Overview
Crave has unveiled the cast for its upcoming original comedy series, I KILL THE BEAR, a six-episode, half-hour show created, written by, and starring Jared Keeso. Production is underway in Sudbury, Ontario, with a planned Crave premiere in 2026. The series marks a fresh, character-driven entry in Crave’s growing slate of Canadian originals and expands the creator’s signature blend of humor and heart.
Premise
I KILL THE BEAR centers on a family of bear wranglers who work behind the scenes on film sets. After a century in the business, the clan decides this film will be their last project. The premise blends workplace comedy with family dynamics, offering a look at the backstage world of animal wrangling while exploring what happens when a long-running family tradition meets the end of an era.
Cast
Keeso anchors an ensemble that blends returning faces with high-profile guests and rising talents. The cast includes multi‑award-winning Nickleback frontman Chad Kroeger, Adrian Holmes (19-2, Bel-Air), mixed martial arts star Georges St‑Pierre (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Jonathan Torrens (Trailer Park Boys), Sarah-Maude Beauchesne (Bellefleur), Kristin Kreuk (Smallville), Dylan Playfair (Letterkenny), Eliana Jones (Shoresy), Frederick Roy (Shoresy) and Megha Sandhu (Painkiller). The diverse lineup promises a mix of music, athletic prowess, and comedic timing that supports the show’s offbeat premise.
Production, Distribution & Partners
The six-episode series is produced by New Metric Media in association with Play Fun Games. Jared Keeso serves as executive producer, writer, star, and creator, with the story developed by Keeso and Trevor Risk. Directors Dan and Sean Skene are also executive producers on the project. Additional executive producers include Mark Montefiore and Kara Haflidson, with Max Wolfond serving as supervising producer for New Metric Media. International distribution is handled by New Metric Media, ensuring a broad reach beyond Canada.
Within the Bell Media ecosystem, the creative team includes Alison Korogyi (Senior Production Executive), Sarah Fowlie (Head of Production, Original Programming), Rachel Goldstein-Couto (Head of Development, Original Programming), Carlyn Klebuc (General Manager, Original Programming), and Justin Stockman (Vice President, Content Development & Programming). The collaboration underscores Bell Media’s commitment to delivering original English and French-language content on Crave and related platforms.
Industry Context & Canadian Impact
I KILL THE BEAR arrives as Crave continues to expand its original lineup, pairing Canadian storytelling with international appeal through New Metric Media’s distribution network. The project sits at the intersection of fresh Canadian voices and familiar genre conventions, offering potential cross-border appeal while showcasing Sudbury as a production hub. The show’s blend of humor, music, and action aligns with Crave’s strategy of building brands that resonate with diverse audiences and translate well across platforms and markets.
What to Expect & Release Window
As filming progresses in Sudbury, anticipation builds for a 2026 Crave premiere. Viewers can expect a witty, character-centered series that uses the bear-wrangling setting to explore family loyalty, legacy, and the compromises required to keep a long-running business relevant in a changing world. With Keeso steering both the creative and on-screen elements, I KILL THE BEAR is positioned to become a standout entry in Crave’s Originals slate.
About Crave, Bell Media & New Metric Media
Crave, Bell Media’s flagship streaming service, continues to curate a robust catalog of English and French originals, alongside HBO, Max, STARZ, and popular global titles. New Metric Media, based in Toronto, has earned recognition for building comedy brands across TV, live events, and consumer products, including Letterkenny and Shoresy. This collaboration signals a continued push into high-concept Canadian comedy with strong ensemble casts and strategic distribution partnerships.
