Hudson Williams Stars in Crave's First Half-Hour Drama Series "Yaga"

Hudson Williams, known for his breakout role in "Heated Rivalry," is set to star in the upcoming half-hour drama series "Yaga," produced by Bell Media's Crave. The series, which is based on a play by Canadian playwright Kat Sandler, reimagines the myth of Baba Yaga, a character from Slavic folklore often depicted as a witch. Alongside Williams, the cast includes Carrie-Anne Moss ("The Matrix"), Noah Reid ("Schitt’s Creek"), and Clark Backo ("Letterkenny"). Production is currently underway, with the series being co-directed by David Frazee and Rachel Talalay.

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"Yaga" follows Rapp (Noah Reid), a private investigator who arrives in a small coastal town to investigate the disappearance of Henry Park (Hudson Williams), the young heir to a powerful fishery. As Rapp delves deeper into the case, he encounters a local detective, Carson (Clark Backo), and a charismatic university professor, Katherine (Carrie-Anne Moss), amidst a backdrop of enigmatic suspects and ancient magic. Sandler describes the series as a contemporary mystery thriller that transforms the traditional narrative of Baba Yaga into a feminist antihero.

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The series marks Crave's first foray into half-hour original dramas, a significant milestone for the platform. It is produced in collaboration with Front Street Pictures and Blink49 Studios, with executive producers including Moss, Mackenzie Donaldson, and Andrew Miller. Justin Stockman, Vice President of Content Development and Programming at Bell Media, expressed enthusiasm for the project, highlighting its potential to set new standards for genre-bending storytelling.

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Kat Sandler emphasized her excitement about bringing her vision to life, stating, “Yaga has evolved from myth to stage to my first greenlit series, reclaiming the wicked witch and reshaping her as an incendiary feminist antihero for our time.” Mackenzie Donaldson from Blink49 Studios echoed this sentiment, calling "Yaga" an ambitious and unique story that showcases Sandler's fearless voice.

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While the sources primarily focus on the positive aspects of the series, there is no mention of any criticism or dissenting viewpoints regarding the production or its themes. This absence may indicate a lack of public discourse on the project at this stage.

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As "Yaga" progresses through production, it will be showcased at the upcoming London TV Screenings by international distributor Sphere Abacus, which will also offer the series as four one-hour episodes for international sales. The anticipation surrounding Williams' next steps following "Heated Rivalry" continues to grow, particularly with his involvement in "Yaga" and his upcoming role in Netflix's "The Altruists."

Deadline Hollywood

• “We’re thrilled to bring Kat Sandler’s bold vision to Crave with this first-ever half-hour drama, and to continue setting the bar for genre-bending, unexpected storytelling.” — Justin Stockman, Bell Media VP

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• “It reflects the kind of storytelling I love: propulsive, accessible, dark, funny, and unapologetically bold.” — Kat Sandler, Creator and Showrunner

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