Netflix expands Love is Blind franchise with Canadian adaptation

Dating reality format Love is Blind

Netflix has commissioned a Canadian version of its dating reality format Love is Blind.  

The local adaptation is being produced by Toronto-based Insight Productions, with the streamer on Tuesday announcing that casting had opened.

The original American version, created by Kinetic Content boss Chris Coelen, is among Netflix’s most-watched unscripted shows and has been remade in more than a dozen markets, including the UK, Japan, Brazil, Germany and Sweden.

Hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, the US version will return for its 11th season in the autumn. The format follows singles as they date and get engaged without seeing their fiance face-to-face.

Netflix has not yet announced the Canadian hosts or the city where the season will take place.

Insight Productions, which has been owned by Blue Ant Media since last year, is behind the Canadian versions of several high-profile international formats including The Amazing Race Canada, Top Chef Canada, Canada Shore and previously Big Brother Canada.

Executive producing the series for Insight Productions are Erin Brock (Canada Shore, Big Brother Canada), Jessica Brunton (Top Chef Canada, Extracted) and John Brunton (The Amazing Race Canada, The Juno Awards) 

The order comes amid a spate of Canadian remakes, including Summer House Canada (Hayu), Canada Shore (Paramount+) and now Love is Blind Canada, all of which have been commissioned within the past 16 months.

The greenlights have come as US streamers and studios increasingly look to produce their big-budget unscripted formats in Canada, with Netflix’s Age of Attraction and Million Dollar Secret, Hulu’s Got to Get Out and Fox’s Extracted and Fear Factor among the high-profile examples.

“I’m one of the gazillion day one die-hards who knows how brilliant this format is, and we’re so honoured to partner with Netflix on this global phenomenon,” said Brock, who serves as co-chief content officer and exec VP at Insight Productions. 

Netflix’s directors of Canadian content, Danielle Woodrow and Tara Woodbury, added: “Love Is Blind has transformed how people fall in love around the world. Now it’s Canada’s turn to bring the romance, drama, and a whole new set of unforgettable love stories.”