Amazon orders ‘The Lake’, first Canadian scripted original

L-R Jordan Gavaris, Julia Stiles & Madison Shamoun

Prime Video has ordered The Lake, a half-hour comedy which marks the streamer’s first scripted Canadian Amazon Original series.

The Amazon Studios series is being produced by Amaze, which was behind CTV Drama Channel’s Carter and HBO Canada’s Call Me Fitz, with Killjoy’s Julian Doucet writing and executive producing alongside Amaze’s Michael Souther and Teza Lawrence.

Set to debut next year, The Lake stars Jordan Gavaris (Orphan Black), Julia Stiles (Hustlers) and Madison Shamoun (#blackAF) and follows the story of Justin, returns from living abroad after a break-up with his long-term partner, in the hope of reconnecting with the biological daughter that he gave up for adoption in his teens.

However, his plans to create new memories with his city-loving daughter Billie at the idyllic lake from his childhood go awry when he finds out his father left the family cottage to his “picture-perfect” stepsister, Maisy-May.

Terry Chen (The Expanse), Jon Dore (Funny As Hell), Carolyn Scott (Pushing Tin), Natalie Lisinka (Orphan Black), Travis Nelson (Tucker and Dale vs Evil) and Declan Whaley (Criminal Minds) also star.

The Lake is the fourth announced Canadian Amazon Original series following the revival of the sketch comedy The Kids in the Hall, docu-series All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs, and comedy-variety series LOL: Last One Laughing Canada.

“We are thrilled to bring together this incredible cast and creative team for our first scripted Canadian comedy series,” said Christina Wayne, head of Canadian Originals at Amazon Studios. “It’s a show that will push boundaries and celebrate broken characters trying to hold it all together against one of the most picturesque settings – cottage country.”

“We were inspired by the summers we spent on the lake, which is the basis of the concept that we brought to Amazon,” added executive producers Michael Souther and Teza Lawrence. “We’re excited and really looking forward to working with this incredibly talented and diverse cast, and proud to have Jordan in this central role that celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community in this series.”