Minx (TV series)

Minx is an American comedy television series created and written by Ellen Rapoport and starring Ophelia Lovibond and Jake Johnson for HBO Max and later Starz. It aired from March 17, 2022 to September 8, 2023.

In May 2022, the series was renewed for a second season. However, in December 2022, the series was canceled by HBO Max while its second season was in production. The following month, the series was picked up by Starz. The second season premiered on July 21, 2023. In January 2024, the series was canceled after two seasons.

Premise
In the 1970s, a young feminist from Los Angeles joins forces with a shady adult entertainment publisher to create the first women's erotic magazine. Through this unlikely alliance the characters discover meaningful relationships in the most unusual places.

Main

 * Ophelia Lovibond as Joyce Prigger
 * Michael Angarano as Glenn (season 1)
 * Jessica Lowe as Bambi
 * Oscar Montoya as Richie
 * Lennon Parham as Shelly
 * Idara Victor as Tina
 * Jake Johnson as Doug Renetti

Recurring

 * Sofia Gonzalez as Rita
 * Rich Sommer as Lenny
 * Elizabeth Perkins as Constance (season 2)

Guest

 * Taylor Zakhar Perez as Shane Brody (season 1)
 * Stephen Tobolowsky as Conrad Ross (season 1)
 * Amy Landecker as Bridget Westbury (season 1)
 * Olivia Rose Keegan as Amber (season 1)
 * Jacqi Vene as Marian (season 1)
 * Austin Nichols as Billy Brunson (season 1)
 * Lesli Margherita as Francesca (season 1)
 * Al Sapienza as Vince (season 1)
 * Alicia Hannah-Kim as Wendy Mah (season 1)
 * Eric Edelstein as Willy (season 1)
 * Samm Levine as Franco (season 1)
 * Hope Davis as Victoria Hartnett (season 1)
 * Josh Stamberg as George
 * Gillian Jacobs as Maggie
 * Susan Walters as Elayne (season 1)
 * Allison Tolman as Wanda (season 1)
 * David Paymer as Myron (season 1)
 * Jaeden Bettencourt as Tommy (season 2)
 * Erik Griffin as Chuck (season 2)
 * Rose Bianco as Tia Sofia (season 2)
 * Samantha Sloyan as Joan Didion (season 2)
 * Ken Kirby as Kevin (season 2)
 * Josh Fadem as Carl Sagan (season 2)
 * Joshua Gomez as Simon (season 2)
 * Caroline Arapoglou as Linda Ronstadt (season 2)
 * Guy Burnet as Graham (season 2)
 * Chris Riggi as Dustin (season 2)
 * Robert Curtis Brown as Marshall (season 2)
 * Beau Minniear as JJ (season 2)
 * Cleo King as Evelyn (season 2)
 * Jalen Gilbert as Marvin (season 2)
 * Melinda Page Hamilton as Doreen (season 2)
 * Katherine Landry as Frances (season 2)
 * Che Tafari as Benjamin (season 2)
 * Victor Webster as Charlie (season 2)
 * Patrick Bristow as Walt (season 2)

Development
On February 19, 2020, it was announced that HBO Max had given the project a pilot order. Ellen Rapoport was attached to write as well as executive produce alongside Paul Feig and Dan Magnante of Feigco Entertainment. On September 3, 2020, Unpregnant director Rachel Lee Goldenberg was attached to direct and executive produce the pilot. On April 5, 2021, it was announced that HBO Max had given the project a series pickup for ten half-hour episodes. On May 5, 2022, HBO Max renewed the series for a second season. However, on December 12, 2022, HBO Max canceled the series. At the time, production on the second season was near completion, and Lionsgate sought to give the show a new home. Despite the cancellation, filming for the second season continued, with Lovibond later announcing that it had wrapped on December 18, 2022. On January 12, 2023, it was announced that the series had been picked up by Starz. On January 5, 2024, it was announced that the series had been cancelled after two seasons.

Casting
On September 16, 2020, Ophelia Lovibond was cast in the lead role. On December 8, 2020, Idara Victor, Oscar Montoya, Jessica Lowe, Lennon Parham, and Michael Angarano joined the main cast, with Jake Johnson cast in a guest role before being promoted to the main cast.

Taylor Zakhar Perez was cast as firefighter Shane. About the challenges he faced while playing the character, he said, "The biggest thing was grounding him, making him likable, and also playing against the line."

Filming
The pilot began filming on December 6, 2020, in Los Angeles.

Release and streaming
The first season of Minx aired from March 17 to April 14, 2022 on HBO Max. The second season of Minx aired from July 21 to September 8, 2023 on Starz.

Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a 97% approval rating with an average rating of 7.7/10, based on 38 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "The rapport between Ophelia Lovibond and Jake Johnson is the irresistible centerfold of Minx, a bawdy and sharp comedy that merits a full-page spread." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 75 out of 100 based on 21 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

The second season holds an approval rating of 88% with an average rating of 7.4/10, based on 25 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Still getting great mileage from its marriage of the feminist and the frivolous, Minx second season is smart, sexy, and fun." On Metacritic, the season has received a score of 76 out of 100 based on 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".