Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has launched a film and television production company at the Toronto Film Festival, opening a new chapter in his career after politics, writes The Hollywood Reporter.
Named Hope & Hard Work, the company was founded by Trudeau and his longtime colleague Katie Telford. The banner has also unveiled a slate of scripted and unscripted projects centred on Canadian stories for audiences around the world.
“At a time when the world can feel increasingly divided, we believe in the power of great storytelling to bring people closer,” Trudeau and Telford said in a joint statement.
They said the company would bring values including kindness, optimism, openness and faith in one another to its productions.
Projects already in development include Closer by Sea, based on Perry Chafe’s book, and Detective Aunty, adapted from Uzma Jalaluddin’s novel. Neshama Entertainment will produce Detective Aunty, with Trudeau and Telford serving as executive producers.
Hope & Hard Work plans to develop and produce film, television, audio and live projects for audiences in Canada and abroad. The company will also acquire rights to popular literary works while developing original concepts.
Its unscripted division will operate through a strategic partnership with Earth Tones, a media company run by Aliya Jasmine and Aliza Sovani. The pair will lead the division and produce documentaries and docuseries.
Trudeau’s move into entertainment comes as his partner, pop star Katy Perry, remains active in the industry. Perry recently premiered her concert documentary Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour – Live from Paris at the Tribeca Festival.
Directed by Paul Dugdale, the film documents Perry’s Lifetimes tour, which supported her sixth studio album, 143.
Trudeau and Perry first sparked romance rumours in July 2025 and have since appeared together publicly and on social media.
Hope & Hard Work and its principals are represented by 3 Arts Entertainment.
