comeback special
HOWNEWCOMEDYMAXXXTAKESAPOPATTHEPOST-FAMEGAME...
ITPULLSBACKTHE
BOYBANDCURTAIN
Maxxx is a ruthlessly funny exposé
of a world where celebrity is the only
currency that counts, viewed through
the bleary lens of its titular star (played
by The Handmaid’s Tale’s O-T Fagbenle).
A washed-up member of former teen
sensations Boystown (signature hit:
‘Can I See Your ID?’), Maxxx is now
bankrupt, popping pills, trying to make
a comeback and reconcile with a
girlfriend who has long since moved
on. “I think of Maxxx as a 17-year-old
who really wanted to be a famous
musician,” says Fagbenle. “He thinks
being famous is the same as being
loved and respected. He represents a lot
of what’s going on the world, where
‘likes’ represent genuine popularity.”IT’SAFAMILYAFFAIR
Writer/director/star Fagbenle (soon
to be seen on the big screen in Black
Widow) also wrote some of the series’
music, which is produced by O-T’s
younger brother Luti. A music-video
producer whose work has clocked up
more than three billion views, Luti’s
stellar collaborators include Drake,
Beyoncé and One Direction. “We have
to deliver for each other,” he explains.“That pressure is infectious. We care
about the work and each other. It
means so much to us. To sit down with
press and so on, this is a huge deal and
we don’t want to fuck it up!”THESHOWGOES
TOEXTREMES
He may get bottled off a PA in an Essex
nightclub, attacked by doves during a
music video, and way out of his depth
at a sex party, but however far-fetched
Maxxx’s experiences seem, we’re
assured they’re not beyond the realms
of possibility. “I was keen on showing
the most extreme versions of reality,”
says O-T. “I can’t name names but
I’ve seen my fair share of divas,” adds
Luti. “If you’re put in a certain position
where people treat you in a certain
way, that will affect you after a while.
I’ve seen it all!”THEENSEMBLEISCLASSY
Helen Monks (Upstart Crow) plays
Maxxx’s cousin and superfan Rose,
with whom he ends up lodging in
desperation. Meanwhile, his son
Amit – adopted as a publicity
gimmick when Boystown were
at their peak – is played by
newcomer Alan Asaad. Hisduelling minders are Oz’s Christopher
Meloni (as veteran music producer Don
Wild) and MotherFatherSon’s Pippa
Bennett-Warner, playing super-square
manager Tamzin. “Don is a ’60s wild
man who thinks he’s 27,” says Meloni,
grimacing. “I’ve never worn stretchy
jeans in my life! He believes the world
revolves around him, that being the
starmaker makes him the star. He’s
damaged, but he’s OK with that.”THERE’SCAMEOS
A-GO-GO
Watch out for walk-ons from Jonathan
Ross, Larry King, Lemar and, most
notably, supermodel Jourdan Dunn,
also playing ‘herself’ as Maxxx’s
over-it ex. “One of my riders was that
my on-screen girlfriend should be a
supermodel!” laughs O-T. “We were
so lucky, but I was panicked. An actual
supermodel? [Co-director] Nick Collett
and I got her in and worried whether
she’d be any good at acting, but
before long we were high fiving.
Plus, she’s up for making fun of
herself and making out with me...”
Gabriel TateMAXXX STARTS ON E4 AND ALL 4
THIS MONTH.SEE THIS
IF YOU
LIKED...
EXTRAS
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Anactorfinds
stardombutloseshis
soulinGervais’inside-
showbizsitcom
BOJACK
HORSEMAN
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ThesagaofaTV
has-beenstumbling
backintothe
limelight
BROS AFTERTHE
SCREAMING
STOPS
Ataleoftwotwins
veeringbetween
DavidBrent-isms
and genuinepathosCHANNEL^4 ,^ ROBERTPARFITTWriter/director/star
O-TFagbenlewith
supermodelJourdan
DunnasMaxxx’sex MAKINGOF
TOTAL FILM | APRIL 2020 SUBSCRIBEATWWWTOTALFILMCOM/SUBS