Amazon’s Hugh Hefner documentary arrives this April
David Farnor | On 12, Feb 2017
Amazon’s Hugh Hefner documentary series will arrive this April.
The 13-episode documentary was ordered by Amazon last year, combining archival footage, interviews and cinematic re-enactments to tell the story of Playboy magazine’s charismatic founder and his impact on global culture and history.
American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story begins in post-war America, taking us through the launch of the magazine in 1953, and the next six decades of Hefner’s life and career. As he built his empire, Hefner became both a social justice advocate and a target of the conservative movement, battling with the FBI and J. Edgar Hoover, while becoming an outspoken defender of civil rights.
“Although Hugh Hefner is an iconic figure known worldwide, most people may not be aware of the impact he has had on some of this country’s most important social revolutions,” says Conrad Riggs, Head of Unscripted at Amazon Studios. “We are excited to bring Prime members the untold story of Mr. Hefner’s remarkable life.”
The show will premiere on Friday 7th April, Amazon has announced. It continues a push into non-fiction by Amazon, which recently acquired Grateful Dead doc Long Strange Trip at Sundance, with all episodes premiering on Amazon Prime Video on 26th May.
American Playboy: Amazon orders documentary series about Hugh Hefner
12th August 2016
Playboy is coming to Amazon – sort of. Amazon has ordered a new documentary series about Mr. Playboy himself, Hugh Hefner.
American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story will combine archival footage, interviews and cinematic reenactments to tell the story of the founder of Playboy magazine and his impact on global culture and history.
Produced by Stephen David Entertainment and Alta Loma Entertainment, the series begins in post-war America and takes us through the launch of Playboy magazine in 1953 and the next six decades of Hefner’s life and career.
“As he built his empire, Hefner became both a social justice advocate and a target of the conservative movement, battling with the FBI and J. Edgar Hoover while becoming an outspoken defender of civil rights,” says Amazon.
The 90-year-old has been “deeply involved” in the show’s development and production.
With access to more than 17,000 hours of never-before-seen footage from the Playboy archives and Hefner’s personal scrapbooks (which number more than 2,600 – a Guinness World Record), American Playboy describes itself as “the Hugh Hefner story in his own words”.
“Although Hugh Hefner is an iconic figure known worldwide, most people may not be aware of the impact he has had on some of this country’s most important social revolutions,” says Conrad Riggs, Head of Unscripted at Amazon Studios. “We are excited to bring Prime members the untold story of Mr. Hefner’s remarkable life and his contributions to modern American history.”
“It has been a long road in finding the right partners to tell the full story of Playboy as it has unfolded over these past 63 years, and I believe we have found them in the collaborative team of Stephen David Entertainment and Amazon,” adds Hefner. “I’m pleased that this docuseries will shed light on what has been an incredible journey and the voice Playboy has had in the discussion of our ever-changing culture. Just as importantly, my hope is that it will inspire others to pursue their dreams.”
All 13 episodes of the series will premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in the US, UK, Germany, Austria and Japan in 2017.