From a media release:
SHOWCASE AMPS UP THE DRAMA THIS FALL
- Air dates set for extraordinary new Canadian productions Copper, World Without End and Beauty and the Beast
- Fall schedule launches on August 26
Showcase unveils its strongest schedule ever with eight new and returning exclusive series. The home of the best original content, the channel debuts three brand-new Canadian scripted dramas this fall and welcomes a critically acclaimed series back for a third season. Showcase offers Canadians the biggest variety in homegrown programming, from 1860s rebel cop drama, Copper to the television adaptation of World Without End, with Cynthia Nixon leading an all-star cast. The classic fairytale Beauty and the Beast gets revamped and sci-fi series Haven returns for an action-packed third season.
It’s time to break out the brass knuckles for the highly anticipated series premiere of gritty cop drama, Copper. The gripping crime series set in 1860s New York City focuses on Kevin Corcoran (Tom Weston-Jones; MI-5), an intense, rugged Irish-immigrant cop working the city’s notorious Five Points neighbourhood. Struggling to maintain his moral compass in a turbulent world, Corcoran forms a bond with two Civil War compatriots with whom he shares a secret from their experience on the battlefield. Created by the multiple award-winning team of Barry Levinson (Good Morning Vietnam, Oz) and Tom Fontana, (Oz, Homicide: Life on the Street, The Borgias), Copper premieres Sunday, August 26 at 9 p.m. ET.
From producer Ridley Scott, the television adaptation of Ken Follett’s bestselling novel World Without End has its world broadcast premiere exclusively on Showcase. Starring Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City), Tom Weston-Jones (Copper), Miranda Richardson (Merlin), Carlo Rota (Little Mosque on the Prairie) and Sarah Gadon (Cosmopolis) the sweeping epic drama follows Caris (Charlotte Riley), a visionary young woman struggling to rise above the suffering and oppression of the 14th century. Together with her lover Merthin (Weston-Jones), Caris unearths a dangerous secret that could ultimately crumble The Crown and The Church forever. Rounding out the cast are Ben Chaplin, Peter Firth and Megan Follows. World Without End premieres Tuesday, September 4 at 10 p.m. ET.
From the classic fairytale comes a riveting, fresh take on Beauty and the Beast, starring Kristin Kreuk (Smallville). After witnessing her mother’s murder 10 years ago, Catherine (Kreuk) knows her life would have been taken too if it wasn’t for someone – or something – that saved her. Now a smart, no-nonsense homicide detective, Catherine discovers Dr. Vincent Keller (Jay Ryan; Terra Nova), the man who saved her life, but has been in hiding due to his beastly instincts. In exchange for information on her mother’s murder, Catherine agrees to protect Dr. Keller’s true identity, forging the beginning of a complex relationship. Beauty and the Beast premieres Thursday, October 11 at 9 p.m. ET. New seasons of returning hit series explode with all new episodes.
It’s really interesting what qualifies as a “Canadian” drama these days.
Sigh. For me, a show set in NYC in the 1800s, created by a Hollywood director and the producer who did NBC’s Homicide (and The Wire if I’m not mistaken) and presumably a British lead star is not it.
But a miniseries adaptation of the novel Coppermine by Keith Ross Leckie – which is also a true story – now you’re talking.
I agree, it’s sameful that these shows set mostly in the states, using “international” casts is considered CanCon. Showcase sould not be tooting its horns that it has Canadian content. It says something to what we will put up with.
Many series are not filmed in the States a large number atleast in part are done in Canada such as Heaven.