Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with his long-serving chief of staff, Katie Telford, is transitioning from politics to the entertainment sector by launching a new media and entertainment production firm named Hope & Hard Work.
Trudeau’s choice for the company name reflects his political background — it derives from a phrase he and the Liberal Party utilized throughout his nine years as prime minister, which concluded in 2025.
The firm plans to create both scripted and unscripted content, encompassing documentaries, docuseries, television shows, and feature films, as stated in a news announcement. Several projects are already in the works.
One of the projects already in progress is Closer by the Sea, a television adaptation of Perry Chafe’s acclaimed coming-of-age novel set in Newfoundland. Chafe is also recognized for creating CBC’s Republic of Doyle and Son of a Critch.
Toronto author Uzma Jalaluddin’s mystery novel, Detective Aunty, is also being turned into a television series, with Trudeau and Telford taking on the role of executive producers.
The pair emphasizes that their lineup is diverse and thoughtfully selected, aiming to establish a platform for audience-focused storytelling that resonates both domestically and internationally.
“In a time when the world often feels increasingly fragmented, we trust in the power of exceptional storytelling to unite people,” Trudeau and Telford remarked in the announcement.
“By establishing Hope & Hard Work, we are uncovering narratives that inspire empathy and understanding, capable of reaching audiences in transformative ways; tales that go beyond our personal beliefs, allowing us to view the world from another’s perspective and reminding us of our shared humanity.”
Obamas also launched production company
Since stepping away from politics and announcing his resignation in January 2025, Trudeau, now 54, has made sporadic public appearances, delivering speeches globally, including at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
He was accompanied there by his girlfriend, pop singer Katy Perry, whom he started dating post-resignation.
Trudeau’s foray into the entertainment industry seems to mirror that of his American counterparts, former U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, who established the production company Higher Ground in 2018.
In 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, also created a company, Archewell Productions, after stepping down from their royal duties.