Hulu unveils more original programming, acquisitions

US streaming service Hulu has unveiled a new programming slate comprising three original series and seven acquisitions. The original series include a movie review show hosted by Kevin Smith (Clerks) and a travel series from Richard Linklater (School of Rock).


The ten-episode movie series, Spoilers, is produced by Smith’s SModCo and will launch on June 4. “I have always wanted to do a show that provides an open forum for real fans to discuss real movies in real time and that’s what ‘Spoilers’ is about,” Smith said. “Hulu really lends itself well to a show like this because they have an audience that is passionate and active when it comes to shows they love. And frankly, those are the people I want to hang with.”

Hulu also has original travel series Up To Speed, from Richard Linklater and marks the filmmaker’s first foray into TV.

The series, which will be produced by Cinetic Media and debuts in August, chronicles the “monumentally-ignored” monuments of America’s cities.

The third original show is We Got Next, a half-hour comedy that will launch in August. It follows the ‘bromance’ and off-colour banter between four guys in a basketball team.

The seven-strong slate of acquired shows includes British comedy series Rev, which aired on the BBC in the UK and is distributed by BBC Worldwide. The commercial arm of the UK public broadcaster also sold another comedy series to Hulu, Pramface. There are two other UK shows coming to Hulu, Derren Brown: Inside your Mind and Middle East-set drama The Promise.

Hulu also bought the second season of thriller The Booth at the End. 
The other acquisitions are Canadian comedies: Westwind’s Little Mosque and HBO Canada’s eOne-distributed series The Yard.