Toronto-based 5’7 Films has partnered with Kevin Healey (Scare Tactics), formerly an executive producer with Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat, on a number of upcoming projects.

5’7 Films co-founders and in-laws Adam Rodness (pictured right) and Stu Stone’s (pictured left) feature following-up to 2020’s Faking a Murderer and 2024’s Don’t F**k with Ghosts is included in the slate.

The untitled Bigfoot comedy, a part of 5’7 Films’ multi-picture slate deal with its broadcaster Hollywood Suite, accompanies Rodness and Stone as they attempt to prove the mythical creature’s existence. It is co-written by Stone, who also directs, and Rodness, who produces.

The project is targeting production this fall with a release in 2026. Healey (pictured centre) and Ira Levy, through his Spike & Sadie Media shingle, are executive producers alongside the duo with funding in part from Hollywood Suite and 5’7 Films along with Ontario and federal tax credits

Healey’s deal with 5’7 Films, which encompasses a variety of projects across genres, was signed in December of last year. Hartbeat remains as an executive producer on Don’t F**k with Ghosts, Rodness told Playback Daily.

Along with Healey, 5’7 Films has also partnered with Trailer Park Boys‘ Robb Wells. Wells first teamed up with Rodness and Stone when he was cast in 5’7’s 2022 heist comedy Vandits. Wells acquired the film for his company and streaming service SwearNet with him and 5’7 later partnering to develop future projects.

Wells is an executive producer on a series version of Rodness and Stone’s trilogy of Faking a Murderer, Don’t F**k with Ghosts and their upcoming Bigfoot film. It is showrun by Healey with additional executive producers including Levy, Stone and Rodness.

The series will be among the projects 5’7 Films is bringing to the Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) this year as the company looks for international coproduction and distribution partners. The company has also recently added another to its ranks, bringing on actor, producer and writer Jonathan Malen (Wild Kratts) in April as head of scripted content.

“Right now, it’s probably the hardest time in the industry to sell a show or to get something financed,” says Rodness. “You have to be very creative and put together a tight package that is undeniable and that’s what we’re doing.”

Rodness said that 5’7 Films’ strategy includes cost-effective measures, such as its documentary style of filming, combined with talent on both sides of the camera and bringing on distributors and other partners before presenting to buyers.

Other projects 5’7 is taking to BANFF include Don’t F**k with Ghosts, the dramedy series Death With Benefits and the feature documentary Clermont, which tells the story of Atlanta’s Clermont Lounge. Death With Benefits has Wells as an executive producer with a pilot already written and Clermont is soon to announce its director. Both are in the end stages of development packaging.

Other 5’7 Films’ projects in development are the feature The Untold Story of the Glass Bong and the unscripted series Rock Bottom Rescue featuring UFC fighter Jared “Flash” Gordon.

The Untold Story of the Glass Bong, directed by Stone and produced by Rodness, is based on the life story of glass blower Jason Harris, known for his contributions to cannabis paraphernalia. The duo executive produce alongside Wells and Healey.

Rock Bottom Rescue follows Gordon as he helps find and place those with severe addiction issues into treatment centres. John Ferracane, a veteran executive producer of unscripted content, is attached as the series’ showrunner.

Stone says that 5’7 is looking to diversify and create more content outside of comedy, providing its 2018 Netflix documentary Jack of All Trades on the rise and fall of the baseball card market as an example of non-comedic content the company has previously produced.

“We recognize that this market is much bigger than our comedy and we want to diversify our IP,” says Stone. “We want to expand our output and that can include serious topics … We’re trying to come from different angles whenever possible.”

Image courtesy of 5’7 Films