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Command Z
Inspired byEvil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America: A Recent History
by Kurt Andersen
Developed by
Directed bySteven Soderbergh
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Production companyExtension 765
Original release
NetworkOnline

Command Z is a science fiction comedy web series directed by Steven Soderbergh. The series consists of eight episodes of varying lengths that ultimately comprise a 90-minute runtime.

Cast

Production

In January 2023, Steven Soderbergh announced that he had filmed a science fiction satire series he was calling The Pendulum Project. It was shot in July and August 2022 between shooting Magic Mike's Last Dance and Full Circle in New York.[1] The show was independently financed by Soderbergh,[2] and it was inspired by Kurt Andersen's book Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America: A Recent History. Andersen co-created the series with former Simpsons writer Larry Doyle. It stars Michael Cera, Roy Wood Jr., Chloe Radcliffe, JJ Maley, and Liev Schreiber.[3] Writers include Andersen, Doyle, Wood Jr, Radcliffe, Nell Scovell, Akilah Hughes, Jiehae Park, and Emily Flake.[4]

Release

A secret screening of Command Z was held on June 16, 2023, at the Metrograph in New York City before the series' release.[5][6] It was officially released on July 17, 2023—the same date that the characters must travel back in time to in the show's universe.[3] The series was made available for purchase on the website of Soderbergh's production company, Extension 765, and proceeds from the series are donated to Children's Aid and the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research.[7]

Reception

The Daily Beast critic Nick Schager wrote that "Soderbergh’s direction is snappy, playful, and efficient, and so too are the series’ scripts," writing that "nicely marries socio-political sharpness and jaded absurdity" to "deliver goofy laughs," yet "without ever resorting to sermonizing."[8] Shannon Connellan at Mashable found the series to be a "superbly acted" thought-provoking series about how small changes can improve the future. "If you're looking for top-tier political, social, and economic commentary on how fucked up the world is, this is the bunch."[9] Chase Hutchinson at Collider gave the series a B−, feeling that the series was sometimes charming but also feeling like Soderbergh used it more as an exercise that he wasn't taking seriously.[10]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"The Room"Steven SoderberghLarry Doyle & Kurt AndersenJuly 17, 2023 (2023-07-17)
2"The Climate"Steven SoderberghJiehae ParkJuly 17, 2023 (2023-07-17)
3"The Pryce is Wrong"Steven SoderberghStory by : Jiehae Park & Chloe Radcliffe
Teleplay by : Chloe Radcliffe		July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17)
4"The Pryce is Wrong II"Steven SoderberghStory by : Jiehae Park & Chloe Radcliffe
Teleplay by : Chloe Radcliffe		July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17)
5"Antisocial Media"Steven SoderberghRoy Wood Jr.July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17)
6"The Climate II"Steven SoderberghStory by : Akilah Hughes & Chloe Radcliffe
Teleplay by : Chloe Radcliffe		July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17)
7"Preach"Steven SoderberghStory by : Nell Scovell & Emily Flake
Teleplay by : Emily Flake		July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17)
8"Back for the Future"Steven SoderberghKurt Andersen & Larry DoyleJuly 17, 2023 (2023-07-17)

References

  1. ^ Perez, Rodrigo (January 26, 2023). "Steven Soderbergh's Pendulum Project Is A Satire Series From Writer Kurt Andersen Featuring Michael Cera, Roy Wood Jr. & Liev Schreiber [Exclusive]". The Playlist. Archived from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  2. ^ Bergeson, Samantha (July 14, 2023). "Steven Soderbergh Unveils Surprise Sci-Fi Series Command Z with Michael Cera — Watch the Trailer". IndieWire. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Zuckerman, Esther (July 17, 2023). "Steven Soderbergh Debuts Sci-Fi Series Command Z at Secret New York Screening". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation.
  4. ^ https://commandzseries.com/episodes/v/8
  5. ^ Keogan, Natalia (July 14, 2023). "Steven Soderbergh Announces Sci-Fi Series Command Z Dropping on His Website July 17 | Filmmaker Magazine". Filmmaker Magazine. Independent Filmmaker Project. Archived from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  6. ^ "Command Z - Theater 1 - Now Playing In Theater at Metrograph". Metrograph. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023.
  7. ^ Melissa, Billie (July 17, 2023). "Steven Soderbergh Launches Mysterious New Series". Men's Journal. The Arena Group.
  8. ^ Schage, Nick (July 17, 2023). "Command Z review: 'Command Z' Is a Welcome (and Very Weird) Surprise From Steven Soderbergh". The Daily Beast. IAC (company). Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  9. ^ Connellan, Shannon (July 18, 2023). "Command Z review: Steven Soderbergh's surprise sci-fi tries to un-doom Earth". Mashable. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  10. ^ Hutchinson, Chase (July 17, 2023). "Command Z Review: Steven Soderbergh's Series Is Silly Science Fiction". Collider. Archived from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Command_Z