A new documentary about The Tragically Hip, a revival of Gary and His Demons and a Quebec-set maple syrup heist dramedy are among the new titles announced as part of Prime Video’s Canadian-centric content slate.
The Amazon-owned streaming service held a showcase event at Toronto’s Massey Hall on Wednesday (April 13), where it unveiled the release dates and first looks for several previously-announced titles and details on four new projects considered Canadian Amazon Original productions.
Among the new productions is an untitled documentary project about iconic Canadian band The Tragically Hip, helmed by Courage Films’ Mike Downie, brother of the band’s late lead singer Gord Downie. The documentary will include never-before-seen footage from the band’s career, spanning from their early gigs to their sold-out coast-to-coast tour.
Prime has also ordered a revival of the Blue Ant Media-owned Look Mom! Productions animation Gary and His Demons, created by Mark Little (Cavendish), who returns as head writer, co-director and star. The first season initially ran in 2018 on U.S. OTT streamer VRV and was available on CBC Gem in Canada. The newly announced second season will premiere on Prime Video in the fall, with the streamer also acquiring the first season for Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The Sticky is a new scripted half-hour series for Prime, which is set in Quebec and follows a Canadian maple syrup farmer who plots a heist for millions of dollars worth of the golden export. The series is co-created by U.S. writers Brian Donovan and Ed Herro (Little Darlings), who serve as co-showrunners and executive producers alongside Canadian writer Kathryn Borel (Anne With an E). Jonathan Levine (Nine Perfect Strangers) will serve as director and EP. It is produced by Blumhouse Television, Levine’s banner Megamix, Jamie Lee Curtis’s banner Comet Pictures and Montreal’s Sphere Media.
Finally, Prime Video has named the Sepia Films and Connect3 Media Canada/Mexico copro film Sugar as a Canadian Amazon Original film. Starring Katherine McNamara (Shadowhunters) and Jasmine Sky Sarin (Perfect High), the film is based on a true story and follows two influencers from Quebec who become ensnared into a drug smuggling operation on a luxury cruise. Prime Video will stream the film in Canada, Australia and New Zealand later this year. International distributor Cineflix Rights shopped Sugar at MIPTV earlier this month.
Of its previously announced titles, Prime Video announced that The Kids in the Hall (Project 10 Productions), a revival of the iconic Canadian sketch comedy, will premiere on May 13 across 240 countries and territories, while the Blue Ant Studios-produced two-part documentary The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks will premiere on May 20; Amaze-produced comedy The Lake, starring Jordan Gavaris (Orphan Black) and Julia Stiles (Hustlers), will premiere on June 17; Left Bank-produced Three Pines, starring Alfred Molina, will premiere in early 2023; docuseries The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith, produced by Amazon Studios in association with Muse Entertainment, will premiere on May 6; and Attraction’s LOL: Qui Rira Le Dernier?, a Quebec version of the Last One Laughing format, will premiere later this year.
“Canada has incredible stories to tell, and we have been fortunate enough to work with the best local producers, directors, writers, and actors to start to bring these stories to our Prime members in Canada. Our upcoming Canadian slate offers something for every Canadian entertainment fan—from comedies and dramas, to true crime films, documentaries, and animation,” said Christina Wayne, head of originals, Canada, Amazon Studios, in a statement. “Along with the Canadian producers including Muse, Blue Ant Studios, AMAZE, and Attraction—who we are already working with—we are proud to collaborate with the best internationally, including Left Bank and Blumhouse, to work with Canadian talent and have our local development team shepherd these upcoming Canadian stories.”