The production of Avenue 5: Season 2 was led by acclaimed Scottish satirist director and writer Armando Giovanni Iannucci OBE who offered a fascinating insight into his distinctive style of comedic storytelling and his unconventional use of VFX.

The HBO series unfolds within a malfunctioning spaceship hurtling toward the sun, under the erratic leadership of billionaire Herman Judd, portrayed by Josh Gad, and Captain Ryan Clark, played by Hugh Laurie. Zach Woods adds a touch of absurdity with his portrayal of Matt Spencer, delivering hilariously inept customer service. This fusion of VFX in outer space and sci-fi comedy is fun and unconventional.

Filming during the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that the production required strict safety protocols including the use of PPE and regular testing which were in place to ensure the well-being of the entire crew. Season 2 faced an initial setback when the entire set was tragically destroyed in a fatal accident, necessitating a rebuild.

The production team rallied, reconstructing the stunning interior of the spaceship at Warner Bros. Studios in Watford. The set featured futuristic, seamlessly designed sci-fi corridors, a control room with a panoramic front window replaced by CGI, and an LCD console integrated into the set design by Simon Bowles. The conference room boasted a towering oak construct that emphasized the scale and craftsmanship of future commercial spacecraft. Additionally, a smaller meeting room featured a special designed curved glass, requiring an automated electrical blind inside.

In Lewis Andrews’ capacity as a VFX Data Wrangler, he had the privilege of working under the talented VFX supervisor Abigail Scollay and alongside excellent VFX producers Jan Guilfoyle and Barney Curnow. Lewis Andrews’ role allowed a unique vantage point to witness Armando’s comedic genius at work as he collaborated with the actors to achieve the impeccable comedic timing that has become a hallmark of the Avenue 5 series.

In the production of Avenue 5: Season 2, the main VFX objective, in addition to face replacements and screen replacements, was to provide on-set VFX data for the holographic communication devices worn on the actors’ wrists. These advanced tech devices projected 3D displays of miniaturized versions of themselves, which required precise 3D tracking of the actors’ wrist movements. This technology allowed the characters to communicate with actors set on Earth as the ship’s situation deteriorated on its perilous course toward the sun. To achieve this, each character underwent cyber scanning to create 3D models of the actors themselves.

In addition to the holographic communication devices, the VFX work extended to making the windows into space appear as authentic outer space scenes outside the ship. Furthermore, the VFX team created a full CG 3D model of the uniquely shaped ship and designed complete CG space environments to enhance the cinematic experience.

This intricate and multifaceted VFX work aimed to seamlessly blend technology, storytelling, and visual effects, contributing to the overall immersive and comedic atmosphere of Avenue 5: Season 2.