Succession creator sticks with the billionaires

Steve Carrell has been cast in the first feature film to be directed by Succession and Peep Show creator Jesse Armstrong.

The as-yet untitled movie – which is being made for HBO in the States and will air on Sky in the UK – sticks to the world of the super-wealthy, revolving around a group of billionaire friends get together against the backdrop of a rolling international crisis.

Also cast are Wes Anderson favourite Jason Schwartzman, Saturday Night’s Cory Michael Smith and stand-up and actor Ramy Youssef.

Calling the cast a ‘dream team’. Armstrong – who has also written the movie – said: ‘I’m intrigued to discover whether being around so many brilliant actors and directors on Succession has in any way rubbed off on me. Let’s hope so.’

HBO executive Francesca Orsi added: ‘We’re ecstatic to be back in business with the singular talent Jesse Armstrong coming off our fruitful collaboration on Succession.

‘Jesse once again raises the bar with a bold examination of modern greed, power and male ambition. That this feature serves as his directorial debut will only elevate what is already thrilling on the page, and we couldn’t be more excited to share this timely film with the world soon.’

The film starts shooting this month in Park City, Utah.

Armstrong, pictured, created Peep Show in 2003  and Fresh Meat in 2011 with his writing partner Sam Bain. During this time he also wrote for  The Thick Of It  and its movie spin-off In the Loop. He also co-wrote the films Four Lions, about an inept terrorist cell, and 202’s Downhill, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell as a married couple going through a rough patch after a near-death encounter during a family ski outing.

Published: 5 Mar 2025