Degrassi: Whatever It Takes is a 3-part docuseries that was produced in partnership with the award-winning Canadian production company Peacock Alley. Featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and interviews, the series dives into Degrassi lore and the teenage experience with its creators, cast, crew and fans, as well as generations of filmmakers influenced by the franchise’s 40-year legacy.
It premiered on September 13, 2025 at the Toronto International Film Festival in the Scotiabank Theatre.
Synopsis[]
What makes the Degrassi franchise so wildly successful? How did this Canadian young adult soap opera break barriers to become one of the longest running teen franchises in television history? For more than four decades, watching Degrassi has been a rite of passage for teenagers everywhere, providing a mirror into their passions, struggles and triumphs as they navigate the road to selfhood. Always at the vanguard of inspiration, education and entertainment, Degrassi is one of the most iconic brands in youth culture, unafraid to tackle even the most challenging stories.
In three one-hour episodes, the new documentary series will explore the phenomenon of this hugely popular, multi award-winning, iconic franchise that has pioneered programming for teens and young adults for more than 40 years. As the world has changed through the decades, so have the topics and issues that teenagers face, and Degrassi has been right there with them. No issue has been too controversial or too real for Degrassi to explore, as it often broke new ground on such subjects as teen pregnancy, racism, AIDS, eating disorders, child abuse, learning disabilities, gender identity, violence and more.
Cast[]
- Linda Schuyler
- Kevin Smith
- Stefan Brogren
- Amanda Stepto
- Stacie Mistysyn
- Dayo Ade
- Miriam McDonald
- Aubrey Graham
- Jake Epstein
- Shenae Grimes[1]
- Melinda Shankar
- Jordan Todosey
- Lyle Lettau
- Shane Kippel
- Maureen Deiseach
- Amanda Deiseach
Controversy[]
On September 8, co-creator Linda Schuyler launched a lawsuit against the film's producers, seeking to halt the film's premiere on the grounds that it purportedly contained defamatory statements alleging that early cast members of the franchise were underpaid. The lawsuit was settled by September 10, allowing the premiere to proceed, after the producers agreed to add extra context to the film clarifying the additional benefits that Schuyler arranged for the cast members, including a retirement fund and an educational scholarship foundation.
Trivia[]
- The documentary has a runtime of 111 minutes.
Videos[]
