Emmy-Winning Director R.J. Cutler's Docuseries Esports World Cup: Level Up Premieres June 6 on Prime Video
LOS ANGELES, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prime Video, one of the leading entertainment destinations, will premiere the five-part documentary Esports World Cup: Level Up on June 6, with new episodes released weekly. Directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler (Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry, Elton John: Never Too Late and Martha), the series goes behind-the-scenes of the inaugural Esports World Cup (EWC) in 2024 — a defining moment in global esports, where over $60 million in prize money ignited a high-stakes, multinational battle to crown the world's top esports Club.
The series is produced by This Machine (a part of Sony Pictures Television), with R.J. Cutler directing, John Dorsey serving as showrunner, and Jane Cha Cutler, Trevor Smith, Elise Pearlstein and Mark Blatty executive producing. Level Up will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Esports World Cup: Level Up offers a rare look inside a global competition that's redefining what it means to be a champion for a new generation of athletes and fans. R.J. Cutler and his team of expert storytellers embedded themselves within the eight-week tournament – watched by over 500 million fans globally – to uncover the personal sacrifices, rivalries and stakes driving the action.
Shot in verité style, the series combines intimate home visits from around the world and on-the-ground coverage from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It follows a wide cast of characters – from Club CEOs orchestrating million-dollar strategies to rising stars chasing life-changing wins – while capturing the pulse of elite esports competition.
'What drew me to the Esports World Cup was the compelling human stories unfolding within this high-stakes arena,' said Cutler. 'Level Up isn't just about the incredible competition and prize money; it's about the dedication, the passion, and the sheer will of these athletes and teams pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Under high pressure, we discover the true character of the competitors who vie for $60 million, but who also expose their humanity in the process.'
At the heart of Level Up is the 'EWC Club Championship,' an unprecedented, multi-title tournament format where Clubs compete across more than 20 games, earning points toward a single leaderboard. Every match, every point, reshapes the race for global dominance. With the highest prize pool in esports history on the line, the EWC is not just a tournament – it's a proving ground for the next generation of sports icons.
'A win might make the headlines — but the real story is the people behind it,' said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. 'Level Up dives into the human side of esports: the pressure, the ambition, the sacrifices. It's about what it really takes to compete at the highest level — and why it matters. R.J. is the best at bringing those stories to life, and this one captures the heart of what we're building.'
Standout stories from the series include:
The inaugural Esports World Cup in 2024 featured 1,500 elite players and 200 Clubs from 100 countries competing in 22 tournaments across 21 games for a $60 million prize pool, the largest in esports history.
Esports World Cup: Level Up will be available exclusively on Prime Video beginning June 6.
About The Esports World Cup
The Esports World Cup (EWC) is a premier annual sporting event and global celebration of competitive excellence and esports fandom. The competition features a unique cross-game format that pits the world's top esports Clubs against one another for the largest prize pool in esports history. Returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the summer of 2025, the EWC will bring gaming and esports communities together again to crown the next Esports World Cup Club Champion. esportsworldcup.com
About This Machine
This Machine (a part of Sony Pictures Television) was founded in 2020 and has quickly established itself as one of the premier producers of documentary film and television in the world. Headed by award-winning filmmaker and nonfiction pioneer R.J. Cutler, This Machine is a filmmaker-driven company that explores the times in which we live through nonfiction storytelling in all media.
Recent This Machine projects include the three-part documentary event Fight for Glory: 2024 World Series (Apple TV+) as well as the feature documentaries Karol G: Tomorrow Was Beautiful (Netflix), Lee Soo Man: King Of K-Pop (Prime Video), Martha (Netflix) and Elton John: Never Too Late (Disney+). Other films and TV series include the PGA Award-nominated theatrical documentary The Disappearance of Shere Hite (IFC), the Emmy-winning documentary series Big Vape (Netflix), the HBO feature doc South to Black Power, the award-winning docuseries Murf the Surf (MGM), the celebrated history of women of color in the fashion industry, Supreme Models (Netflix) and the feature documentary Anthem (Hulu). This Machine is also behind the Academy Award-shortlisted Billie Eilish: The World's A Little Blurry, the multi-award-winning BELUSHI, and the cult-hit Dear… (Apple TV).
