CBC has acquired the rights to Australian romantic drama Love Me in a deal with U.K.-based distributor DCD Rights. The 6 x 60-minute series was acquired for streaming service CBC Gem.

Love Me (pictured) is an adaptation of the Swedish series Älska mig, which was originally released on streamer Viaplay, and stars Hugo Weaving (The Lord of the Rings), Bojana Novakovic (Birds of Prey) and William Lodder (Wakefield).

Viaplay has also acquired the Australian version from DCD Rights for Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and the Netherlands. It was additionally picked up for Acorn TV (U.K., Spain, Portugal and India), Hot (Israel), yes-DBS (Israel) and Pickbox (Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Bulgaria).

marblemedia, Mezo Entertainment

Toronto prodco marblemedia and writer-producer Robert C. Cooper’s Vancouver-based Mezo Entertainment have announced development on an all-ages series based on Douglas D. Meredith’s Generation Mars books. Cooper (Stargate) will be showrunner on the 10 x 60-minute live-action sci-fi adventure.

Generation Mars will be set in 2053 and feature a 12-year-old who is the first human being born on Mars. Series consultants will include space exploration non-profit Explore Mars and Dr. Tanya Harrison, a PhD in geology with a specialization in planetary science and exploration.

Wattpad 

Toronto-based Wattpad has inked a deal with Philippine-based social entertainment platform Kumu to adapt the webnovel Kiss Master from Jamille Fumah. Wattpad Webtoons Studios and Black Sheep Productions will produce the eight-episode series for the Kumu platform, with Chad Vidanes attached to direct. Kaori Oinuma is set to star as Sussie, who reunites with her first kiss five years after he broke her heart, except now he’s a billionaire CEO.

As part of the deal, Kumu will use its platform to engage with fans online to receive feedback on casting, storylines and more. The deal was negotiated through Kumu and Wattpad Brand Partnerships.

Netflix Canada

Netflix Canada has picked up season one of the Cameron Pictures-produced CBC dramedy Pretty Hard Cases. The series hits the streamer on June 1 and will still be available on CBC Gem. It is co-created by Tassie Cameron and Sherry White, and stars Meredith MacNeill (Baroness von Sketch Show) and Adrienne C. Moore (Orange is the New Black). Distribution rights are handled by NBCUniversal Global Distribution.

Several CBC shows have hit Netflix Canada in recent years, including Kim’s Convenience, Schitt’s Creek and Workin’ Moms.

With files from Victoria Ahearn