Amazon gives thumbs-up to Hugh Hefner bio-doc series

Amazon has given the green light to a new original series about the life of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner for its Prime Instant Video SVOD service.

American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story will draw from access to over 17,000 hours of footage and 2,600 scrapbooks from Hefner’s personal archives.

The 13-episode docu-series, which will combine archival footage, interviews and cinematic reenactments to tell the story ofPlayboy magazine’s founder and his impact on global culture will premier exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in the US, UK,Germany, Austria and Japan in 2017, and be available via the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices including Fire TV, mobile devices and online.

The series is produced by Stephen David Entertainment and Alta Loma Entertainment. It will be executive-produced by Stephen Ward (The Men Who Built America, The Making of the Mob), Peter Jaysen (You Me Her) and Dick Rosenzweig (The House Bunny, The Playboy Club), and co-executive produced by Shirley Escott and Tim Kelly.

“Although Hugh Hefner is an iconic figure known worldwide, most people may not be aware of the impact he has had on some of this country’s most important social revolutions. We are excited to bring Prime members the untold story of Mr Hefner’s remarkable life and his contributions to modern American history,” said Conrad Riggs, Head of Unscripted, Amazon Studios.

“It has been a long road in finding the right partners to tell the full story of Playboy as it has unfolded over these past 63 years, and I believe we have found them in the collaborative team of Stephen David Entertainment and Amazon,” said Hugh Hefner.

“I’m pleased that this docu-series will shed light on what has been an incredible journey and the voice Playboy has had in the discussion of our ever-changing culture. Just as importantly, my hope is that it will inspire others to pursue their dreams.”