The globetrotting doc series 4Real will join The CW's Sunday lineup this fall, following a deal between Vancouver's Direct Current Media and Media Rights Capital.

The 8 x 30 series -- the brainchild of DCM's Sol Guy and Josh Thome, with help from Haddock Entertainment and Joaquin Phoenix -- will air Sundays at 6 p.m. beginning Sept. 21. The series runs here on CTV and MTV Canada and follows celebrities to faraway spots including Peru and Haiti to meet local leaders striving for change in their communities.

Its guest stars include prominent American names such as Cameron Diaz, rapper Mos Def and musician Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers -- which presumably helped close the U.S. deal, though Guy notes that their presence had more to do with bringing the spotlight to community leaders.

"We wanted [the celebrities] because we knew they'd bring awareness...We're not asking them to go save the day, we're just going on an adventure together to learn," Guy explains. He says Phoenix, who has a longstanding relationship with Thome, helped get Diaz and others on board.

Phoenix exec produces. The series is co-executive produced by Haddock Entertainment's Chris Haddock and Laura Lightbown, who has subsequently left the prodco to join Brent Butt's Sparrow Media.

The series also airs on National Geographic channels in 166 countries. "We never did this project hoping to show it to our friends or our peers -- we had a global vision," says Guy, who is co-creator and host of 4Real.

"We've gone around the world, but with the U.S. being the biggest market and having such an influence on pop culture, being able to get a really good platform in that market is exciting," he adds.

Guy and Thome are currently developing ideas to produce more of the documentaries, which will feature different places and leaders.

The series is the latest Canuck show to be picked up for U.S. broadcast, following CTV dramas Flashpoint and The Listener, acquired by CBS and NBC, respectively, and CBC's Sophie, which went to ABC Family. CTV's Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... also sold to Sundance Channel.