Armando Iannucci to Step Down as VEEP Showrunner; David Mandel to Take Over

It seems that VEEP is getting a new head of state.

VEEP showrunner Armando Iannucci is stepping down from the Emmy-nominated hit comedy, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, after four seasons. HBO announced on Friday that Iannucci's replacement will be CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM's David Mandel.

"We have had conversations with Armando for some time about the challenges of maintaining his family life in London and producing a show in the states," read HBO's statement. "Armando is not replaceable but we are confident that VEEP will continue to be produced at the highest levels with new showrunner, David Mandel. David has worked with HBO for many years as executive producer, writer and director for Curb Your Enthusiasm."

Mandel and Louis-Dreyfus worked together in the past, when Mandel was a writer and producer for SEINFELD.

The Emmy®-nominated and Writers Guild Award-winning comedy series VEEP kicks off its fourth season SUNDAY, APRIL 12 (10:30-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Created by Armando Iannucci (Oscar® nominee for co-writing "In the Loop"), the show stars Emmy® and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, who becomes Vice president, only to discover The Job is nothing like she expected, but everything she was warned about.

VEEP follows the whirlwind day-to-day existence of Vice President Meyer as she puts out political fires in her public and private life while launching her campaign for president. In the third season, Selina and her staff head off to meet America in Detroit and Silicon Valley, Go On a drug bust with the Maryland Coast Guard, and fly to London to confer with heads of state. Meanwhile, as Dan and Amy battle for the role of campaign manager, everyone helps Selina define who she is and where she stands on fracking, education, reproductive rights and her hairstyle. With all of AMERICA NOW watching her and her team, even the most banal action can set off a ripple effect that has unexpected and far-reaching consequences.

The ensemble cast of the show also includes Emmy® winner Tony Hale ("Arrested Development") as Gary, VicePresident Meyer's right-hand man; Emmy® nominee Anna Chlumsky ("In the Loop") as Amy, her chief of staff; Reid Scott ("My Boys") as Dan, an ambitious political aide; Matt Walsh (HBO's "Hung") as Mike, Vice President Meyer's weathered spokesperson; Timothy C. Simons ("Days Together") as Jonah, a White House liaison turned political blogger; Sufe Bradshaw ("Overnight") as Sue, Vice President Meyer's executive assistant; and Kevin Dunn (HBO's "Luck") as Ben, the president's chief of staff.

Source: EW

Photo credit: Twitter/Armando Iannucci

To post a comment, you must register and login.