How a global film franchise hit a sour note in Berlin
In short: The transition from silver screen to streaming often faces unique hurdles. When the Pitch Perfect universe expanded into an American musical comedy series, it faced a complex journey of production delays, labor strikes, and critical scrutiny that tested the durability of its a cappella premise.
On 23 November 2022, Peacock debuted 'Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin', a show created by Elizabeth Banks and Megan Amram using Kay Cannon's characters. The series serves as a spin-off to the popular film franchise, featuring several returning elements such as Adam DeVine reprising his role from the movies. Todd Strauss-Schulson helmed the initial pair of episodes while filming occurred in Berlin throughout March 2022 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The series expanded the universe by introducing new characters like Pieter Krämer, a music manager and former member of Das Sound Machine (DSM). The show explores the aftermath of DSM's disbandment following a public lip-syncing scandal. Other key additions included Sarah Hyland as Heidi, an army brat and secret songwriter; Jameela Jamil as Gisela, a former DSM member; and Lera Abova as DJ Das Boot / Thea, a famous Berlin music producer.
Despite an initial renewal for a second season on January 9, 2023, the project faced significant industry headwinds. By September 21, 2023, Peacock officially scrapped the second season. This decision was directly attributed to the dual impact of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America strikes. The series received mixed critical reception, holding a 46% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 46 out of 100 score on Metacritic, with critics noting that its thin premise struggled to sustain momentum.
The production involved major entities including Brownstone Productions, Gold Circle Films, and Universal Television. While the series found homes on Peacock, W Network in Canada, and Stack TV via Prime Video, it remains a case study in how external labor conditions can abruptly halt the trajectory of established media properties.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-pitch-perfect-bumper-in-berlin.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
