NBCUniversal has greenlit Summer House Canada, the first international adaptation of the hit Bravo reality series, with production underway in Muskoka, Ontario, and a 2027 premiere on Hayu, the network’s streaming platform. The 10-episode series, developed by Vancouver-based indie Lark Productions, will follow the original format of friends sharing a lakeside cottage, with no cast details yet announced. Production began in southern Ontario, where the show will film amid forested landscapes and lakeside cottages, a setting that aligns with the original series’ focus on social dynamics among friends escaping urban life. The Canadian version will premiere exclusively on Hayu, NBCUniversal’s reality streaming platform, in 2027.
The Real Housewives of London
The project follows Hayu’s earlier order for its first original series, The Real Housewives of London, which was recently renewed for a second season. The announcement of Summer House Canada came a day after Bravo’s Summer House earned its first Emmy nomination. Hendrik McDermott, managing director, international DTC (director to consumer) at NBCUniversal, emphasized Muskoka’s “iconic Canadian setting” as ideal for the franchise’s global expansion. “We’re thrilled to bring this adaptation of the standout Summer House format to the market — and Muskoka offers the perfect, iconic Canadian setting to introduce Summer House Canada and build on the franchise’s momentum,” McDermott said in a statement on Thursday.
Muskoka
Summer House Canada mirrors the original format, bringing together a group of friends to escape city life during summer weekends, with the series promising “relationship, career and personal life collisions — including whispers and stolen glances” that have made the franchise a hit. The Muskoka region, where wealthy Torontonians retreat to escape urban stress, has also served as a filming location for other projects, including Megan Park’s My Old Ass, produced by Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment; Netflix’s The Hunting Wives, starring Malin Akerman and Brittany Snow; and cottage scenes in the gay hockey drama Heated Rivalry for Crave and HBO Max.
Lark Productions
Erin Haskett, president and executive producer of Lark Productions, highlighted the show’s focus on “authentic friendships, big personalities, and the unforgettable moments that come from spending a summer together.” Lark Productions, which has a first-look distribution deal with Universal Global Television, previously produced the Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent local adaptation and the original police procedural Allegiance via that partnership. Haskett’s comments underscore the franchise’s intent to mirror the original’s success while tailoring the experience to Canadian audiences. Summer House has become a beloved global franchise, she said, “and we’re excited to build on that by bringing the Canadian summer experience to fans worldwide.”
NBCUniversal Formats
The Summer House franchise is distributed internationally by NBCUniversal Formats, a division of Universal Studio Group. Summer House Canada will mark the first international expansion of the franchise, which has run for 10 seasons in the U.S. on Bravo.
Hayu, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, has positioned Summer House Canada as its second original reality series following The Real Housewives of London, which recently earned a second-season renewal. The platform recently wrapped filming for the second season of The Real Housewives of London, with Bravo confirming the first season will air in July. The success of Hayu’s first original commission has paved the way for Summer House Canada, which aims to expand the streamer’s market-leading reality content line-up with a fresh take on a fan-favourite franchise.
Lark Productions, founded in Vancouver, has long-standing ties with Universal Global Television through a first-look distribution deal. The company’s recent projects include the Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent adaptation and the original police procedural Allegiance. The Summer House Canada production team includes executives from both Lark and NBCUniversal, with McDermott overseeing the international DTC division. The series will debut on Hayu in 2027, following the platform’s strategy to offer exclusive content to its subscribers in Canada and globally.
The Muskoka region’s appeal as a filming location extends beyond Summer House Canada. It has hosted productions such as My Old Ass and The Hunting Wives, a Netflix series. Heated Rivalry, a gay hockey drama, also features scenes shot in Muskoka, further cementing the region’s role in Canadian entertainment.
The announcement of Summer House Canada coincides with the original series’ Emmy nomination, highlighting the franchise’s continued relevance and popularity.
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