Australian streaming service Stan has announced the renewal of its output deal with Lionsgate. Under the new agreement, Stan will have first-run rights to a variety of shows, including the upcoming CIA thriller series Gray, which stars Patricia Clarkson, Lydia West, and Rupert Everett. Other shows included in the deal are Son of a Critch, Welcome to Flatch, Steven K. Knight’s Spartacus sequel series, and the Power franchise. Additionally, Stan will have access to a variety of Lionsgate catalog titles, including Mad Men, Weeds, The Spanish Princess, Black Sails, La La Land, and Twilight.
Aboriginal Peoples Television Network and the Canadian Media Fund Announce Comedy Series
Rez Comedy Ltd.’s Rez Comedy series is set to be the first all-Canadian and Indigenous stand-up comedy series. The show has been signed on by Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples Television Network and the Canadian Media Fund. Squamish comedian Keith Nahanee and filmmaker Quentin Lee will serve as co-showrunners, co-directors, and co-executive producers on the 13-part show. Each episode will feature 13 Indigenous comedians from diverse genders, ages, and sexual identities, performing half-hour sets at the Squamish Nation’s Chief Jor Mathias Centre. Nahanee will star in the pilot, which is planned to go into production in January 2024. APTN is partnering with international distributor Viva Pictures, which has sold series such as Comedy InvAsian to Peacock and HBO Max’s first Latinx stand-up comedy series, Entre Nos.
Disney+ Acquires Marie Antoinette for Germany
Disney+ Germany has acquired Banijay Studios France, CAPA Drama, and Les Gens’ historical drama series, Marie Antoinette. The eight-part series will launch on the streaming service on June 21st, following a deal with Banijay Rights. The series, written and created by Deborah Davis (The Favourite), stars Emilia Schüle as the young queen of France, who was known for her modern and avant-garde style, as well as her courage and dignity. The show has already been sold to over 70 territories and will be available to stream on Disney+ in Germany.
BFI Distribution Acquires Love Life
BFI Distribution has acquired Love Life, the latest feature from Japanese writer/director Kôji Fukada. The film debuted at last year’s Venice Film Festival and has since played at TIFF and London. The film will be released in UK and Irish cinemas on December 15th, and will play alongside an expansive Ozu season running from September 1st to October 3rd at BFI Southbank. The film tells the story of Taeko (Fumino Kimura) and her husband Jiro (Kento Nagayama), who are living a peaceful existence with her young son Keita (Tetta Shimada), when a tragic accident brings the boy’s long-lost father, Park (Atom Sunada), back into Taeko’s life. To cope with the pain and guilt she feels after the accident, Taeko throws herself into helping this deaf and homeless man for whom she has a strong sense of responsibility. Love Life is produced by Yasuhiko Hattori, Masa Sawada, and Yuko Kameda and is a Nagoya Broadcasting Network/Chipangu/Comme des Cinémas co-production.
Overall, these recent announcements provide an exciting look at the new content that will be available on streaming services in the coming months. Viewers can expect a diverse range of shows and movies, from comedy to drama and everything in between. These acquisitions and renewals demonstrate the ongoing competition between streaming services for viewers’ attention and highlight the importance of quality content in today’s market.