This Machine's team includes Oscar-nominated, Emmy-winning producer and executive Elise Pearlstein, Cutler's long-time producing partner Trevor Smith, EVP Mark Blatty, and the development team of Sally Rosen Phillips and Alisa Cacho-Sousa.
This Machine's team has decades of experience creating the highest-quality and most popular nonfiction films and series as well as scripted series, feature films, and podcasts.
View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/emmy-winning-director-rj-cutlers-docuseries-esports-world-cup-level-up-premieres-june-6-on-prime-video-302465398.html
SOURCE Esports World Cup Foundation
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
38 minutes ago
- New York Post
‘Thunderbolts' is now streaming — Here's how to watch the MCU movie at home
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. They're not super and not heroes, but they are now streaming on Prime Video. The Marvel Cinematic Universe's misfits come together in 'Thunderbolts*', which hit theaters in May and began streaming on demand today, July 1. The latest MCU installment follows a handful of antiheroes, led by Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova and Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes, as they're led into a death trap and forced to work together if they have any hope of escaping, but an even more dangerous mission awaits them outside, and the complicated group is forced to confront the darkest parts of their pasts if they have any hope of moving forward — as a team or not. RELATED: 'Thunderbolts*' post-credit sequence explained (beware spoilers!) The Post's entertainment critic Johnny Oleksinski gave the film three out of four stars in his review, noting that it's 'Marvel's most entertaining movie in years' that 'doesn't feel like just another Marvel movie.' 'Thunderbolts' streaming release date: 'Thunderbolts' is streaming on-demand on platforms like Prime Video now! 'Thunderbolts*' was released on digital, July 1. How to watch 'Thunderbolts' on Prime Video: 'Thunderbolts' is available for digital purchase on Prime Video. The film costs $29.99 to buy or $24.99 to rent — still significantly less than it may cost for a family to go out to the movies to watch it. While you won't have to be a paid Amazon Prime member to buy 'Thunderbolts*,' you will need at least a free Amazon account; that way, you can return to watch 'Thunderbolts*' whenever you want to. Video-on-demand rentals are good for 30 days, but expire 48 hours after you first hit play on a rented title. 'Thunderbolts' cast guide: In addition to familiar MCU faces, actors from 'Drive Away Dolls,' 'Top Gun: Maverick,' and 'Elsbeth' make their Marvel debuts in the new film. Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, a former Red Room-trained Black Widow assassin Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier, a super soldier with a cybernetic arm who has recently been elected to congress Wyatt Russell as John Walker / U.S. Agent, a super soldier and former disgraced Captain America David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian, a super soldier who is the Russian counterpart to Captain America Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr / Ghost, a member of the Thunderbolts who can phase through objects Lewis Pullman as Robert 'Bob' Reynolds / Sentry / Void: a superpowered individual suffering from amnesia Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, the director of the CIA, who brings together members of the Thunderbolts Geraldine Viswanathan as Mel, Valentina's assistant Wendell Pierce as Gary, a Congressman working to impeach Valentina Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov / Taskmaster, a former Red Room-trained assassin with photographic reflexes 'Thunderbolts' physical release date: While you can stream 'Thunderbolts*' at home now, some may prefer a physical alternative to owning movies digitally, where there's always the chance that rights may be revoked and you'll lose that digital access. Physical discs are tangible proof that, as long as you have a player to play it, you'll be able to watch the movie you own. The limited-edition 4K UHD steelbook, Blu-ray, and DVD copies of 'Thunderbolts*' will be released on July 29, but you can preorder now on Amazon to receive your copy on release day. Check out the trailer for 'Thunderbolts': Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping and New York Post's streaming property, Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she's also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews
Indianapolis Star
43 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
Caitlin Clark a 'game-time decision' for Fever vs. Lynx in Commissioner's Cup final
