Summary
"Fired on Mars" is a hilarious adult animated series that brilliantly spoofs office culture and workplace dilemmas on the red planet.
Featuring Luke Wilson, Tim Heidecker, and Cedric Yarbrough, the show achieves a harmonious blend of notable celebrities and seasoned voice actors. Despite lacking acclaim from mainstream critics, "Fired on Mars" garnered an impressive 82% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and has been likened to existential adult animated series such as BoJack Horseman.
The irreverent HBO adult animated series Fired on Mars showcases a talented ensemble cast, filled with familiar faces. Premiering in 2023, this deadpan comedy follows the story of Jeff Cooper (Luke Wilson), an average office worker who gets fired from his job at a Mars-based tech startup. Stranded on the red planet, he must navigate the peculiarities of corporate America. Nate Sherman and Nick Vokey, the creative duo behind the 2016 short film of the same name, bring their ideas to life in this expanded Max streaming exclusive.
Fired on Mars brilliantly satirizes office culture and addresses the modern challenges of the workplace. Serving as a contemporary counterpart to classic workplace comedies of the past, this series has garnered an audience score of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes. Although mainstream critics had little to say about the show, it has been compared to existential adult animated series like BoJack Horseman. Despite receiving mixed reviews, Fired on Mars stands out due to its remarkable cast. It is one of the rare modern shows that combines recognizable stars with accomplished voice actors.
Luke Wilson As Jeff Cooper
Jeff Cooper is a talented graphic designer who unexpectedly loses his job at the renowned startup Mars.ly while being stranded on the enigmatic red planet. Portrayed by the iconic Luke Wilson, known for his remarkable collaborations with esteemed director Wes Anderson, Cooper embarks on a quest to secure a new occupation amidst the Martian wilderness. Wilson's noteworthy performances include his portrayal of Richie in the critically acclaimed film The Royal Tenenbaums, as well as his leading role as Anthony Adams in Anderson's directorial debut, Bottle Rocket. Additionally, Wilson's noteworthy presence can be witnessed in the timeless Frat Pack movies, most notably in the beloved blockbuster, Old School, wherein he effortlessly assumes the lead role of Mitch.
Tim Heidecker As Darren Young
Renowned outsider comedian Tim Heidecker takes on the role of Darren Young in Fired on Mars, the CCER at Mars.ly who is too absorbed in golf to provide any support to his team. Heidecker gained fame as one half of the comedic duo Tim and Eric, alongside his collaborator Eric Wareheim. Their absurdist series, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, broke new ground in comedy during the early 2000s. In addition to rejoining forces with Wareheim in Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories, Heidecker made a notable appearance in Jordan Peele's horror film Us, portraying the character Josh Tyler.
Sean Wing As Brandon O’Brien
Sean Wing is cast as Brandon O'Brien, Jeff's immediate supervisor who is the one responsible for giving him the book from Mars.ly. While not as widely recognized as his co-stars, Wing has distinguished himself both in front of and behind the camera, gaining fame for his portrayal of Charlie in You Again and TJ in the horror film Forget Me Not. Interestingly, Wing previously provided the voice for the character of Jeff in the original Fired on Mars short film back in 2016, but was chosen to play a different role for the extended series.
Cedric Yarbrough As Jaxton Olivier
Assuming the role of Jaxton Olivier, an enthusiastic executive assistant, is Cedric Yarbrough. Yarbrough is widely known for portraying Deputy S. Jones in Reno 911! for nearly 20 years. However, he has also showcased his talent in other roles such as Vic in The Goldbergs and Tito in The Boss. Apart from his on-screen appearances, Yarbrough has an extensive career as a voice actor. He has lent his voice to numerous characters in Family Guy and portrayed Officer Meow-Meow in BoJack Horseman. In 2023, Yarbrough took on the role of Chief O'Neil in Captain Fall and contributed his voice to various characters in the Strange Planet web-comic adaptation.
Amara Karan As Crystal
Crystal, a doctor on Mars, tends to Jeff's injuries and forms a connection with him as they share a sense of existential dread. Portrayed by Amara Karan, known for her role as Rita in The Darjeeling Limited and as Sangeet in A Fantastic Fear of Everything, Crystal also played Peaches in St. Trinian's. Karan is most recognized for her portrayal of DS Suri Chohan in the police procedural Lucky Man.
