The distinctive podcasts from disruptive Canadian news platform and podcaster Canadaland will soon receive global film and television adaptations thanks to a deal with U.S. outfit Storied Media Group (SMG).
In addition to representing Canadaland in the packaging and sales of its multimedia journalism for television and film adaptation, SMG will market the publisher’s daily stories to studios, streamers, networks and producers around the world.
Canadaland’s content spans hot button topics including police corruption and brutality, and stories at the intersection of money, influence and politics in Canada. Canadaland’s hit series “Thunder Bay,” about anti-Indigenous racism, is currently in production as a docuseries for eOne/Crave, while their true-crime caper “Cool Mules,” about a cocaine-smuggling ring inside Vice Media, is also in development as both a scripted and unscripted series.
Founded in 2013 by Todd Hoffman, former head of the Media Rights Group at ICM, SMG has vast experience in selling IP to the film and TV community for adaptation. Upcoming projects based on client IP include season 2 of “Modern Love” (Amazon), Alex Gibney’s “Crime of the Century” (HBO) and “Space Launch Live” (Discovery). Past projects based on SMG clients’ IP include “Tag” (New Line), Clint Eastwood’s “The Mule” (Warner Bros), “Insatiable” (Netflix), “The Oath” (Crackle), “Kodachrome” (Netflix), “Patriot’s Day” (CBS Films) and “Deepwater Horizon” (Lionsgate).
“We’re thrilled to be working with SMG to bring our podcasts to film and television,” says Canadaland publisher Jesse Brown. “We’ve found and told a wealth of little-known stories which, frankly, destroy common notions of Canada as a peaceful and pleasant country. Audiences around the world have connected with these stories, which cry out to be heard — and to be seen.”
“What excites us about Canadaland is their unique, often offbeat way of telling compelling, character-driven stories,” said Hoffman. “They shot to the top of Canada’s ‘must listen to’ podcast list in no time and have already sold some of their stories for TV and film. We’re excited to partner with such an entrepreneurial, disruptive force and look forward to sharing and selling their content with Hollywood.”