CBC Original “BlackBerry” Premieres November 9

CBC is bringing the story of BlackBerry, the world’s first smartphone, to audiences across Canada. The story will be told in an extended three-part series on CBC Gem and CBC TV, with never-before-seen footage. “BlackBerry,” is a riotous take on the rise and fall of the iconic device, the series premieres Thursday November 9, 2023 on CBC and CBC Gem. All three episodes drop on CBC Gem and new episodes drop weekly on CBC.

The series follows the journey of tech wizard Mike Lazaridis and cunning businessman Jim Balsillie, who revolutionized the way people work, communicate, and connect with their BlackBerrys. The company dominated the market and had millions of people addicted to their devices. However, shady business dealings, personal grievances, and the introduction of the iPhone led to the company’s downfall.

The series stars Jay Baruchel as Mike Lazaridis and Glenn Howerton as Jim Balsillie. It also features Matt Johnson, Cary Elwes, Saul Rubinek, Rich Sommer, Martin Donovan, and Michael Ironside. The series is directed and co-written by Matt Johnson, known for “Nirvanna the Band the Show.”

To celebrate the premiere of the series, CBC will be hosting a BlackBerry Museum pop-up at the CF Toronto Eaton Centre. The museum will showcase the history of the nostalgic device, featuring photos and props from the series. Visitors will also have the opportunity to participate in a BBM type-off challenge with prizes.

“BlackBerry” is based on the bestselling book “Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry” by Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoff. The book was optioned and developed by CBC over the course of four years as a three-part series and feature film. The series received its world premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival and was released theatrically in Canada.

The series is executive produced by Matt Johnson, Matthew Miller, Niv Fichman, Fraser Ash, and Kevin Krikst. It is a collaboration between Elevation Pictures, XYZ Films, and Telefilm Canada, with the participation of Ontario Creates and the Canada Media Fund.

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