Entertainment
Which Family is Succession Based On? All About the HBO Show
The resemblance is uncanny!
Succession is an American satirical comedy-drama television series developed by Jesse Armstrong, which aired on HBO from June 3, 2018, until May 28, 2023.
Succession follows the Roy family, which runs the worldwide media corporation Waystar RoyCo in New York City. Logan Roy, the family patriarch, has deteriorated in health.
His four children, alienated oldest son Connor Roy, power-hungry Kendall Roy, irreverent Roman Roy, and politically savvy Siobhan ‘Shiv’ Roy, all with varied degrees of connection to the corporation, begin to plan for a future without their father and compete for prominence inside the company.
Brian Cox played the role of Logan Roy, Jeremy Strong portrayed Kendall, Kieran Culkin played the role of Roman, and Sarah Snook portrayed Shiv — all critically acclaimed for their role.
The HBO show was considered one of the best shows when it aired from 2018 to 2023. It gained critical acclaim for its narrative, acting, humor, musical score, direction, production qualities, and study of its subject matter spanning all four seasons.
The series has won several honors and nominations, including two Golden Globe nominations for Best Television Series – Drama, two Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Drama Series in 2020 and 2022, and the British Academy Television Award for Best International Programme.
All in all, Succession was loved by fans and critics alike. That said, many might not know that the HBO show is based on a real family. So, which family is Succession based on? Well, Succession was based on the Murdoch family.
Which family is ‘Succession’ based on?
The Murdoch family members are notable multinational media magnates and tycoons with origins in Australia and the United Kingdom and media interests in the United States. Some members have also held positions of prominence in the arts, religion, and the military.
All in all, the Murdoch family has been the powerhouse for generations.
Rupert Murdoch, the star of the third generation of the Murdoch family, is best known as one of the founders and owner of News Corporation, the world’s largest media corporation until it was spun off in mid-2013, dividing its entertainment assets to 21st Century Fox and its media publishing holdings to establish the new News Corp.
The Murdochs retain a majority interest in the remaining assets of The Walt Disney Company’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox, which were spun off to Fox Corporation, and continue to serve as senior executives of News Corporation.
Rupert is well-known not just for his massive media empire but also for his fascinating marriage past. Murdoch has had four noteworthy marriages throughout the years.
His first marriage was to Patricia Booker, a Melbourne flight attendant. Their daughter, Prudence Murdoch MacLeod, was born as a result of their marriage.
Although this marriage lasted over a decade, it finally ended, laying the groundwork for Murdoch’s later marriages. Rupert then married Anna Maria Torv, a Scottish journalist of Estonian heritage.
Rupert Murdoch with his second wife and children. (Source: Instagram)
Torv, who worked for Murdoch’s Sydney Daily Telegraph, was an essential figure in his life for over three decades. The couple’s three children were Elizabeth Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, and James Murdoch.
Elisabeth has now risen to prominence in the media world, while Lachlan and James have also worked for their father’s media company. Rupert married Wendi Deng, a Chinese-American media executive and corporate director, in 1999 in a high-profile wedding.
Grace Murdoch and Chloe Murdoch were the couple’s two kids. The marriage gained notice because of the significant age difference and its impact on Murdoch’s career and personal life.
The marriage, however, ended in 2013 when Rupert filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Rupert married Jerry Hall, an American model and actress, marking his fourth marriage.
Despite the early curiosity about their married life, the couple had difficulties, which led to their divorce in 2022.
Similarities between ‘Succession’ and the Murdoch family
Both families feature an aging patriarch who has worked at his firm far past the normal retirement age. Rupert, 92, went back into the post of Fox News chairman after the expulsion of the late Roger Ailes and currently serves as chairman of Fox Corporation.
The two command vast media empires spanning television, cinema, publishing, and digital. Rupert is considered a ruthless businessman who fights competitors by buying them out or driving them out of business, similar to Logan in the HBO show.
Rupert and Logan have been married many times and have offspring from various relationships. A person close to the Murdoch family told Vanity Fair that Rupert felt a Darwinian battle would produce the most capable successor and put his children against each other throughout their childhood, just like Logan did in the series.
The most obvious visual similarity between Rupert and Logan happened in the final season when Logan’s lecture about paper boxes echoed a similar occasion when Rupert delivered a speech about boxes to the WSJ office in 2007.
Since Rupert has a lot of children, it isn’t easy to see who Connor, Kendall, Roman, and Shiv are based on. Connor is believed to be based on Rupert’s eldest child, Prudence.
