Crackle ratchets up originals

US online video service Crackle has unveiled three new original shows, including a comedy series to be exec produced by Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston.

Tightrope will feature characters from classic detective series being replaced by modern-day actors who put their own spin on the shows. It was unveiled as part of Crackle’s slate during NewFronts in New York.

Sports Jeopardy! will air weekly and is a spin-off from Sony Pictures’ hit gameshow, while 12-part thriller Sequestered will premiere in August
and follows a jury deliberating a case. The shows have been created by Aaron Tracy and will be produced by Lifeboat Productions.

A 90-minute film about a computer hacker facing life in prison is also on Crackle’s slate, with Jeremy Renner and Don Handfield (The Hurt Locker, The Town) exec producing.

The Sony Pictures Television (SPT)-owned service has also commissioned a further 24 episodes of Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee.

SPT’s exec VP of digital networks and Crackle general manager Eric Berger said: “As both studio and network, Crackle controls content and distribution. As a result we are able to provide quality longform programming and unique solutions to advertisers, with certainty around the content, platforms and timing.”

Crackle is available in 21 countries including Australia, Canada and Latin American territories. The service had been available in the UK until March, when SPT closed it down.