Deals: Nelvana, Netflix Canada, Paramount+

Nelvana sells Millie Magnificent to new territories while some Canadian projects get picked up by Netflix and Paramount+.

Nelvana has secured three new sales for its original preschool series Millie Magnificent (pictured).

The 52 x 11-minute 3D-animated series is inspired by Canadian author Ashley Spires’ Most Magnificent children’s book series. The show has been sold to Australia’s ABC, Denmark’s DR and French Canada’s Télé-Québec for releases throughout 2025.

These broadcasters join previous buyers Canal+ for France, Treehouse/StackTV for English Canada, YLE for Finland, RTS for Switzerland and HOP! for Israel.

The series follows Millie, her dog Wallace and her best friends Ben and Maya while they try to find the most magnificent solutions to problems in their community.

Last week also saw a significant change for Nelvana as it was announced that Mellany Welsh would be departing her role as VP and head of Nelvana. Rachel Nelson, VP, original programming and head of Corus Studios is overseeing Nelvana and Kids Can Press following Welsh’s Jan. 17 departure.

Netflix Canada

Two Canadian series will be heading to Netflix Canada in February.

All three seasons of Global’s Mary Kills People will be headed to the service along with the Charles Officer and R.T. Thorne-directed CBC series The Porter.

Mary Kills People, produced by Entertainment One (now Lionsgate Canada) and Cameron Pictures in association with Corus Entertainment, first premiered in January 2017. The series, created by Tara Armstrong, stars Caroline Dhavernas (Hannibal) as an ER doctor and single mother who spends her free time helping those in need end their lives.

It aired in the U.S. on Lifetime. The 18 x 45-minute series’ third and final season aired in 2019.

The first and only season of CBC’s The Porter air in 2022. Produced by Inferno Pictures and Sphere Media, the series aired in the U.S. on BET+. In 2023, CBC announced that The Porter would not be returning for another season. Inspired by real events, the 8 x 60-minute series follows Black train porters fighting for equity in the 1920s.

Paramount+

Ryan Cooper and Eva Thomas’ Aberdeen will be heading to Paramount+ Canada in February, a Paramount+ spokesperson told Playback Daily.

Produced by Farpoint Films and Cooper’s Back to Space Productions, Aberdeen was part of a first-look deal between the two companies. Kyle Bornais and Kathleen Easton from Farpoint are producers on the film alongside Cooper.

Aberdeen stars Gail Maurice (Night Raiders) as an Indigenous woman who flees to Winnipeg from her home as a climate refugee. The film is produced with the support of Telefilm Canada, Manitoba Film & Music, the Indigenous Screen Office and tax credits. Farpoint Distribution is the film’s distributor.

The film also stars Billy Merasty, Jennifer Podemski, Liam Stewart-Kanigan and Ryan Rajendra Black.

Aberdeen had its world premiere at the 2024 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival Thomas  went on to her solo directorial debut Nika & Madison, which has been acquired by Game Theory Films.

Image courtesy of Corus Entertainment