Crackle starts up new drama

Sony’s digital streaming service Crackle is expanding its original scripted slate with a new one-hour drama starring Fargo actor Martin Freeman.

Tom Forman

Start Up (10×60’), produced by Relativity TV’s new television operation Critical Content and Hollywood Gang Productions, comes on the heels of the US streamer’s first original scripted drama, The Art of More, recently renewed for a second season after selling to 25 territories.

Set in Miami, the new show stars Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, Sherlock), Adam Brody, Edi Gathegi and Otmara Marrero. Production begins this week in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The series explores what happens when a brilliant yet controversial tech idea gets incubated on the wrong side of the tracks by three strangers who don’t necessarily fit the mould of tech entrepreneurs.

Tom Forman, Andrew Marcus, Ray Ricord, Gianni Nunnari and Shannon Gaulding are executive producers on the project, which is penned by Ben Keitai – also exec producer and director. Brody and Anne Clements are producing.

Relativity Media’s TV operation relaunched as Critical Content yesterday, having emerged from bankruptcy proceedings late last year.