Is Death to 2020 a new Black Mirror movie? Netflix recently released a trailer for the upcoming feature, which shares thematic similarities with Charlie Brooker's popular series about technology's effect on society. Even though Death to 2020 may feel like a new Black Mirror installment, it's not part of the franchise.
The Death to 2020 trailer begins with voiceover narration about the focal and present year. Samuel L. Jackson seemingly appears as himself, and Hugh Grant shows up as a scholarly gentleman character in a library. Meanwhile, Kumail Nanjiani looks at his phone while narration reveals that Death to 2020 includes "unprecedented access" to "experts" an "average citizens" for a "definitive story" about the year 2020. Aesthetically, the Netflix project undoubtedly looks like a Black Mirror episode. However, there are several reveals that pinpoint why Death to 2020 is entirely different.
In the Death to 2020 trailer, a full screen graphic reveals that the production is indeed from the creators of Black Mirror, Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones. However, Brooker stated Black Mirror season 6 is on hold due to the current state of the world. Brooker also acknowledged that he wanted to revisit his "comic skill set," which fully aligns with the overall tone in the Death to 2020 teaser clip. In fact, Netflix is marketing the project as an "original comedy event," with the main cast including Lisa Kudrow, Leslie Jones, and Joe Keery, along with the aforementioned Jackson, Grant, and Nanjiani.
A typical Black Mirror production includes a technology-themed cultural commentary with dark subtext, which is why Death to 2020 may seem like a new series installment. The trailer even shows both Keery and Nanjiani looking at tech devices; the introductory montage feels like it could be the beginning or ending of a Black Mirror episode. Several shots in the Death to 2020 clip also have a futuristic color palette. Crucially, however, the inherent comedy betrays the tone of a Black Mirror narrative, as Brooker favors drama over humor. In November 2019, he explained (via Digital Spy) the series' DNA:
"Black Mirror is a flavour, and a tone. We have some, fairly wobbly, internal rules about what it is and isn't right for a Black Mirror episode that we never really articulate out loud, but it does feel pretty flexible."
Despite being an "original comedy event," the Death to 2020 premise is indeed bleak. So, Brooker may include some Black Mirror Easter eggs, if only to entertain himself (and viewers) while simultaneously creating hype for future installments. However, Brooker and Jones may choose to fully separate Death to 2020 from Black Mirror as a creative challenge. If the comedy works for Netflix streamers, and if the mockumentary narrative prioritizes substance over style and celebrity cameos, then perhaps Death to 2020 will be viewed as a true Netflix original in the future. However, don't be surprised if it shows up on a television screen somewhere during Black Mirror season 6.