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For the first time since Disney+ launched, the streaming service is officially investing in original Canadian programming.

Disney+ has announced its first-ever Canadian Originals, marking a major milestone for the streaming platform as it expands its investment in local storytelling around the world.

While Disney+ has spent years producing original content in countries across Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Australia, Canada had never received its own Disney+ Original productions — until now!

The company has officially greenlit two new projects, a scripted comedy and a true-crime documentary series, both created by Canadian talent and centered around uniquely Canadian stories.

The announcement represents a significant step for Disney+ Canada and signals a new era for Canadian-produced content on the platform.

Disney+ Reveals Its First Canadian Originals

The first two Canadian Originals heading to Disney+ are Knighted and I’m Not Coming Back.

According to Disney+, the projects were selected to showcase the diversity of Canadian storytelling and the depth of talent working throughout the country’s television and film industry.

Paige Murray, Director of Development for Disney+ Canada, said the company is excited to launch the first Canadian Originals and highlighted Disney’s commitment to investing in local stories that can connect with audiences both inside and outside Canada.

Knighted Brings Comedy, Mystery, and Medieval Dinner Theater Chaos

The first project, Knighted, is an eight-episode documentary-style comedy series.

The show centers on a missing-person investigation that quickly spirals into a bizarre exploration of secrets hidden beneath a local medieval dinner theater. The series combines mockumentary-style storytelling with comedy and mystery elements.

The project is being developed by Bruce McCulloch, Jackson Rowe, and Mike Mildon.

McCulloch, best known as a member of the legendary Canadian sketch comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall, expressed excitement about helping create Disney+’s first Canadian series.

He described the project as something unique that viewers have likely never seen before.

The series is being produced by Heavy Lifting Productions in association with 3 Arts Entertainment. Executive producers include McCulloch alongside Rowe, Mildon, Trevor Rotenberg, Zack Waxenberg, and Greg Walter.

I’m Not Coming Back Explores One of Canada’s Largest Manhunts

Disney+’s second Canadian Original takes a dramatically different approach.

I’m Not Coming Back is a three-part true-crime documentary series focused on one of the largest manhunts in Canadian history. The series examines the nationwide search that followed the 2019 killing spree carried out by two teenagers.

Disney describes the project with the following premise: when national law enforcement leads begin to dry up, authorities turn to a member of the Fox Lake Cree Nation in a desperate pursuit of justice.

The documentary is being produced by Joe Tuck and Brent Hodge.

The filmmakers say the series will move beyond the headlines that dominated Canadian news coverage in 2019 while showcasing the vast landscapes of Canada stretching from the Pacific Coast to Hudson Bay.

Rather than simply retelling the events of the case, the creators intend to explore the people, locations, and communities affected by the tragedy.

What This Means for Disney+

The announcement is significant because it marks Disney+’s first official investment in Canadian-produced original programming since the service launched in 2019.

Over the last several years, Disney+ has aggressively expanded local-language originals around the globe, creating region-specific programming in countries including South Korea, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, Australia, and throughout Latin America. Canada had notably been absent from that strategy until now.

By launching both a scripted comedy and a documentary series as its first projects, Disney+ appears to be testing multiple genres while highlighting distinctly Canadian voices and stories.

Whether these become one-off projects or the beginning of a larger slate remains to be seen, but Disney’s message is clear: Canadian storytelling now has a place within the Disney+ Originals lineup.

As production moves forward on both series, Disney+ subscribers can expect additional casting, release date, and premiere information to be announced in the coming months.

Stay tuned to Theme Park Scope for the latest Disney+ news, streaming announcements, entertainment updates, and everything coming next from Disney.