NEW CBC GEM ORIGINAL YOUNG ADULT SCI-FI DRAMA UTOPIA FALLS LAUNCHES ALL EPISODES FEBRUARY 14
Featuring Snoop Dogg as the voice of "the Archive," Grammy® Award-winning multi-platinum music producer Boi-1da (Drake, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna) oversees music, world-renowned choreographer Tanisha Scott (Cardi B, Rihanna) leads performance direction, acclaimed sci-fi writer Joseph Mallozzi serves as showrunner, and show creator R.T. Thorne directs
Imagine a world with no past – only a future. Without a history, we are all equal… or are we? CBC, in partnership with Sonar Entertainment, announced today the premiere date for new original young adult sci-fi drama UTOPIA FALLS. Infused with music and dance, all 10 one-hour episodes will be available exclusively on the free CBC Gem streaming service beginning Friday, February 14.
UTOPIA FALLS is part of CBC’s commitment to offer expanded content for younger audiences and build stronger relationships with a broader range of Canadians through content offerings that reflect their interests and perspectives, available on-demand via their preferred devices.
Set in the not-too-distant future, amidst the charred ruins of Earth, UTOPIA FALLS follows a group of teens chosen to compete in the prestigious Exemplar performing arts competition in the seemingly idyllic colony of New Babyl. When they stumble upon a hidden archive of cultural relics, they are forced to question everything they have been taught, ultimately using the power of music to ignite change and expose the truth. The series showcases a variety of musical genres and dance styles (Hip Hop, Pop, Latin, House, Classical, and Indigenous, among others), and features themes of afrofuturism, youth activism, and eco-awareness.
The series stars emerging young actors Robyn Alomar (Riot Girls), Akiel Julien (American Gods, Warigami), Robbie Graham-Kuntz (Full Out), Phillip Lewitski (Supernatural), Humberly Gonzalez (Orphan Black), Devyn Nekoda (Degrassi: The Next Generation), and Mickeey Nguyen (Make It Pop). Also joining the cast are Kate Drummond (Wynonna Earp), Jeff Teravainen (Dark Matter), Huse Madhavji (Saving Hope) and Dwain Murphy (The Strain), and hip hop icon Snoop Dogg as the voice of the Archive.
The acclaimed team of creatives behind the scenes include showrunner Joseph Mallozzi (Dark Matter, Stargate franchise) and creator/director R.T. Thorne (Blindspot, Find Me in Paris) who serve as executive producers. Boi-1da, the renowned music producer (Drake, Rihanna, Eminem, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar), has been tapped as the show’s executive music producer; and choreographer Tanisha Scott, the three-time MTV VMA-nominated choreographer (Cardi B, Rihanna, Sean Paul), rounds out the team.
*Click here to download images from the series and follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @UtopiaFallsTV.*
A CBC Gem original series, UTOPIA FALLS is executive produced by Andrea Gorfolova and Ashley Rite for Sonar Entertainment, with the financial participation of the Shaw Rocket Fund. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Programming; Gave Lindo is Executive Director, OTT Programming; Trish Williams is Executive Director, Scripted Content; Mélanie Lê Phan and Zach Feldberg are Executives in Charge of Production, Digital Originals, and Melanie Hadley is Executive in Charge of Production, Drama. All episodes will also be available to stream on Hulu in the United States beginning February 14.
CBC Gem is Canada’s streaming service, offering more than 4000 hours of live and on-demand acclaimed, authentically Canadian programming and a curated selection of best-in-class content from around the world, including more than 750 documentary titles, more than 300 hours of ad-free content for kids and tweens, and over 100 Canadian features, with a new film added each week. CBC Gem also provides livestream access to 14 CBC channels and their local newscasts across the country. It is available free as an App for iOS and Android devices and online at cbcgem.ca, and on TV screens via Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV.
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About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic and Chinese, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
About Sonar Entertainment
Sonar Entertainment is a leading independent entertainment studio that develops, produces, finances and distributes content for global audiences. Our financial strength and independence provides us with the freedom to fund development and productions on a global scale and partner with the most innovative storytellers in the industry. Sonar Entertainment premium series include Hunters, starring Al Pacino and executive produced by Jordan Peele for Amazon; Mr. Mercedes, written by David E. Kelley, based on the novel by Stephen King, for AT&T Audience Network; and The Mysterious Benedict Society, produced with Disney TV Studios’ 20th Century Fox TV for Hulu. Sonar Entertainment also distributes internationally, outside the UK, Taboo, for BBC One, starring Tom Hardy and executive produced by Ridley Scott; and outside Australia, Les Norton, starring Rebel Wilson for Australian Broadcasting Company. Kids and family series include Alien Xmas, executive produced by Jon Favreau for Netflix; Utopia Falls for Hulu and CBC Gem; and Go Away Unicorn! airing on Disney and YTV. Factual and lifestyle series include Texas Metal for Motor Trend, My House Is Your House for HGTV and Farmhouse Facelift for HGTV Canada. In addition, Sonar Entertainment distributes over 1,000 award-winning library titles comprising over 3,000 broadcast hours.
For more information, please contact:
Tanya Koivusalo, CBC Publicist
tanya.koivusalo@cbc.ca
416.205.8638
Steph Perron, BAE communications
steph@baecommunications.ca
647.278.6799
