| Command Z | |
|---|---|
| Inspired by | Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America: A Recent History byKurt Andersen |
| Developed by |
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| Directed by | Steven Soderbergh |
| Starring |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Production company | Extension 765 |
| Original release | |
| Network | Online |
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.
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]
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]
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]
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Room" | Steven Soderbergh | Larry Doyle & Kurt Andersen | July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17) | |
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| 2 | "The Climate" | Steven Soderbergh | Jiehae Park | July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17) | |
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| 3 | "The Pryce is Wrong" | Steven Soderbergh | Story by : Jiehae Park & Chloe Radcliffe Teleplay by : Chloe Radcliffe | July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17) | |
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| 4 | "The Pryce is Wrong II" | Steven Soderbergh | Story by : Jiehae Park & Chloe Radcliffe Teleplay by : Chloe Radcliffe | July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17) | |
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| 5 | "Antisocial Media" | Steven Soderbergh | Roy Wood Jr. | July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17) | |
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| 6 | "The Climate II" | Steven Soderbergh | Story by : Akilah Hughes & Chloe Radcliffe Teleplay by : Chloe Radcliffe | July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17) | |
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| 7 | "Preach" | Steven Soderbergh | Story by : Nell Scovell & Emily Flake Teleplay by : Emily Flake | July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17) | |
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| 8 | "Back for the Future" | Steven Soderbergh | Kurt Andersen & Larry Doyle | July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17) | |
