From a media release:
ICF Films and Entertainment One Announce Start of Production on Season 2 of CTV’s Hit Drama SAVING HOPE
- Jason Priestley and Gregory Smith set to direct episodes this season, shooting in Toronto
- Gemini Award-winning actress Erin Karpluk (BEING ERICA) lands recurring guest starring role this season
ICF Films and Entertainment One (eOne), in association with CTV, announced today that production is underway on Season 2 of the original Canadian hit drama SAVING HOPE. Gemini-nominated actor Jason Priestley and Gregory Smith (ROOKIE BLUE) are each set to direct an episode in the upcoming second season, joining directors David Wellington (THE ELEVENTH HOUR, WOULD BE KINGS, ROOKIE BLUE) Ken Girotti (BOMB GIRLS), John Fawcett (ORPHAN BLACK), and Jeff Woolnough (Jack). Plus, Gemini Award-winning actress Erin Karpluk (BEING ERICA) joins SAVING HOPE for a recurring guest starring role this season, playing a single mother and one of Dr. Joel Goran’s (Daniel Gillies) patients. The 18-episode, one-hour series will shoot in and around Toronto until September 2013.
The most-watched drama series (overall) on Canadian television last summer, SAVING HOPE reigns as the most-watched Canadian drama of the 2011-12 broadcast year, with an impressive Season 1 average of 1.7 million viewers each week.
SAVING HOPE returns for a compelling second season with former Chief of Surgery, Dr. Charlie Harris (Michael Shanks) awake from his coma and reunited with his fiancée Dr. Alex Reid (Erica Durance). This season, Alex and the other doctors of Hope Zion Hospital – including Alex’s ex-boyfriend, Dr. Joel Goran (Daniel Gillies) – continue to handle gripping medical cases full of twists and turns, while Charlie struggles with a secret that could jeopardize his career and his relationship with Alex: he can still see and communicate with ghosts.
SAVING HOPE stars 2013 Canadian Screen Award-nominee Erica Durance (SMALLVILLE), Michael Shanks (STARGATE ATLANTIS), Daniel Gillies (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES), 2013 Canadian Screen Award-winner Wendy Crewson (REVENGE), Huse Madhavji (CALL ME FITZ), Julia Taylor-Ross (ROOKIE BLUE), Kristopher Turner (THE LISTENER), Michelle Nolden (REPUBLIC OF DOYLE), and Benjamin Ayres (LESS THAN KIND).
SAVING HOPE is produced by Ilana C Frank Films Inc. (ICF Films) with Entertainment One, in association with CTV. The series is executive produced by Ilana Frank and David Wellington, John Morayniss (ROGUE, KLONDIKE) for Entertainment One, and Lesley Harrison. Executive Producers and Showrunners are Morwyn Brebner (ROOKIE BLUE) and Adam Pettle (KING). The series was created by Malcolm MacRury (CRASH AND BURN, REPUBLIC OF DOYLE) and Morwyn Brebner. For Bell Media, Trish Williams is Director, Drama, Independent Production; Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production; Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks; Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports. All distribution rights are handled by eOne.
