Netflix and Family Channel lace up for teen skating series ‘Finding Her Edge’

By David Friend, The Canadian Press on January 6, 2025.

Jeff Norton, shown in a handout photo, will serve as showrunner on "Finding Her Edge," which is being produced by WildBrain for Netflix and the Family Channel. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Wildbrain **MANDATORY CREDIT**

Family Channel is hitting the rinks for a new live-action teen drama set in the high-stakes world of competitive figure skating.

The Canadian television channel has partnered with Netflix for an eight-episode order of “Finding Her Edge,” which is adapted from Jennifer Iacopelli’s popular 2022 young adult novel.

The series follows the Russo sisters, three young heirs to a figure skating dynasty, as they face professional challenges and personal strife.

Iacopelli has said her book was inspired by Jane Austen’s “Persuasion” as well as the media attention that swirled around Canadian skaters Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir as they prepared for the 2018 Olympics.

“Finding Her Edge” is produced by Toronto-based WildBrain, the company behind an array of youth-oriented Canadian programs.

Jeff Norton will serve as showrunner after executive producing the Ottawa-shot teen series “Geek Girl.”

“Finding Her Edge” is scheduled to begin shooting next month with a premiere date still to be determined. Netflix will debut the series on its streaming service outside Canada.

Last month, WildBrain Ltd. announced it was selling a two-thirds stake in its TV broadcast business, which includes Family Channel, to IoM Media Ventures Inc., an independent children’s studio based in Halifax.

WildBrain said it expected to receive more than $40 million over the next four years from the arrangement with proceeds going towards paying down debt.

The transaction faces certain conditions, such as approval by the CRTC.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 6, 2025.