Amazon lines up Theroux-produced KSI documentary, adapts B E Jones’ Wilderness

YouTuber KSI

Amazon in the UK has greenlit a doc feature about British YouTuber KSI produced by Louis Theroux, as well as psychological thriller about a twisted love story.

Produced by Theroux’s London-based production outfit Mindhouse Productions, the 1×90’ doc will follow the social media star as he prepares for the biggest year of his career so far, including a headline show at Wembley.

Wes Pollitt (The Last Miners, Murder 24/7) serves as director, Sophie Grant (The Last Miners, Superkids: Breaking Away from Care) is producer, while executive producers are Theroux and Barnaby Coughlin (Inside Tatler, Sound of Musicals, First Dates).

Theroux said: “The documentary will be an opportunity to see another side of JJ [KSI], understanding how he got where he is, the world of a premium online content creator today and a man who has made it his brand never to lose, as he takes on the music business.”

Meanwhile, Wilderness, based on B E Jones’ novel of the same name, follows a British couple who seem to have it all, until one learns about the other’s affair. To repair their marriage, they travel around America’s national parks.

Wilderness is produced by Firebird Pictures and will be written by Marnie Dickens and executive produced by Elizabeth Kilgarriff.

Dickens said: “Wilderness is pure, unadulterated fun, where our heroine Liv says the things you wish you had the guts to, does the things you can only fantasise about, and lives by her own increasingly outrageous set of rules. I’m thrilled to bring the Prime Video audience along for her ride.”

The commissions were announced at an event in London where Amazon Studios head of European originals Georgia Brown and head of UK originals Dan Grabiner pledged the company’s long-term commitment to the territory as regulators eye the influence of US streamers.

The pair also announced the casting of Malachi Kirby (Small Axe) in the upcoming Amazon original series Anansi Boys, based on Neil Gaiman’s best-selling novel.