Amazon clearly believes that everyone needs good neighbors. After the long-running Australian soap opera went off the air in July, the streaming giant has decided to save it.
A new series will begin filming in Australia next year, after the Fremantle production company signed a deal with Amazon Freevee. A host of fan favorites will return, including Stefan Dennis as Paul Robinson, Alan Fletcher as Karl Kennedy, Jackie Woodburne as Susan Kennedy and Ryan Moloney as Toadie Rebecchi.
“Neighbors is a unique series with a powerful connection with its fans around the world,” said Fremantle CEO Jennifer Mullin. “We appreciate the show and all those who have been a part of its incredible history for many decades, so we are delighted to have found a new home.”
The announcement follows a much-celebrated farewell episode of the show, which saw a number of former stars return to pay tribute to the soap that gave them their big break. Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Margot Robbie and Guy Pearce were among the actors who reappeared in the fictional suburb of Erinsborough in Melbourne, with figures of three million views. The audience was the biggest since Channel 5 began showing the show in the UK 14 years ago.
As well as creating a new series of the soap, Amazon has announced that it will host the show’s back catalogue, giving viewers access to 37 years of classic episodes.
“Neighbors has captivated audiences for nearly 40 years, building a loyal and dedicated following for the lives and stories of Ramsay Street’s characters,” said Lauren Anderson, head of AVOD programming at Amazon.
“With the power of streaming, we can deliver thousands of episodes of Neighbors so new audiences can discover this legendary series and current fans can relive their favorite moments.”