Prime Video has announced today that their first Australian Amazon Original movie will be Five Blind Dates.
A romantic comedy, Five Blind Dates follows the owner of a tea shop, played by Asian Australian actress Shuang Hu in her search for love, after she is told by a fortune teller that she’ll find her soulmate on one of the next five dates she goes on.
According to the film’s synopsis, whilst visiting her family in Townsville for her sister Alice’s engagement festivities, Lia (Shuang Hu) finds herself at a comedically tumultuous family luncheon with her best friend Mason and is gifted an unwelcomed prophecy that she will soon meet her suitor. Her family, unsure of Lia’s ability to discern a partner for herself, decides to set her up on five blind dates. Even though her true passion and current focus lies in saving her tea-shop — a legacy left to her from her grandmother —Lia reluctantly agrees to go on these dates.
Hu created and wrote the film along with actor and comedian Nathan Ramos-Park, who is set to co-star. Shawn Seet, who has previously directed Storm Boy, will direct.
Also starring in the film are Yoson An (MULAN) as Richard, Jon Prasida (Tomorrow When the War Began) as Ezra, Desmond Chiam (The Falcon And The Winter Soldier) as Apollo, Ilai Swindells (Redfern Now) as Mason, Renee Lim (Please Like Me) as Jing, Tiffany Wong (Prey School) as Alice, Rob Collins (Total Control) as Curtis and Tzi Ma (MULAN) as Xien.
Five Blind Dates is set to begin filming in April and will premiere on Prime Video later this year. It will film in Townsville and Sydney and will make history as the first scripted Australian Amazon Original movie.
“For Five Blind Dates to be the first Australian Amazon Original Feature is such an honour,” said Hu and Ramos-Park in a joint statement. “The script has been a real labour of love for us both and we can’t wait for production to begin!”
“As a melting pot of cultures, traditions and communities, Australia is fertile ground for local stories,” said Erika North, head of originals, Asia Pacific, at Amazon Studios in a statement. “With Five Blind Dates, Prime Video Australia’s first feature film, we are celebrating Chinese-Australian culture and its warm family dynamics to full and joyful effect.”
She continued: “Shuang and Nathan have created an effervescent and lighthearted romantic comedy which we know will be enjoyed by millions of Prime members worldwide. We cannot wait to work with the incredibly talented Goalpost team to bring this heartwarming story to life.”
On Instagram, Hu celebrated the announcement, writing that she was “absolutely honoured and jumping up and down with excitement” to be able to announce the film.
“Not only will this be the first Aussie Amazon Original movie ever made, it’s also based on an Asian Australian story … Something that has been missing from our Aussie screens for too long,” she wrote. “This labour of love has been 18 months in the making, and we could not have done it without the unwavering support from the team at #Amazonstudios #primevideo and #Goalpost”.
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