We know the last 12 months have not been an extra-long episode of Black Mirror, because even at its most soul-crushing we always enjoy Black Mirror. Netflix‘s dystopian anthology series isn’t getting new episodes this year, but we are getting something from the creators. They’ll bid adieu to our very real Hellscape with a special comedy event, 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.”
The special, from Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, features an incredible cast. It stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Hugh Grant, Kumail Nanjiani, Tracey Ullman, Samson Kayo, Lisa Kudrow, Diane Morgan, Leslie Jones, Cristin Milioti, Joe Keery, and Laurence Fishburne.
Netflix
In a statement, Brooker explained the inspiration for the mockumentary and why his creative team adopted an atypical format:
“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.”
It’s only fitting that in a year when a comedy special from the Black Mirror creator will be a huge relief, even the people who made it were forced to do so alone. But that doesn’t matter. All that matters is that 2020 finally ends for good. Unless that is we are actually in a never-ending Black Mirror episode and this is how we find out.
Even we have to admit that would be pretty funny. No….wait. No it wouldn’t.
Death to 2020 premieres Sunday, December 27th, only on Netflix.
Featured Image: Netflix
