Montreal prodco Attraction has signed a first-look development deal with Anishinaabe podcaster, writer, director and producer Ryan McMahon for unscripted English content.

The goal is to develop a slate of original content across multiple mediums including film and TV, as well as expanding their English-language offerings. It marks the company’s first major step into talent-led unscripted content, according to a news release.

McMahon hosted the 2018 Canadaland podcast Thunder Bay, which was adapted by Entertainment One (now Lionsgate Canada) into a four-part documentary series on Crave in 2023. Both the podcast and the doc delve into the systemic racism, corruption and violence that impacts Indigenous people in Thunder Bay, Ont.

Some of his other work includes hosting and co-writing the 2016 documentary Colonization Road, as well as hosting and narrating the 2021 short doc series Stories from the Land on CBC Gem.

Projects developed with McMahon will explore topics that challenge societal norms, amplify marginalized voices and uncover untold stories, said the release.

Nicole Hamilton, Attraction’s EVP, unscripted content, said the deal “represents our continued mission to expand our slate of impactful projects that engage and inspire,” in a statement.

Image courtesy of Attraction