Letterkenny universe expanding with new spin-offs, series

As the 12th and final season of Letterkenny is set to drop on Christmas Day, more good news has been announced for the creator of the TV series filmed in Sudbury, Ont.

Jared Keeso is the creator and star of the TV series Letterkenny, filmed in Sudbury, Ont. (Bell Media)

"Following the record-breaking success of Letterkenny and Shoresy, Crave, and award-winning producer New Metric Media, announced today a new, multi-year creative partnership that expands the world of Letterkenny," Bell Media said in a news release last week.

Both shows were created by and star Jared Keeso.

In October, Shoresy was picked up for a third season and started filming in November.

Letterkenny premiered in 2016 as Crave's first original series and has been the most-streamed Canadian show on Crave for several years.

"The series is based on the internet sensation Letterkenny Problems, a five-part series of shorts, which to date has garnered more than 21 million views," Bell Media said.

It will come to a close with six more episodes.

"In Season 12, the small town contends with a comedy night at Modean’s, a country music hit, the Degens’ bad influence, a new nightclub, and an encore at the Ag Hall. And that’s just for starters," Bell Media said.

Keeso's new deal announced Dec. 6 includes 49 new episodes for Crave including Letterkenny spin-offs and the development of all-new series.

"In addition to the content commitment, the companies continue to collaborate on existing and new ancillary brand extensions, including merchandise and live productions," Bell Media said.

• Download the CTV News app now
• Get local breaking news alerts
• Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
• Want more local news? Check out the Sudbury page

The deal continues the show's partnership with New Metric Media.

"Letterkenny and Shoresy are consistently among the most-watched series on Crave, which is a testament to Jared’s creative vision and keen ability to create ground-breaking, culturally relevant content," Justin Stockman, vice president of content development and programming for Bell Media, is quoted as saying in the news release.

"This deal marks a starting point of what’s sure to be another defining era in comedy."

Mark Montefiore, the founder and CEO of New Metric Media, said they are "excited to break new comedic ground on this landmark pact."

"Beyond the small screen, the Canadian phenomenon has expanded its reach with highly sought-after merchandise including Funko POPs, Letterkennyopoly, the popular Puppers Golden Lager, as well as live productions including the sold-out Letterkenny Live! North American tour, and the recent live standup comedy shows, Letterkenny Presents," Bell Media said.

Both Crave and CTV News are owned by Bell Media.