Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist Movie on Roku

Roku's Venture into Original Films

Roku is broadening its presence in original content creation, announcing its inaugural feature-length film slated for release during the 2021 holiday season. This project is a collaboration with Lionsgate and centers around a movie adaptation of the acclaimed, Emmy-winning television series, “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.” The film will premiere on Roku’s complimentary streaming platform, The Roku Channel, later this year.

Continuing the Story of Zoey

Titled “Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas,” the movie will directly follow the narrative established in the series’ second season finale. The show’s cancellation had prompted a dedicated fan base to actively campaign for its continuation. Roku has now stepped in to provide that continuation, not only with the new film but also by making all 25 episodes of the original series available for free streaming on The Roku Channel within the U.S. this fall.

Production Details and Returning Cast

Principal photography for the feature film is commencing this month in Vancouver. A significant portion of the original cast will be reprising their roles, including Jane Levy, Skylar Astin, Alex Newell, John Clarence Stewart, Andrew Leeds, Alice Lee, Michael Thomas Grant, Kapil Talwalkar, David St. Louis, Mary Steenburgen, Peter Gallagher, and Bernadette Peters. While specific plot details remain limited, the story will depict Zoey as she continues to balance her professional life, familial relationships, romantic interests, and the complexities of everyday existence.

Expanding Roku's Original Content Library

This film represents a substantial advancement for Roku and its strategy regarding original programming. Previously, the company assessed audience interest in original series by acquiring the content library from the now-defunct streaming service, Quibi. These shows were then launched on The Roku Channel as the initial collection of Roku Originals.

The initial launch included 30 titles.
Roku has continued to add shows throughout the year.
Last month, an additional 23 shows were added to the platform.

Furthermore, Roku has committed to reinvesting in at least one former Quibi series, approving a second season of “Most Dangerous Game.” However, this marks Roku’s first investment in a full-length motion picture.

The Strategic Fit of Movies

The inclusion of movies aligns well with The Roku Channel’s business model, which relies on advertising revenue. The extended runtime of films provides a greater number of opportunities for ad placements. Initially, The Roku Channel began as a free movie hub before expanding its offerings to encompass television shows, news, and sports content.

Positive Viewer Engagement

Roku reports that its original programming is resonating with viewers. The company states that the top 5 most-streamed television shows during the summer months (May 20th to July 18th) were all Roku Originals.

Production Team

“Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas” is being produced by Lionsgate, in collaboration with The Tannenbaum Company, Feigco Entertainment, Universal Music Group’s Polygram Entertainment, and Zihuatenejo Productions. Austin Winsberg, the creator of the original series, will serve as the writer and executive producer. Richard Shepard, who directed the pilot episode, will helm the film. Additional executive producers include Kim Tannenbaum, Eric Tannenbaum, Paul Feig, David Blackman, and Daniel Inkeles.