Prudence is an Australian-British media sector, non-executive director. She has held many executive positions in her father’s News Corporation and presently serves on the board of Times Newspapers Ltd, a part of News Corporation.
Prudence and Connor are the patriarchs’ eldest children. Both are only children from prior marriages, and both are disinterested in working in the family company.
Connor is the “forgotten” kid in Succession, as he is frequently kept out of the Roy brothers’ transactions. Kendall refers to himself as “the eldest son” in a scene from season three before being corrected by an enraged Connor, who claims he is Logan’s eldest son.
While there is no proof that Prudence had the same treatment as her Murdoch siblings, it is reported that Prudence disagreed with her father, Rupert, when he referred to his ‘three children’ by excluding Prudence in a 1997 news conference.
Prudence revealed that she and her father argued over the event on the phone until Rupert apologized by sending “the biggest bunch of flowers – it was bigger than a sofa – and two clementine trees.”
Kendall, Roman, and Shiv are believed to be based on Rupert’s children from his second marriage — Lachlan, James, and Elizabeth.
Lachlan was the business’s initial heir apparent, but he unexpectedly left amid internal differences over the cable news network’s future. It is reported that Lachlan spent some time working on his own company, Illyria, before returning to the family business as a non-executive co-chairman of News Corporation and 21st Century Fox.
Similarly, on Succession, Kendall is groomed to take over his father’s business – until Logan changes his mind. Throughout the four seasons of the sitcom, Kendall attempts multiple unsuccessful hostile takeovers of his father’s empire before leaving to create his firms, only to return to the family business later.
Murdoch’s youngest son, James, was considered the heir apparent when his elder brother, Lachlan, resigned in 2005. In 2011, James was named deputy COO of News Corporation, a post identical to Roman in the first season of Succession.
However, he finally stepped down from the position in 2020 due to conflicts over editorial material. On the HBO show, Roman’s biography follows a similar trend: he is not initially a candidate to take over his father’s firm until his elder brother Kendall departs it.
He would work closely with his father until finally abandoning the firm and attempting to take over with his siblings.
Like Shiv, Rupert’s only daughter from his second marriage is Elisabeth. Elisabeth is the most similar to Rupert, sharing his cunning and savviness.
However, Rupert is said to disdain her ambitions to advance in the family firm. On the HBO show, Shiv shares a close connection with her father. She, like Kendall, was offered the position of CEO but was ultimately considered unprepared to take on the post.
Shiv is publically shut down by her father in various instances during the program, leaving it unclear whether Logan considered her a viable candidate for the top position in the first place.
While the Succession showrunners may deny that the drama is modeled on any one family, the parallels between the fictitious Roy family and the Murdoch family are difficult to ignore.
In recent years, the film industry has significantly shifted towards stories set in small towns, bringing fresh perspectives and untold narratives to the forefront.
These stories offer a glimpse into the nuanced lives of communities often overlooked in mainstream cinema, challenging audiences to engage with diverse experiences and environments. This movement towards small-town tales is not just a trend but a transformative force in modern filmmaking, reshaping how stories are told and what stories are considered worth telling.
The Rise of the Underdog
One notable example of this shift can be seen in the Possum Trot movie, a film that brings the intricate dynamics of rural life into the limelight. Such movies go beyond mere settings; they delve into the heart and soul of communities, showcasing the strength, resilience, and complexity of people living far from urban sprawl.
This focus on underrepresented locales has broadened the thematic horizons of cinema and democratized storytelling, allowing for more voices and experiences to be heard.
Authentic Representation
Small town stories provide a platform for authentic representation, showcasing the realities of life in these communities. This authenticity resonates with audiences, offering a break from the often-glamorized portrayals of city life in movies. The realness of the characters, their struggles, and their triumphs strike a chord, creating a more inclusive and relatable cinematic experience.
Diverse Storytelling Perspectives
The shift towards small-town narratives has introduced a variety of storytelling perspectives, enriching the film industry with diverse tales that might otherwise remain untold. These stories challenge stereotypes and offer a more nuanced understanding of places and people frequently marginalized or misunderstood in mainstream media.
Innovative Storytelling Techniques
Filmmakers exploring small town stories often employ innovative storytelling techniques to capture the essence of these communities. From unique cinematography that highlights the natural beauty of rural landscapes to narratives that weave together the folklore and traditions of a place, these films push the boundaries of conventional storytelling.
Economic Impact on Small Towns
Interestingly, films set in small towns can have a positive economic impact on the locations where they are shot. They bring attention to lesser-known areas, potentially boosting tourism and local business. This symbiotic relationship between filmmaking and location benefits the art of cinema and the communities that inspire it.
