EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros Discovery‘s New Zealand arm has boarded The Sanctuary, an upcoming comedy sequence from LA’s Comfortable Accidents and Kiwi producer Kevin & Co.
The eight-part present, from writing duo Laura Daniel and Joseph Moore, will air on WBD’s free-to-air community Three and VOD service ThreeNow following the deal.
Sequence has simply been greenlit within the last NZ On Air funding spherical of this yr, and manufacturing is ready to start early subsequent yr.
The Sanctuary follows Hunter, an eccentric American billionaire hiding in New Zealand. Synopsis reads: “After promoting an innocuous app, he discovers it was bought to a Russian-affiliated non-public navy firm and may be weaponized. Hunter finds himself caught between the FBI, Russian assassins, and New Zealand’s most passionate chicken conservationists. His resolution? Remodel his luxurious island retreat right into a Division of Conservation sanctuary for our feathered buddies. As his non-public paradise turns into overrun with each birds and bird-lovers, Hunter discovers that being a billionaire on the run isn’t all it’s cracked as much as be.”
Tina McLaren, Warner Bros. Discovery NZ’s Senior Commissioner, stated: “The Sanctuary is a improbable native addition to our 2025 lineup. This standout comedy sequence boasts a singular mix of humour and coronary heart, courtesy of its expert creators and will make for a really pleasant viewing expertise that our audiences gained’t need to miss.”
Writers Daniel and Joseph carry out collectively as Two Hearts, a musical comedy duo. They’ve been enjoying phases in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. Daniel’s performing credit embrace The Brokenwood Mysteries and Vince, and he or she seems commonly on comedy panel exhibits 7 Days and Have You Been Paying Consideration, and was the Season 2 champion of Taskmaster NZ.
Joseph is a author and producer on exhibits resembling Man Mont-Spelling Bee in New Zealand and Australia, Taskmaster NZ, Taskmaster Australia and 7 Days. He has directed segments of Humorous Ladies and New Zealand As we speak, and has two characteristic scripts in improvement with the NZ Movie Fee.
Holly A. Hines and Eric Jarboe, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of Comfortable Accidents stated in an announcement: “The Sanctuary is an thrilling comedy with coronary heart that we all know will excel in its native market but additionally have a large attraction around the globe. In Kevin & Co and WBD NZ, we’ve the right co-production companions whose ambitions match our personal for bringing sensible exhibits to the worldwide market.”
Comfortable Accidents launched earlier this yr, with Ginny & Georgia exec producer Hones, who has additionally labored in U.S.-Australia co-pro, and former Movement Image Company of America COO Jarboe on the helm and former GRB Studios exec Sarah Coursey and Eyeworks exec Tyler Massey. It was pitching The Sanctuary at MIPCOM in October, because it has distribution capabilities.
Bronwynn Bakker, government producer, and Cam Bakker, MD at Kevin & Co, added of their assertion: “We’re thrilled to have been greenlit by WBD NZ for The Sanctuary. The present is a uniquely hilarious tackle a collision of a riches to rags story and the familiarity of sunshine crime and investigation infused with humour and native New Zealand quirks, all delivered to life by the razor-sharp minds of comedy duo Laura Daniel and Joseph Moore. Their capacity to mix outrageous conditions with heartfelt character moments makes The Sanctuary an thrilling addition to our slate, and we are able to’t wait to showcase this really authentic comedy to audiences each in New Zealand and overseas.”
Kevin & Co was launched again in 2018 and is understood for producing Taskmaster NZ, Taskmaster Australia, scripted sequence Double Parked and Creamerie and comedy panel present Man Montgomery’s Man-Mont Spelling Bee.