Netflix’s Canadian office orders Mathieu Dufour comedy special as first project

Netflix’s recently launched Canadian office has commissioned its first project, a stand-up comedy special from Montreal-based comic Mathieu Dufour.

Mathieu Dufour

The special was filmed on Saturday at the annual Just For Laughs comedy festival in Montreal.

The project was commissioned from Netflix’s Canadian office in coordination with the streamer’s LA-based stand-up team, led by VP of stand-up and comedy formats Robbie Praw.

Officially launched earlier this year, Netflix’s Toronto-based outpost is in the process of building a slate primarily composed of live-action comedies and dramas in both English and French.

Last month, execs Tara Woodbury (manager, Canada series) and Danielle Woodrow (director, Canada series) further outlined the Canadian strategy, explaining they were on the hunt for aspirational comedies, heartwarming romance, edge-of-your-seat suspense and ambitious sci-fi.

While Netflix has greater spending power than other traditional players in the Canadian market, Woodrow said the streamer had no desire to distort the local ecosystem by producing at higher budgets than others.

Netflix has previously commissioned projects in Canada, including Anne With an E and Jason Momoa-starrer Frontier, but those were greenlit in LA. The stand-up special is the first project ordered by the Canadian team, with more expected to be revealed in the coming months.

“[Dufour] is a unique comedic voice and a perfect example of the amazing talent in Quebec. We can’t wait to introduce his original wit and humour to our members around the world,” said Woodbury.