Fostering Community and Connection
Small town stories often center around community, belonging, and connection themes. These universal themes resonate widely, reminding viewers of the importance of human connections and the power of community, regardless of the setting. Films highlighting these aspects can foster a sense of unity and understanding among audiences.
Challenging Mainstream Norms
By bringing small town narratives to the forefront, modern films challenge mainstream norms and expand what is considered worthy of cinematic exploration. This shift not only diversifies the stories seen on screen but also challenges audiences to question and expand their perspectives.
The Future of Small Town Stories in Cinema
As the film industry continues to evolve, the importance of small town stories remains undeniable. These narratives counterbalance the urban-centric tales that dominate cinema, providing a refreshing change of pace and depth. The continued interest in small town stories signifies a broader desire for films that reflect the full spectrum of human experience, promising a future of cinema that is more inclusive, diverse, and representative of our world.
Incorporating small town stories profoundly changes the landscape of modern films. These narratives bring depth, diversity, and authenticity to cinema, challenging conventional storytelling and offering audiences new perspectives on the world.
As filmmakers continue to explore the rich tapestry of life in small communities, we can expect to see a broader, more inclusive representation of human experiences on screen. The shift towards these stories reflects a changing industry and society, which values the stories of all its members, regardless of where they live.
Entertainment
Three True-Crime Documentaries Coming to Netflix in April 2024
Time to snuggle with a cozy blanket and some popcorns!
Netflix has a wide range of TV shows and movies.
Alongside them, Netflix also hosts a lot of documentaries. It has a wide range of documentaries but the true-crime genre is the one that has its audience sitting on the edge of their seats.
There are various true-crime documentaries and docuseries on the platform, including American Nightmare, Girl in the Picture, Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, Tiger King, and Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer, among others.
In April 2024, various documentaries and docuseries are coming to Netflix. However, the three most anticipated true-crime shows are — What Jennifer Did, Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife Killer, and Files of the Unexplained.
Here is all we know about it.
‘What Jennifer Did’
What Jennifer Did is an upcoming documentary directed by Jenny Popplewell, the creator of another famous Netflix documentary, American Murder: The Family Next Door.
What Jennifer Did digs into the frightening story of Jennifer Pan, who plotted to murder her parents. The crime, disguised as a heist gone wrong, unravels through police interrogation film and interviews, showing Pan’s network of lies leading up to the incident.
Pan is a Canadian woman who was convicted of a 2010 kill-for-hire attack on her parents, which killed her mother and injured her father. The crime occurred at the Pan house in Unionville, Markham, Ontario, in the Greater Toronto Area.
According to her exact account, several gunmen entered the house, forcefully retrained her and her parents, then shot them. Her father, Huei Hann, was sent to the hospital, and her mother, Bich Ha, died instantaneously.
A whole new image appears as the law enforcement personnel piece together the facts. Pan plotted the entire operation with her drug dealer boyfriend, Daniel Wong, whom her parents had forbidden her from dating.
This motivated her to seek his help and devise a plan to murder her parents. This threatening notion was carried out in the form of a burglary, with Pan as the victim. The documentary will also concentrate on her arrest and the legal processes.
What Jennifer Did will be released on April 10, 2024.
‘Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife Killer’
As the name of the documentary suggests, Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife Killer is based on true events that occurred in Berlin. The series examines the case of several odd and unusual killings.
In 2012, three guys were murdered and robbed in Berlin after being unintentionally drugged. While the murderer was called ‘The Darkroom Murderer’ at the time, just one occurred in a dark room at a homosexual bar in Berlin.
‘Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife Killer’ will be released on April 3, 2024. (Source: Netflix)
However, the murderer did look for guys in and around the city’s party scene to prey on victims. Only when one of his targets survived his attack and the assassin attempted to purchase a train ticket with one of the deceased men’s credit cards did the inquiry begin to narrow.
Jan Zabeil and Caroline Schaper directed this true crime show and Netflix will begin streaming the series on April 3, 2024.
‘Files of the Unexplained’
Files of the Unexplained is an upcoming terrifying eight-episode docu-series that talks about strange encounters, weird disappearances, disturbing incidents, the mystery of mutilated feet washing up, and more.
This investigative documentary series examines genuine stories that defy explanations and talk about witnessing weird encounters and strange events.
