Here at The Televixen, we have our favorites, so we were thrilled to see the news this morning that Wendy Crewson will be headlining The Detail, a new hour-long detective drama series coming to CTV. Filming has begun in Toronto on the 10-episode first season, which will follow the complicated professional and personal lives of three female homicide investigators. The last time I recall a series similar in nature was the two-season Showcase (and Reelz in the U.S.) drama King, which I really, really liked, so I’m doubly excited about this one. Plus, there are folks behind the scenes and on camera who we loved on Rookie Blue.
Crewson is Staff Inspector Fiona Currie, the homicide unit’s formidable boss, who works overtime to secure justice, no matter what the cost. She’s joined by Shenae Grimes-Beech (90210, Degrassi: The Next Generation and a handful of recent Hallmark Channel/Hallmark Movies & Mysteries films) as street smart Detective Jacqueline ‘Jack’ Cooper, who has keen investigative skills, but a messy personal life, and Angela Griffin (Brief Encounters, Inspector Lewis) as Detective Stevie Hall, a quick-witted interrogator who is Jack’s mentor while also balancing work and family.
The cast is rounded out with David Cubitt (who we last saw in the first season of Van Helsing), as Detective Kyle Price, Stevie’s old flame and new co-worker at the division; David Ferry (Legion) as Harry Barker, Stevie’s step-father and retired cop; Matthew Edison (The Girlfriend Experience) as Stevie’s husband, Jono Hall; Ben Bass (Rookie Blue) as Marc Savage, Jack’s silver-tongued boyfriend; Al Mukadam (Spun Out) as the well-connected Detective Aaron Finch; and Matt Gordon (Mary Kills People, Rookie Blue) as Detective Donnie Sullivan, the surly yet lovable lug of homicide.
The series come from several alumni of Saving Hope, which wraps its fifth and final season this spring, including producers Ley Lukins, Adam Pettle, Ilana Frank, Linda Pope, John Morayniss, and Sonia Hosko; writers Graeme Stewart, Katrina Saville, and Joe Pernice; and directors Jordan Canning, Kelly Makin, John Fawcett (fresh off Orphan Black‘s final season), and James Genn. Gregory Smith (Everwood and Rookie Blue) is on board as a producer and director.
Additional producers, writers, and directors outside of the Saving Hope universe will include Grant Harvey (Orphan Black, 12 Monkeys, and the genius Ginger Snaps) Jocelyn Hamilton (Mary Kills People and Cardinal), Naledi Jackson, Sarah Goodman, Matt Doyle (Kim’s Convenience), and Sara St. Onge.
The Detail is produced by Ilana Frank of ICF Films with global independent studio eOne in association with CTV, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, and the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit. Here’s what TPTB had to say today:
“We look forward to continuing our creative partnership with Ilana Frank and eOne on this dramatic detective series anchored by strong talented female characters and the actresses behind them,” said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Original Programming, Bell Media. “The Detail offers a fresh take on the one-hour procedural with a unique blend of drama, investigation, action, and wit by these three women solving major crimes against the odds.”
“We share a passion for this project, for these characters, and for entertaining audiences with realistic, human, and engaging stories,” said Adam Pettle, Co-Showrunner and Executive Producer. Ley Lukins, Co-Showrunner and Executive Producer adds, “We can’t wait to introduce people to Jack Cooper, Stevie Hall, Fiona Currie and all the other exciting characters, brought to life by our team of wonderful writers, actors, and crew to TV screens.”
Crewson and Cubitt are two of my very longtime favorites, and I’m 99.9% sure they’ve not worked together before, so BONUS. One of Crewson’s roles in the early aughts was a series of films based on the Joanne Kilbourn mysteries, and they made their way to the U.S. on Lifetime. I loved them, and her in the role, and was disappointed when they stopped at six, so I’m very glad she’s getting to work those procedural muscles again, this time as the woman in charge.
I’ve been a fan of Cubitt since his one-offs on Canadian genre series like The Outer Limits and Poltergeist: The Legacy, his Canadian series, Traders, and his one-and-done outings for FOX, The American Embassy and CBS, Michael Mann’s Robbery Homicide Division. Most folks know him from his long-running stint on Medium. He’s played a fair share of police detectives, and he always brings something extra to a procedural, so I’m very happy to have him here, too.
I love, too, that Smith is expanding his repertoire with a producer title, his first such credit on a series.
The Detail will premiere on CTV in the fall of 2017, and great news for U.S. fans, it’s already got distribution on ION (which is also taking Private Eyes), but no date for that yet.
