Produced by Future Studios and Krempelwood, the two-part documentary, heading to MIPCOM this fall, follows journalist Marcel Theroux as he explores the dark world of the Eunuch Maker with unprecedented access to those who underwent castration and those at the heart of the inner circle
(Toronto, Canada / London, UK – September 19, 2024) – Blue Ant Studios’ rights division reveals that it has acquired a startling new documentary, The Eunuch Maker (2 x 60’ and 1 x 60’), for worldwide distribution. It will be officially launched for sale to international programme buyers at MIPCOM next month.
Produced by Future Studios and Krempelwood for Hearst Networks EMEA, The Eunuch Maker is a two-part, true crime documentary, hosted by journalist and author, Marcel Theroux, who explores this headline-grabbing story that almost defies belief. An unhosted, 60-minute version of the documentary is also available to buyers this fall.
In 2022, a group of men were found to be performing castrations and live-streaming them to paying customers online. The man in charge, the terrifyingly-named ‘Eunuch Maker’, was accused of being a cult-like leader of a group that severed genitals and sold body parts – earning thousands of pounds. In this new documentary, Theroux explores the dark and disturbing world of the Eunuch Maker, gaining unprecedented access to several men who underwent castration, as well as many of those at the heart of the group’s inner circle. During his investigation, Theroux sets out to answer several key questions: Who is the Eunuch Maker? Why did he mutilate others and why is there a globe-spanning voluntary eunuch community seeking castration, raising timely questions about body modification, the limits of consent, and gender identity.
“After the success of Future Studio’s The Playboy Bunny Murder, which we launched at MIPCOM last year, we are thrilled to extend our partnership on this incredible new title and add it to our growing catalogue of true crime documentaries”, says Lilla Hurst, Global Head of Acquisitions & Content Strategy, Blue Ant Studios. “John Farrar and the teams at Future Studios and Krempelwood have a brilliant knack for identifying powerful stories and creating compelling content that never fails to resonate with international audiences. With such a high-profile true crime story and the brilliant access that’s been granted, The Eunuch Maker was always going to garner attention in the marketplace. However, as the final result is also intelligent and multi-layered, it presents broadcasters and streamers with a fascinating, topical and somewhat alternative story about sex, gender identity, personal freedom and the limits of consent. We are confident that it will greatly interest a wide range of buyers coming to Cannes in October.”
John Farrar from Future Studios says: “Blue Ant Studios’ faith in our team and its support for our shows has really cemented our partnership, and we are delighted to be working together again on this extraordinary true story. We are now excited to see The Eunuch Maker follow The Playboy Bunny Murder into the international market and cannot wait to see the response it generates at MIPCOM.”
Farrar adds: “This is one of the most complex and extraordinary stories we’ve ever undertaken. Born out of two years of sensitive and meticulous research, Marcel’s immersive journey promises to deliver the shocking reality behind the tabloid headlines, whilst offering a forensic insight into the motivations of The Eunuch Maker.”
The Eunuch Maker is set to launch on Hearst Networks later this year. The documentary’s series director and co-executive producer is Sam Miller, the presenter and executive producer is Marcel Theroux, and John Farrar is the executive producer for Future Studios. Blair Krempel and Mark Wood are the executive producers for Krempelwood
Blue Ant Studios has full international licensing rights for The Eunuch Maker, excluding the UK.
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Note to Editors
Blue Ant Studios is an international production studio and rights business with offices in Toronto, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, London, Singapore and Sydney. The company’s diverse production slate spans scripted comedy and drama, unscripted entertainment, formats, high-impact documentaries, live-action kids + family, and animation. The studio is anchored in original storytelling, with award-winning series that include Blown Away (Netflix), Canada’s Drag Race (Crave), the scripted teen comedy series, Davey and Jonesie’s Locker (Hulu and Prime Video), Casey Anthony: Where the Truth Lies (Peacock), Drink Masters (Netflix), Race Against the Tide (CBC), The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks (Prime Video), 9/11 Kids (CBC), See No Evil (Investigation Discovery US), and the adult-animated series, Gary and His Demons (Prime Video, Amazon Freevee). The company’s recent feature-length documentary, Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe (Prime Video), was awarded the Toronto International Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award for Best Documentary in 2023. Blue Ant Studios’ distribution arm has a vast catalogue of over 7,000 hours of premium programming from the studio and third-party, top-tier producers around the world. Blue Ant Studios is a subsidiary of the global media company, Blue Ant Media.