Avenue 5 is HBO's sci-fi comedy TV series, which marries the hyper-speed wit of Veep with the future-dystopian notes of PIXAR's Wall-E. The show boasts a strong cast of comedic talent, with Hugh Laurie in the lead as the captain at the helm of Avenue 5, an interplanetary cruise ship owned by the Judd Corporation. When an unexpected technical error knocks the ship off course, the ship's 5000 passengers find themselves trapped on a journey much longer than anyone had anticipated.

Created by Armando Iannucci, the mind behind HBO's hilariously witty political comedy Veep, Avenue 5 is filled with razor-sharp satire mixed with a silliness that verges on slaphappy. The HBO series brings together top comedic talent to deliver a unique brand of profane, dark, and often-biting farce that aims its magnifying lens at corporate greed and ineptitude.

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Avenue 5 features an ensemble cast with strong female characters, some weak male characters, and at least one character who may not be the person he or she claims to be. It's a large cast right from the premiere, and with 5000 guests stuck onboard the Avenue 5, there's definitely potential for more characters to be introduced as time goes on.

Avenue 5's Main Cast

Hugh Laurie Avenue 5 Captain

Hugh Laurie as Ryan Clark – Ryan is the charming captain of the Avenue 5. He is handsome, funny, rugged, and confident — everything one could want from the man in charge of an interplanetary vessel. In addition to his good looks and effortless charm, Ryan is also regarded by the public as a hero for his handling of a fire onboard the Avenue 3. However, as troubles begin to surface on the Avenue 5, so do signs that Ryan may not be the man that he seems to be.

While Laurie is best known for his role as Dr. Gregory House in the long-running series House, the English actor has been in a number of critically-acclaimed projects, including (but not limited to) A Bit of Fry & Laurie, Veep, and The Night Manager. Laurie has proven his ability to make despicable characters likeable, and his past roles may hint at the character arc viewers can expect from Avenue 5 season 1.

Josh Gad as Herman Judd – Herman is the owner of Avenue 5, as well as its parent company, the Judd Corporation. The billionaire, who appears to lack any real skill or knowledge, oversees the operation of his futuristic cruise ship with bravado and an almost zen-like ignorance. The overgrown child is as obnoxious in personality as he is in appearance. Viewers may recognize Gad from his role as (the now gay) LeFou in the 2017 live-action Disney remake of Beauty and the Beast.

Zach Woods as Matt Spencer – Matt is the Head of Customer Relations onboard the Avenue 5, but the self-proclaimed nihilist doesn't seem particularly interested in satisfying guests, but rather quietly provoking them. In a show filled with quirky characters, Matt somehow manages to rise above the rest with his quiet non-sequiturs and bizarre one liners. In one episode, Captain Ryan Clark describes Matt as a "wild [kind] of useless" — an apt summary of the character. Woods is probably most recognizable as Jared Dunn from HBO's hit series Silicon Valley, although he also played Gabe Lewis for three seasons of The Office. 

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Rebecca Front as Karen Kelly – Karen Kelly proves that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned — but in this case, she's less scorned and more inconvenienced. The show introduces the character as she's part-way through an argument with Matt Spencer over her living quarters on the Avenue 5. Karen is pushy, confident, and to her credit, savvy, Although she is a passenger and not part of the ship's crew, Kelly's bossy personality is likely to come in handy during season 1's crisis. Front is a BAFTA-Award-winning English actress who has appeared in a number of British comedies.

Suzy Nakamura as Iris Kimura – Iris Kimura is Judd's number two, although she is obviously the more competent (and qualified) of the two. Iris often acts as Judd's deputy, helping him oversee the operation of the Avenue 5 and ensuring that his many, often ridiculous, suggestions are followed through. Iris is brisk, blunt, and at times, brutal. Nakamura is a veteran of the legendary Second City improv troupe, which is likely where she honed her sharp comedic chops. She played Dr. Park in the short-lived ABC sitcom Dr Ken, and has had a number of guest appearances on various sitcoms.

Lenora Crichlow as Billie McEvoy – Billie McEvoy is the second engineer on the Avenue 5, and finds herself shouldering considerably more responsibility than desired following the ship's accident. Billie is a strong, confident woman, is good at her job, and has a sense of humor; however, she lacks both the interpersonal skills and the patience necessary to handle the crisis onboard the Avenue 5. Crichlow is another English actress, best known for her work on the British programs Sugar Rush and Being Human.

Nikki Amuka-Bird as Rav Mulcair – Rav Mulcair is the Head of Mission Control for the Avenue 5, which is operated by the private company the Judd Corporation. Rav is often given the difficult task of overseeing a highly complicated technical operation while also acting as PR representative and tour guide. Her entire character radiates with a smouldering frustration and exasperation recognizable to anyone who's ever worked in middle management. Amuka-Bird is a Nigerian-born British actress who has appeared in various TV shows and films, such as Luther and Jupiter Ascending.

Ethan Phillips as Spike Williams – Spike is a former astronaut who is enjoying his retirement. He spends his time onboard the Avenue 5 entertaining guests with his anecdotes, and teaching children about space travel. He is among the first 30 astronauts to visit mars. Like Karen, although he is not an official member of the command crew, his past experience with space travel will likely prove useful throughout the course of season1. Star Trek fans may recognize the voice: Phillips played Neelix on Star Trek: Voyager.

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