dec 2020