Pamela Adlon As Reagan Smith
Reagan Smith, portrayed by Pamela Adlon, joins the cast of Fired on Mars. In the show, she serves as the department head of Mars.ly's Dreamspiration division, the very place where Jeff begins his internship. With an extensive and diverse career spanning decades, Adlon gained recognition for her role as Dolores in the critically panned musical Grease 2. However, she also impressed audiences with her performance as Sam Fox in the underappreciated FX series Better Things. Not only is Adlon a talented actress, but she is also known for her voice acting skills. One of her notable voice roles includes Sonya in the beloved Netflix animated series Big Mouth, a role she later reprised in the spinoff series Human Resources.
Leslie David Baker As Hubert Danielson
Hubert Danielson, portrayed by Leslie David Baker, is a Mars colonist and member of Buckys. This clandestine group operates covertly to pilfer resources, aiming to undermine Mars.ly. Baker, renowned for his memorable role as Stanley Hudson in The Office, also lent his voice to Officer McPiggly in Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie and portrayed Lt. Banning in the controversial and audacious puppet film, The Happytime Murders.
Fired On Mars Supporting Cast & Characters
Mark, played by seasoned character actor Stephen Root, is one of Jeff's colleagues at Mars.ly. Root's extensive experience in workplace comedy films, such as his iconic role as Milton in the cult classic Office Space, adds depth to his portrayal of Mark. Additionally, his distinctive voice, recognized by many as the voice of Bill Dauterive in King of the Hill, further enhances his performance. Root's versatility as an actor is evident in his portrayal of Gordon in Dodgeball and his captivating portrayal of Fuches in the critically acclaimed HBO series Barry.
Ted, portrayed by comic actor Frankie Quiñones, is Jeff's co-worker at Mars.ly. Quiñones gained recognition for his portrayal of Luis in the Hulu series The Fool and Miguel in the cast of What We Do in the Shadows.
Hannah, played by Chase Bernstein, is Jeff's girlfriend who resides on Earth while he is on Mars. Bernstein, primarily known for her behind-the-scenes work in comedy, also showcased her talent as Sage in the 2022 film Albacore.
Al Di as Di Wei - Voiced by Al Di, Di Wei works at Mars.ly and frequently interacts with Jeff. Al Di is primarily recognized as a producer and writer, but he also portrayed the character Lawyer Lu in the movie Bipolar.
Pete Davidson as Martin - In an uncredited role, Pete Davidson takes on the character Martin, the stock manager at Mars.ly. Davidson, known for his time on SNL, has also appeared as Scott in the comedy film The King of Staten Island, David in Bodies Bodies Bodies, and himself in the series Bupkis.
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje portrays Abbas, a member of Buckys, and one of the Mars colonists involved in the theft of resources from Mars.ly. Known for his performances as Femi in the film Farming and Ogunwe in His Dark Materials, Akinnuoye-Agbaje lends his voice to the character of Abbas.
Emily Watson takes on the role of Sheila, the chief biologist for Mars.ly, who secretly leads the Buckys. Watson, an accomplished actress, has graced the screen as Elsie in Gosford Park and Lena in the underrated Adam Sandler film Punch-Drunk Love.
Thomas Haden Church takes on the role of Trevor Sullivan in the film. Known for his memorable performance as Jack in Sideways, he has also portrayed the infamous supervillain the Sandman in Spider-Man 3, reprising the role in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
David Faustino lends his voice to the character of Tee, a former DJ and the son of Mars.ly's CEO who serves as the company's creative officer. Faustino is widely recognized for his portrayal of Bud Bundy in the beloved sitcom Married...with Children, as well as his voice work as Mako in the highly popular Nickelodeon series The Legend of Korra.
John Noble, renowned for his portrayal of Denethor in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Dr. Walter Bishop in the sci-fi series Fringe, breathes life into the character of Falco, the Chief Executive Officer of Mars.ly, in the highly anticipated film Fired on Mars.