Drake, the world-renowned rap and pop superstar, is heading back to where it all started in the recently dropped trailer for the long-awaited documentary, “Degrassi: Whatever It Takes.” Long before topping charts and selling out arenas globally, Drake made his first public appearance on the Canadian teen drama Degrassi, a show celebrated for its narrative bravery and unrelenting depiction of adolescence.
It’s a rare trailer that shows Drake gazing wistfully at his past. “I didn’t have a great time in high school. I just didn’t really fit in,” he confesses, before gushing about how his role on Degrassi was a starting point on a “wild journey” that would end up taking him to worldwide stardom.
“Degrassi: Whatever It Takes,” directed by Lisa Rideout, delves into the legacy of a series that forever changed teen television. Rideout credits the show’s game-changing format, “Degrassi changed the landscape of television with real, unvarnished storytelling and did it unapologetically from a teenage perspective,” she says. The documentary aims to pay homage to the series’ pioneering mission to address complex subjects, ranging from bullying to mental health, with commentary from its young cast members, including several who would go on to make their own significant contributions to the entertainment industry.
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The series is also set to include creator Linda Schuyler and executive producer Stephen Stohn returning for the special telecasts, as well as featuring former cast members and reflections from fans. The series serves as “more than a TV show, and it’s a time capsule of growing up, full of heart, honesty, and every ‘first’ experience you can think of. Nothing then, or now, has captured the teenage experience in a more raw, authentic or unfiltered way,” said showrunner and executive producer Carrie Mudd at Peacock Alley. The documentary is a love letter to the lasting legacy of Degrassi, she continues, which has had an impact on four generations of television and made an “indelible mark” on communities all over the world.
A mix of revealing interviews, behind-the-scenes tales, and, of course, clips from the show, “Degrassi: Whatever It Takes” will not only give long-time fans the warm and fuzzies, but will also help newcomers understand the gritty, authentic storytelling that made Degrassi a Canadian cultural touchstone. For Drake, the experience is particularly full circle back on the show that made him who he is, showcasing the timeless relatability of a series that took a chance on showing how messy and powerful adolescence can be.
