‘The World’s Strangest Jobs’ sells prime video rights to Africa

Comedy docuseries ‘The World’s Strangest Jobs’ from Johannesburg-based Mannequin Pictures, one of South Africa’s leading production, finance and distribution companies, has sold rights on the African continent to Prime Video.

Mannequin is now pursuing sales in all other territories. The eight-part series is presented by comedian and actor Schalk Bezuidenhout. A household name in his native country, the popular South African comic balances SAFTA-winning acting (“Hotel”) with his bread and butter as a comic. Most recently, he was part of Netflix’s stand-up comedy show, ‘Only Jokes Allowed’.

His latest sequel Bezuidenhout travels the world in search of the title ‘World’s Strangest Jobs’ and discovers many, from pet detectives in New York to rental boyfriends in Tokyo.

“We are thrilled that Prime Video has picked up this original show, which gives audiences a front-row seat to careers no one can imagine,” said Mannequin CEO, Delon Bakker.

The continued push from streamers to the region is no surprise. A report from Ampere Analysis late last year predicted that global streamers could drive 75% growth in the sub-Saharan video-on-demand (SVOD) market. With $220 million in annual revenue up for grabs by the end of 2027. The competitive landscape differs from many other parts of the world thanks to the fact that Showmax is a serious local competitor to the global streaming platforms.

“The World’s Strangest Jobs” is produced by Delon Bakker and Kyle Ambrose of Mannequin Pictures. The company recently wrapped production on the theatrical “London Calling,” directed by Allan Unger (“Bandit”) and starring Josh Duhamel (“Transformers”) and Rick Hoffman (“Suits”).

The Highland Film Group is handling international sales of ‘London Calling’.