Prime Video announces first Australian Amazon Original, Five Blind Dates

Prime Video has announced the first Australian Amazon Original, Five Blind Dates, will begin filming next month.

The romantic comedy was created and written by comedians Shuang Hu (The Family Law, Ronny Chieng: International Student) and Nathan Ramos-Park (As We Babble On, Club Mickey Mouse, Bone).

It centres on a Chinese-Australian tea shop owner Lia, played by Hu, in her late twenties who is told by a fortune-teller that she will find her soulmate on one of the next five dates she goes on.

The story, produced by Amazon Studios and Goalpost Pictures Australia, also follows her search for love, family, and cultural connection.

The feature-length romantic comedy will be Prime Video’s first scripted Australian Amazon Original movie and will be filmed in Townsville and Sydney.

Five Blind Dates will launch exclusively to Prime members in Australia and more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

While the full cast is yet to be announced, Shawn Seet (Baron, Storm Boy, The Code) will direct the film.

Erika North, head of originals, Asia Pacific, at Amazon Studios, said: "As a melting pot of cultures, traditions and communities, Australia is fertile ground for local stories. 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."

"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."

Both Hu and Ramos-Park said: "For Five Blind Dates to be the first Australian Amazon Original Feature is such an honour.  The script has been a real labour of love for us both and we can’t wait for production to begin!"

Goalpost Pictures Australia's Kylie du Fresne said: "The script for Five Blind Dates was irresistible, as is the creative energy of Shuang and Nathan. We couldn’t be more excited to working with them to produce the first Amazon Australia Original feature film."

Five Blind Dates will be produced by Goalpost Pictures Australia, with Goalpost’s du Fresne as producer and Ben Grant and Rosemary Blight as executive producers. 

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Top image: Shuang Hu and Nathan Ramos-Park