Justin Trudeau moving into the entertainment industry

Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is entering the entertainment industry with a new production company called Hope & Hard Work alongside his longtime chief of staff, Katie Telford.

The name is drawn from a slogan used by Trudeau and the Liberal Party during his nine years in office, which ended in 2025.

A news release has stated that the company will focus on both scripted and unscripted content, including documentaries, docuseries, TV series, and feature films. 

Several projects are already in development, including a TV adaptation of Perry Chafe's coming-of-age novel Closer by the Sea, set in Newfoundland, and a series based on Uzma Jalaluddin's mystery novel Detective Aunty, with Trudeau and Telford serving as executive producers.

In their announcement, Trudeau and Telford said they hope the company can use storytelling to foster empathy and connection at a time when the world feels increasingly divided, aiming to create content that helps audiences understand different perspectives.

Since stepping down as prime minister in early 2025, Trudeau, 54, has remained publicly active, giving speeches internationally, including at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He's also been in a relationship with singer Katy Perry since his resignation.

Similar paths have been taken by other former political figures, including Barack and Michelle Obama, who launched their production company, Higher Ground, in 2018, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who founded Archewell Productions in 2020 after leaving their royal duties.