EXCLUSIVE: The Edmonton Oilers‘ 1980s domination of the NHL will be the subject of a doc series from Ryan Reynolds‘ Maximum Effort.
The Great Ones will run to five parts and explore the remarkable journey of the Oilers, who won five Stanley Cups between 1983 and 1990 after the merger of the NHL and WHA merger in 1979. Featuring a cast of Hall of Fame players who defined the Oilers’ dynasty, looking at their lives on and off the ice. It will feature interviews with the team, their rivals, broadcasters, managers and other behind-the-scenes characters.
Maximum Effort is carving a niche in sports doc series charting the rise of unfancied teams, with Welcome to Wrexham, about the fast-rising Welsh soccer team Reynolds and Rob McElhenney own, now rolling out its fourth season on FX. The Great Ones is its latest venture.
Reynolds’ production house is making the doc series in collaboration with Score G Productions, Fennessey Films, Canadian network Super Channel and OEG Sports & Entertainment. Emmy-winning director Austin Andrews is directing, with the doc set to premiere on Super Channel in the winter of 2027.
“As honorary Canadians, hockey is very close to our hearts at Maximum Effort, and The Great Ones is a passion project that combines our love of the sport with our desire to produce compelling non-fiction celebrating legendary histories that deserve more time in the spotlight,” said Kevin Hill, Head of Television at Maximum Effort. “We’re thrilled to partner with Score G Productions, Super Channel, Fennessey Films and Oilers owner OEG Sports & Entertainment to deliver an epic series for an epic dynasty.
Adam Scorgie, CEO and founder of Score G, added: “This partnership with Maximum Effort, Super Channel, and OEG Sports & Entertainment brings together a world-class, award-winning team with a proven track record in storytelling. As CEO and Founder of Score G Productions, I am honored to delve into the legacy of these iconic players as a lifelong Oilers fan. Together, we are excited to share their incredible journey in a compelling way with audiences around the world.”
Score G has previously produced the likes of Ice Guardians, Making Coco, Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo, Bisping, and Breaking Olympia: The Phil Heath Story, all of which premiered in Canada on Super Channel.
Shane Fennessey, founder of Fennessey Films and a partner and producer at Score G, said: “Since the time of this dynasty, fans have only been treated to mere morsels of the legendary stories. This five-part series will be the all-encompassing, quintessential chronicle of this team and its seven Hall of Fame players. Having spent my life around many of these remarkable individuals, I can assure viewers that the best stories are yet to come.”
OEG Sports & Entertainment owns the Oilers and production company Dark Castle Entertainment, and is led by Edmonton-based billionaire Daryl Katz.
“The Edmonton Oilers logo is synonymous with greatness, and we’re excited to provide unprecedented access to our content archives and some of the best NHL players of all time — who are central to hockey’s most iconic and compelling dynasty stories,” said Tim Shipton, Executive Vice President, OEG Sports & Entertainment. “We’re thrilled to partner with this group of amazing storytellers and creators to unearth a variety of never-before-seen content and storylines and deliver it to hockey fans here in Oil Country and beyond.”
Super Channel, which is owned by Allarco Entertainment, is based in Edmonton. “We are excited to collaborate with Maximum Effort and Score G Productions to bring The Great Ones to Super Channel,” said Don McDonald, President & CEO at Super Channel. “This docuseries explores the Edmonton Oilers’ legacy, from their humble beginnings to their meteoric rise in the 1980s, redefining hockey. Fans will get an exclusive look at the passion, talent, and determination that propelled the Oilers to greatness, featuring exclusive interviews, rare footage, and in-depth analysis.”
The post From Wrexham To The Ice Rink: Edmonton Oilers Doc Series ‘The Great Ones’ Coming From Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort appeared first on Deadline.