MINNEAPOLIS – Caitlin Clark will be a game-time decision for Commissioner's Cup championship game vs. the Minnesota Lynx, Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White confirmed during shootaround Tuesday. The WNBA All-Star has been sidelined the past two games with a left groin strain. White did not provide any definitive updates on Clark's status, saying they will 'see what happens' during shootaround. Doyel: Caitlin Clark, Fever are rising all boats. So why are WNBA players so intent on sinking them? Clark participated in mostly non-contact shooting workouts during Sunday's practice and was listed as questionable on Monday's injury report. Clark said she felt 'good' following Sunday's practice, but remained day-to-day. She had not missed a game in her entire career prior to missing five games over a stretch between May and June with a left quad strain. Clark is averaging 18.2 points (39% FG, 29.5% 3PT), 5 rebounds and 8.9 assists through nine games. She averaged 12 points on 27.6% shooting with a 1-for-23 mark from 3 and totaled 28 assists over her past three games. 'Again, I think the most important thing for us is big picture,' White said late Monday morning. 'There is no sense in rushing anything, so we'll get her evaluated by the training staff and go from there.' Lynx forward Bridget Carleton spoke highly of Clark, calling her 'one of the best guards in the league,' and praising her ability to both score for herself and create for her teammates. But the sixth-year veteran was quick to spotlight the Fever's other key contributors, noting Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell — they're having 'incredible' seasons, she said — and Lexie Hull, who's been shooting the ball well and making the hustle plays. 'They have good chemistry and are playing really well together. Caitlin's kind of the head of the snake at the point guard position,' Carleton said. 'It's a big challenge (if Clark plays), but we pride ourselves on the defensive end. We know what our game plan is and if we can execute that, we'll be OK.' Carleton and forward Alanna Smith agreed the Lynx game plan will not change significantly based on Clark's status. 'It obviously looks different, the game's going to look different if she plays or doesn't play, but it just changes their lineups a little bit,' Carleton said. 'Our game plan will be the same no matter what.' 'They are a well-run team and they have a system they run with and without Caitlin,' Smith added. 'I think she adds to them for sure, but we have their whole team to focus on, just not her.' The Commissioner's Cup Championship between the Fever and Lynx is set for Tuesday at 8 p.m. The game can be seen on Prime Video.
Cosmopolitan
an hour ago
- Cosmopolitan
Adrian Grenier Won't Return for ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2'
For fans of The Devil Wears Prada, it might feel like the sequel has been moving at a glacial pace. The original movie came out almost 20 years ago, and rumors of a potential sequel have been running wild ever since. Now that the Devil Wears Prada sequel is officially in production, however, things are moving fast. So fast that you may have missed the news that Adrian Grenier is not returning for The Devil Wears Prada 2. Adrian, of course, played Andy's whiny, chef boyfriend Nate Cooper, in The Devil Wears Prada. In the film, Nate acts as Andy's conscience, checking her when she gets in too deep at Runway magazine and loses herself in the fashion and the glamour. And while this behavior may have been charming in 2006, in the years since, Nate has emerged as enemy number 1. As a man who didn't support Andy when she had a very unreasonable job, he became the true villain of The Devil Wears Prada. Needless to say, fans were not clamoring for his return, and now they don't have to worry. Two sources reportedly confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that Adrian is not involved in The Devil Wears Prada 2 and will not be in the sequel. Anne Hathaway, who starred as Andy, is returning, though, so I guess Andy finally realized that it takes more than puppy dog eyes and a good grilled cheese to make a supportive partner. Adrian has not commented on the sequel news—he's busy appearing on a Prime Video reality show called Crypto Knights. (Yes, it's real. No, I cannot tell you more.) But he has discussed the character's fall from grace before. 'It hadn't occurred to me until I started to really think about it,' Adrian told EW in a 2021 oral history when asked about the backlash to Nate's character. 'And perhaps it was because I was as immature as Nate was at the time, and in many ways he's very selfish and self-involved. It was all about him, he wasn't extending himself to support Andy in her career.'
