December 1 HBO Berth Firmed For TIFF Docu ‘Paul Anka: His Way’

Paul Anka: His Way, the John Maggio-directed chronicle of the singer/songwriter behind such classics as Times Of Your Life, My Way, and Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show theme, has found a home beyond early fall’s Toronto Film Festival bow.

HBO acquired the docu and has set a December 1 premiere on HBO, and then it will move to sister streaming site HBO Max.

Hailing from Canada, Anka became a teen idol, but didn’t really hover in the Rat Pack circle of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin. But he did write Sinatra’s signature song My Way, which he also recorded, but when Frank takes it on, you learn to share.

Anka has spent seven decades continuing to write songs and play dates, and the docu is one part road movie and one part living bio on a man who has been adept at reinventing himself as the world and the music industry evolved.

His tunes have been performed by music legends from Sinatra to Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, and he continued to evolve, teaming over the years with the likes of Drake and in covering such contemporary songs as Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit. The 84 year old continues to tour.

Pic’s an Ark Media Production in association with Blue Ant Studios, and the Eps are Caroline Kimmel, Irving Azoff, Lawrence Mestel, Randy Lennox, Jo Henriquez, Charlie Corwin, Laura Michalchyshyn, Sam Sniderman, Dorin Razam, and Zachary Herrmann. Monica Berra produced.