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EXCLUSIVE: Hello (Again), a short drama series co-created by Simu Liu and Natalie Younglai, has landed distribution at Flourishing Films and will launch at the American Film Market.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Liu made the show, which is billed as a “time-jumping rom-com” with Natalie Younglai. With each of the nine episodes running to ten minutes, the show was first commissioned by Canadian pubcaster CBC for its streaming service CBC Gem and launched in March 2022. The gap between the launch and international distribution acquisition is unusually long for TV, but includes scope for future episodes of the drama.
Plot follows the romance between chef Jayden and ER resident Avery, who get another chance at love after their unceremonious breakup when Jayden is hurled back in time. Directed by Melanie Chung, the series stars Alex Mallari Jr. (The Adam Project, Code 8: Part I and Part II) and Rong Fu (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Workin’ Moms) as Avery.
100 Dragons Media, which is the short form and docs arm of indie motion picture maker 100 Dragons, is the producer. Exec producers are 100 Dragons President and founder Teresa M. Ho (Frankie Drake Mysteries), Liu, Younglai (Coroner) and Mallari Jr. Ho negotiated the deal with Efuru Flowers, CEO and founder of Flourishing Films.
It was developed in association with CBC, with the financial participation of the Bell Fund, Canada Media Fund, Ontario Creates and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit. All creators and writers are Indigenous, Black or people of color, as is the majority of key crew.
The series won best Drama Pilot in the Digital Short Series category at the influential Denver festival SeriesFest.
“We are thrilled to welcome Hello (Again) to the Flourishing Films slate,” said Flowers. “It’s a compelling series that resonates with audiences globally, and we see tremendous potential for expanding its reach. We’re eager to collaborate with partners who share our passion for this story and are excited about the opportunity to produce a second season, bringing even more of Hello (Again) to viewers worldwide.”
The LA-based distributor has been building a slate of films and series focused on diverse and underrepresented stories. It has struck deals with the likes of Hulu, BET and Criterion and recently launched a YouTube movie channel to expand reach.
“From our first meeting at the European Film Market, we are thrilled to have found the alignment of our visions between 100 Dragons and Flourishing Films,” added 100 Dragons’ Ho. “We are excited to have partners with us who have similar mandates as we bring our project to the international marketplace and for any future episodes of Hello (Again).”
AFM starts today in Vegas and runs until November 10, with the U.S. on tenterhooks ahead of the results of the Presidential election, which takes place in coming hours across the country.
