About Hudsun
CEO & FOUNDER, MICHAEL ROURKE
For over ten years, Michael Rourke, through his production company Hudsun Media, has created and developed content for nearly every major streaming platform and linear network in every kind of format. He created and produced four seasons (100 episodes) of Returning the Favor for Facebook Watch. Hosted by Mike Rowe, the Emmy winning “pay-it-forward” show traveled to 37 states, gave away over $5 million dollars in rewards and amassed over 450 million views, all while building one of the most active and engaged online communities ever created around a content series.
Hudsun Media’s newest series Cosmic Love premiered on Amazon Prime Video in August 2022. Set in a mystical retreat, this one-of-a-kind social experiment matches singles for marriage based solely on Astrology. An original format created by Hudsun, Cosmic Love is already being produced in multiple international territories including France.
Past projects include a partnership with toymaker Mattel to create and produce ABC’s The Toy Box, hosted by Eric Stonestreet. The show, a search for the next great American toy, featured innovative inventors, a judging panel of kids and winning toys available to consumers immediately after the show. Rourke had previously partnered with Mattel to develop Hulu’s boyfriend competition show Genuine Ken in partnership with Barbie Brands.
While at Hudsun Media, Rourke has partnered with some of the biggest brands in the fashion world developing and launching high profile TV shows like House of DVF with designer Diane von Furstenberg for E!, Lifetime's model competition Making a Model with Yolanda Hadid with IMG Models, and the talk show Fashionably Late with Rachel Zoe for Lifetime. In addition, Hudsun has produced tons of style content for Bravo, Amazon Fashion, Conde Nast, GQ and the E! Network.
From 2020 – 2021, while running Hudsun, Rourke helped launch NEOU Fitness as the Chief Content Officer for the streaming platform. Overseeing over 60 fitness and wellness brands, thousands of classes and all production operations at the company's state of the art studios in New York, he managed creative content, creative marketing and communications for the company.
Prior to Hudsun, Rourke was in an overall production deal at Sony Pictures Television where he ran The Ricki Lake Show as well as created and launched three, (yes, three!), syndicated court shows: Judge David Young, Judge Maria Lopez and Judge Hatchett which aired twice a day for over a decade.
On a break from TV producing, Rourke served as the Director of Communications for Barry Diller as the business icon built what would eventually become IAC. Rourke started his career at NBC News assisting and eventually producing specials with award winning journalist Maria Shriver.