British arch-satirist Armando Iannucci has announced that his target will be the hubris and hilarity in California’s technology scene. Talking to the UK Observer, he explained that his next project would not focus on his usual political playground:

“I’m thinking about the power of the internet,” said Iannucci. “Microsoft, Google, Facebook; you have these twentysomethings who have a way into billions of households. Where’s the power gone? The power is gravitating towards these companies.”
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“I’m also interested in that personal thing of what it does to you when you’re 25 and you’re a multibillionaire and everyone in the world knows who you are,” said Iannucci.

For anyone worried about a series of hackneyed jokes about poking your friends or uncovering , don’t worry! Iannucci has good form.

He’s best known for The Thick Of It — a highly acclaimed, tremendously smart series that exposes the inner machinations of British government — and has recently transferred that to America with a run of Veep, his series starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, on HBO.

According to the report, he’s already written a pilot of his show about the world of technology and social media, and is in discussions with the network about it.

In truth, Iannucci’s job should be fairly easy, because Silicon Valley has enough excesses and idiocies that it effectively satirizes itself.

From ostentatious parties to the increasing fixation with celebrity investors, there is no lack of material. Oh, and then there’s the hypocrisy. What about the likes of Eric Schmidt, who says only people with something to hide require privacy — and yet demands his girlfriends stay quiet? Or Mark Zuckerberg, who says most people don’t care that privacy no longer exists — yet makes billions from encouraging that shift in opinion.

All ripe for a slam or two, don’t you think? I’m sure you can think of more.

But even though a week in the Valley may provide him enough material for a 17 season run, Iannucci says his reason for targeting the technology industry isn’t because it’s easy — but because it’s real. Forget Westminster, or even the West Wing: the power today lies on the companies who command the net, he argues.

“Where’s the power gone?” he told The Observer. “The power is gravitating towards these companies.”

Under the agreement, on July 29, Hulu will start running the first three already-produced seasons of the satirical comedy, which focuses on the inner workings of the British government. It’ll run on both free-to-view Hulu and subscription-based Hulu Plus.

The fourth season of the show — which was created and written by Armando Iannucci, the mastermind behind HBO’s Julia Louis Dreyfus series Veep — will debut early next year simultaneously on Hulu and Hulu Plus with the U.K. premiere on BBC Four. (The verite-style show will later be broadcast on BBC America.)

“We’re really excited to give U.S. audiences a chance to catch up with all previous episodes, and as series co-producers for season four, we are proud to make full seasons of this distinctive and smart show available exclusively to Hulu viewers,” said Hulu Senior VP of Content Andy Forssell, in a statement.

The series will continue to be produced in-house at the BBC, but now “in association with Hulu,” according to the announcement. Details were not provided as to how Hulu is helping to underwrite the production.