EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros Discovery‘s New Zealand arm has boarded The Sanctuary, an upcoming comedy series from LA’s Happy Accidents and Kiwi producer Kevin & Co.
The eight-part show, from writing duo Laura Daniel and Joseph Moore, will air on WBD’s free-to-air network Three and VOD service ThreeNow following the deal.
Series has just been greenlit in the final NZ On Air funding round of this year, and production is set to begin early next year.
The Sanctuary follows Hunter, an eccentric American billionaire hiding in New Zealand. Synopsis reads: “After selling an innocuous app, he discovers it was sold to a Russian-affiliated private military company and can be weaponized. Hunter finds himself caught between the FBI, Russian assassins, and New Zealand’s most passionate bird conservationists. His solution? Transform his luxury island retreat into a Department of Conservation sanctuary for our feathered friends. As his private paradise becomes overrun with both birds and bird-lovers, Hunter discovers that being a billionaire on the run isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
Tina McLaren, Warner Bros. Discovery NZ’s Senior Commissioner, said: “The Sanctuary is a fantastic local addition to our 2025 lineup. This standout comedy series boasts a unique blend of humour and heart, courtesy of its skilled creators and will make for a truly enjoyable viewing experience that our audiences won’t want to miss.”
Writers Daniel and Joseph perform together as Two Hearts, a musical comedy duo. They have been playing stages in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. Daniel’s acting credits include The Brokenwood Mysteries and Vince, and she appears regularly on comedy panel shows 7 Days and Have You Been Paying Attention, and was the Season 2 champion of Taskmaster NZ.
Joseph is a writer and producer on shows such as Guy Mont-Spelling Bee in New Zealand and Australia, Taskmaster NZ, Taskmaster Australia and 7 Days. He has directed segments of Funny Girls and New Zealand Today, and has two feature scripts in development with the NZ Film Commission.
Holly A. Hines and Eric Jarboe, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of Happy Accidents said in a statement: “The Sanctuary is an exciting comedy with heart that we know will excel in its local market but also have a wide appeal around the world. In Kevin & Co and WBD NZ, we have the perfect co-production partners whose ambitions match our own for bringing brilliant shows to the global market.”
Happy Accidents launched earlier this year, with Ginny & Georgia exec producer Hones, who has also worked in U.S.-Australia co-pro, and former Motion Picture Corporation of America COO Jarboe at the helm and former GRB Studios exec Sarah Coursey and Eyeworks exec Tyler Massey. It was pitching The Sanctuary at MIPCOM in October, as it has distribution capabilities.
Bronwynn Bakker, executive producer, and Cam Bakker, MD at Kevin & Co, added in their statement: “We are thrilled to have been greenlit by WBD NZ for The Sanctuary. The show is a uniquely hilarious take on a collision of a riches to rags story and the familiarity of light crime and investigation infused with humour and local New Zealand quirks, all brought to life by the razor-sharp minds of comedy duo Laura Daniel and Joseph Moore. Their ability to blend outrageous situations with heartfelt character moments makes The Sanctuary an exciting addition to our slate, and we can’t wait to showcase this truly original comedy to audiences both in New Zealand and abroad.”
Kevin & Co was launched back in 2018 and is known for producing Taskmaster NZ, Taskmaster Australia, scripted series Double Parked and Creamerie and comedy panel show Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling Bee.
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