Canada's most beloved children's entertainer is getting the documentary treatment at long last: a Mr. Dressup doc has been greenlit at Prime Video Canada, Variety reports.
Amazon confirmed that the yet-untitled film (directed by Rob McCallum) about the life and career of Ernie Coombs, helmed by Marblemedia in association with CBC, Hawkeye Pictures and Pyre Pictures, has begun production.
The documentary will celebrate the legacy of the long-running children's show, delving into its origins and history (and its relationship to Mr. Rogers) using unseen archival footage, as well as interviews with the series' musicians and puppeteers and the Coombs family. Further, other "notable Canadians" will appear, sharing the valuable lessons Mr. Dressup imparted.
"This is one of the most iconic Canadian stories to tell as producers in Canada," Mark Bishop, executive producer and co-founder of Marblemedia, said in a statement. "A story that resonates positive values, an archetype that has changed the future of kids and family entertainment for generations, and shaped countless careers, including my own. And we're telling it for the first time."
After being born in the US, Coombs first came to Canada in the early '60s as one of Fred Rogers's puppeteers for Mister Rogers on CBC from 1961 to 1964. Coombs then immigrated to the country and hosted his own children's programs — Butternut Square and, of course, Mr. Dressup.
Running for 29 years (1967 to 1996), Coombs filmed 4,000 episodes of Mr. Dressup, which ended when he announced his retirement. He was appointed to the Order of Canada shortly afterwards. Coombs later died at age 73 after suffering a stroke in 2001.
The feature-length film is anticipated to stream exclusively on Prime Video in 2023, with a broadcast window on CBC to follow.
In the meantime, remember: "Keep your crayons sharp, your sticky tape untangled and always put the tops back on your markers."
Amazon confirmed that the yet-untitled film (directed by Rob McCallum) about the life and career of Ernie Coombs, helmed by Marblemedia in association with CBC, Hawkeye Pictures and Pyre Pictures, has begun production.
The documentary will celebrate the legacy of the long-running children's show, delving into its origins and history (and its relationship to Mr. Rogers) using unseen archival footage, as well as interviews with the series' musicians and puppeteers and the Coombs family. Further, other "notable Canadians" will appear, sharing the valuable lessons Mr. Dressup imparted.
"This is one of the most iconic Canadian stories to tell as producers in Canada," Mark Bishop, executive producer and co-founder of Marblemedia, said in a statement. "A story that resonates positive values, an archetype that has changed the future of kids and family entertainment for generations, and shaped countless careers, including my own. And we're telling it for the first time."
After being born in the US, Coombs first came to Canada in the early '60s as one of Fred Rogers's puppeteers for Mister Rogers on CBC from 1961 to 1964. Coombs then immigrated to the country and hosted his own children's programs — Butternut Square and, of course, Mr. Dressup.
Running for 29 years (1967 to 1996), Coombs filmed 4,000 episodes of Mr. Dressup, which ended when he announced his retirement. He was appointed to the Order of Canada shortly afterwards. Coombs later died at age 73 after suffering a stroke in 2001.
The feature-length film is anticipated to stream exclusively on Prime Video in 2023, with a broadcast window on CBC to follow.
In the meantime, remember: "Keep your crayons sharp, your sticky tape untangled and always put the tops back on your markers."