Files of the Unexplained kind of dives into a similar area as its previous documentaries like Unsolved Mysteries, Haunted, and 28 Days Haunted. According to its plot on Netflix, the series is described as “Eerie encounters, bizarre disappearances, haunting events, and more perplexing phenomena are explored in this chilling investigative docuseries.”
The docuseries will be released on April 3, 2024.
Entertainment
‘Cowboy Carter’ — Everything You Need to Know About Beyonce’s New Album
The album will be released on March 29, 2024.
When Beyoncé announced her 2022 album Renaissance, she made it clear that it was merely the first installment of a multi-act body of work.
And now, after over two years of waiting, the singer has revealed that Act II is on the way — Cowboy Carter. Cowboy Carter, also known as Act II: Cowboy Carter or just Act II, is Beyoncé’s eighth studio album, set to be released on March 29, 2024, by Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records.
It is the second chapter of Beyoncé’s trilogy project, developed during the COVID-19 epidemic, and follows Renaissance (2022).
The then-untitled album was first announced on February 11, 2024, during Super Bowl LVIII, when Verizon Communications aired a Super Bowl commercial, titled ‘Can’t B Broken,’ in which Beyoncé tried to ‘break the Internet’ by doing increasingly outlandish means — from releasing a jazz saxophone record and performing on top of the Las Vegas Sphere to building an AI version of herself and launching a “Barbey” doll collection.
After all of the ideas failed, Beyoncé closed the advertisement by saying, “Okay, they ready. Drop the new music.” Following the broadcast, the singer shared a preview video for Act II on Instagram.
The video paid tribute to the 1984 movie, Paris, Texas, which mentions border blasters, and incorporates Chuck Berry’s 1955 song ‘Maybellene.’ The singer’s official website was updated the same day, announcing her eighth studio album, Act II, which would be released on March 29, 2024.
The album’s two main singles, ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ and ‘16 Carriages,’ were then made available for digital download and streaming. On March 12, 2024, Beyoncé stated that the album would be called Cowboy Carter via a teaser poster with a western saddle and sash.
She released the album cover on Instagram on March 19, 2024, and teased surprises and collaborations on the album. On March 20, 2024, she unveiled a limited edition unique cover featuring a ribbon that says “act ii BEYINCÉ,” referring to a generational family surname.
On March 27, 2024, she unveiled the album’s tracklist via a themed poster. She shared a graphic on Instagram of the album’s tracklist, which was inspired by classic Chitlin’ Circuit posters.
Cover of Beyoncé’s eighth studio album, ‘Cowboy Carter.’ (Source: Instagram)
It includes the titles “Dolly P” and “Smoke Hour Willie Nelson,” implying possible collaborations with Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson. Similarly, ‘Jolene,’ was written on the poster, which netizens believe is a cover or reinterpretation of the Parton’s song of the same name.
‘The Linda Martell Show,’ has also been mentioned on the poster, possibly referring to the first Black woman to achieve commercial success in the country genre.
The themed poster revealing the album’s tracklist has been confusing a lot of netizens. The following things have been mentioned on the poster, so possibly, these are the songs on the album.
They are — ‘Texas Hold ‘Em,’ ‘16 Carriages,’ ‘Ameriican Requiem,’ ‘Blackbiird,’ ‘Protector,’ ‘My Rose,’ ‘Bodyguard,’ ‘Daughter,’ ‘Spaghettii,’ ‘Alliigator Tears,’ ‘Smoke Hour Willie Nelson,’ ‘Smoke Hour II,’ ‘Just for Fun,’ ‘II Most Wanted,’ ‘Levii’s Jeans,’ ‘Flamenco,’ ‘Ya Ya,’ ‘Oh Louisiana,’ ‘Desert Eagle,’ ‘Riiverdance,’ ‘Tyrant,’ ‘II Hands II Heaven,’ ‘Sweet Honey Buckin’,’ ‘Amen,’ ‘Jolene,’ and ‘The Linda Martell Show.’
It looks like we will only get to know the collaborations and tracklist of Cowboy Carter after its release on March 29, 2024.
-
News1 week ago‘Ms. Marvel’ Star Matt Lintz Gets Engaged to His Girlfriend Gracie Sapp
-
News1 week agoCatherine Lowe and Husband Sean Lowe Celebrate Wedding Anniversary with Romantic Trip
-
Fashion1 week agoAre You Seeking Unique Sparkle? Explore Rare Carat’s Specialty Diamond Cuts!
-
Business6 days agoNine Amazing Tips to Become a Famous Author in Australia
-
LifeStyle7 days agoRelationship Health: The Role of Supplements in Personal Intimacy