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Carrie-Anne Moss Leads an All-Star Cast for the Crave Original Series YAGA, Including Noah Reid, Clark Backo, and Hudson Williams

Image for the Carrie-Anne Moss Leads an All-Star Cast for the Crave Original Series YAGA, Including Noah Reid, Clark Backo, and Hudson Williams press release
Crave
– Crave’s first half-hour drama series brings the myth of Baba Yaga to life in a contemporary mystery thriller –
– Production has begun on the eight-episode series written and executive produced by Kat Sandler, based on her acclaimed play –
– Produced by Front Street Pictures and Blink49 Studios, the series is distributed globally by Sphere Abacus, a Bell Media company –

TORONTO (February 18, 2026) – With production now underway, Crave today announced the principal cast for its first, half-hour, original drama series, YAGA, led by Carrie-Anne Moss (THE MATRIX), Noah Reid (SCHITT’S CREEK), Clark Backo (LETTERKENNY), and Hudson Williams (HEATED RIVALRY). Based on the hit play by Kat Sandler, who also serves as writer and showrunner, the Crave Original series reimagines the myth of Baba Yaga, as a contemporary mystery thriller set in a small coastal town. Produced by Front Street Pictures and Blink49 Studios in partnership with Crave, YAGA is co-directed by David Frazee and Rachel Talalay, with principal photography currently underway. YAGA follows Rapp (Noah Reid), a private investigator who arrives in a small coastal town to investigate the disappearance of a young heir to a powerful fishery, Henry Park (Hudson Williams). He finds himself at odds with an apprehensive local detective, Carson (Clark Backo), a charismatic university professor with a taste for younger men, Katherine (Carrie-Anne Moss), and a labyrinth of enigmatic suspects, secret lives, and ancient magic. “Featuring a truly exceptional cast, this series marks another exciting collaboration with Blink49 Studios,” said Justin Stockman, Vice President, Content Development & Programming, Bell Media. “We’re thrilled to bring Kat Sandler’s bold vision to Crave with this first-ever half-hour drama, and to continue setting the bar for genre-bending, unexpected storytelling.” “YAGA has evolved from myth to stage to my first greenlit series, reclaiming the wicked witch and reshaping her as an incendiary feminist antihero for our time,” said Kat Sandler. “It reflects the kind of storytelling I love: propulsive, accessible, dark, funny, and unapologetically bold. I’m incredibly excited to bring Crave’s first-ever half-hour drama to life alongside longtime collaborator Mackenzie Donaldson, Front Street Pictures, Blink49, and Bell Media.” “YAGA is the kind of ambitious, genre-smashing storytelling we’re proud to support,” said Mackenzie Donaldson, Vice President, Scripted Television, Blink49 Studios. “Bringing Kat Sandler’s singular and fearless voice to the screen for the first time is a thrill. This is a story that is truly unique and unmistakably hers – fresh, contemporary reimagining of a classic myth brought to life by an exceptional cast and creative collaborators.” The series marks a significant collaboration between Bell Media and Blink49 Studios, following Bell Media’s strategic investment in the Toronto-based production studio announced in June 2025. Bell Media and Blink49 Studios previously partnered on docuseries QUEEN OF THE CASTLE, and scripted series including DON’T EVEN, LATE BLOOMER, SIGHT UNSEEN, and THE TRADES. Produced by Front Street Pictures and Blink49 Studios, showrunner is Kat Sandler; co-directors are David Frazee and Rachel Talalay. The series is executive produced by Mackenzie Donaldson, Andrew Miller and Carrie-Anne Moss and produced by Charles Cooper. The series is distributed internationally by Sphere Abacus and will also be available as four, one-hour episodes for international sales. For Bell Media, Rachel Ferguson is Production Executive, Original Programming; Sarah Fowlie is Head of Production, Original Programming; Rachel Goldstein-Couto is Head of Development, Original Programming; Lauren MacKinlay is Development Executive, Original Programming. Carlyn Klebuc is General Manager, Original Programming; and Justin Stockman is Executive Producer and Vice President, Content Development & Programming. For Blink49 Studios, Pancho Mansfield is President, Global Scripted Television; Carolyn Newman is Executive Vice President, Global Scripted Television; Tashi Bieler is Senior Vice President, Head of Production; Mara Dunker is Production Executive. Carrie-Anne Moss is represented by Hodgson Management Group, Kleinberg Lange Cuddy & Carlo LLP, and Viewpoint, Inc; Noah Reid is represented by GGA and Circle Management + Production; Clark Backo is represented by IAG and Linden Entertainment; Hudson Williams is represented by CAA and RED Management.

About Crave

Crave is the largest Canadian-owned streamer delivering an unparalleled content offering with a globally renowned slate of premium original series, HBO and Max Originals, STARZ, Hollywood-hit movies, and iconic series including FRIENDS, THE OFFICE, and more. Crave is available directly to Canadians at Crave.ca, via iOS and Android, and other platforms such as Amazon Fire TV, Prime Video Subscriptions, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Hisense, LG Smart TVs, PlayStation, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox One and participating TV service providers. Crave is from Bell Media, Canada’s leading media and entertainment company. Visit our website at Crave.ca.

 

About Blink49 Studios

Blink49 Studios is a full-service independent studio developing, producing, and monetizing premium scripted and unscripted content in all programming genres and for all platforms throughout the world, including brand-funded and digital-first content. Headquartered in Toronto with offices in Los Angeles, Vancouver, and New York, Blink49 is backed by strategic partners FIFTH SEASON and Bell Media, whose global distribution expertise, market access, and long-term commitment to premium storytelling strengthen the studio’s ability to scale and reach audiences worldwide.

Through investments in Front Street Pictures and digital comedy studio Stapleview, and the acquisitions of Pier21 Films and acclaimed unscripted prodco Lighthearted Entertainment, Blink49 Studios has built a vertically integrated production platform spanning Canada and the U.S., with deep expertise across television, digital-first content, and the creator economy. The studio is driven by a content-first philosophy rooted in strong creative partnerships and a commitment to championing bold, distinctive voices across genres and platforms.

Recognized as Playback’s Producer of the Year (2024) and Dealmaker of the Year (2022), Blink49 Studios continues to expand its slate of premium scripted and unscripted programming for leading broadcasters, streamers, and global partners.

 

About Front Street Pictures

Front Street Pictures is a Vancouver, British Columbia–based, vertically integrated film and television production group founded over twenty years ago. The company provides end-to-end production services, including development, physical production, post-production infrastructure, and a 20,000 sq. ft. stage facility.

Over its 20+ year history, Front Street Pictures (“FSP”) has produced more than 1,000 hours of scripted live-action content for leading studios, networks, and platforms such as Tubi, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Hallmark, and A&E. Its production footprint includes three regional offices in Victoria (BC), Langley (BC), and Calgary (AB), supporting a high-volume slate across film, television, and new media.

FSP’s catalogue comprises over 500 hours of programming, including 400+ feature-length films and more than 120 episodes of television. The company also maintains a global distribution network to support its extensive development slate of owned IP as well as third-party projects.

Front Street Pictures has been recognized with numerous awards over the past decade, including multiple Emmys.

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Nicolle Stranges

Manager, Publicity - Specialty channels and Streaming

Maeve Lisle

CraveHBOStarz

Publicist, Streaming & Entertainment Specialty

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