Citytv today announced the return of its hit original series Hudson & Rex this fall with an action-packed 12-episode new season. John Reardon returns as Detective Charlie Hudson and is reunited with his trusted canine-partner Rex, alongside returning cast members Mayko Nguyen (Dr. Sarah Truong), Kevin Hanchard (Superintendent Joseph Donovan), Justin Kelly (Tech Analyst Jesse Mills) and Luke Roberts (Detective Mark Hudson).
“I’m excited to step back into the role of Charlie as Hudson and Rex moves into its next chapter,” said John Reardon. “The series has earned a passionate audience around the world, and I’m grateful for the continued support. I’m looking forward to beginning production on the new season with the cast, crew, creative team, production, and network partners – and to sharing more adventures with Rex and the fans.”
Production for the new season is scheduled to begin in June in St. John’s, Newfoundland. When viewers last saw Charlie Hudson, he was heading to South America in search of his missing brother, Jack. Next season will see Charlie shocking everyone with his return to St. John’s with one final task to accomplish before putting the Belize nightmare behind him. Charlie’s return creates a complicated dilemma for loyal Rex and sets off a chain reaction inside the St. John’s Police Department.
“John is a talented actor and we’re incredibly pleased to have him return as Detective Charlie Hudson,” said Christina Jennings, Chairman & CEO, Shaftesbury. “We know that fans missed him and so did we. We look forward to getting back to work and bringing fans an exciting new season.”
“Hudson and Rex has been a staple on the Citytv schedule for nearly a decade and we’re thrilled to bring it back for viewers with John returning as Charlie for another season of action-packed crime-solving drama,” said Kale Stockwell, Head of Original Programming, Rogers Sports & Media.
Produced by Shaftesbury and Pope Productions Ltd., in association with Citytv and Beta Film, the new 12-episode season builds on its passionate and loyal fanbase. Hudson & Rex has been sold to more than 100 territories including the United States, Italy, Germany, and France. Sherry White is the series showrunner and Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Lisa Porter, John Reardon, Kevin Hanchard and Sherri Davis serve as executive producers. Beta Film handles the distribution of Hudson & Rex.
The entertainment world is buzzing with excitement as we approach the premiere of the highly anticipated four-part mini-series, Disrepair. Set to debut on January 29, 2025, on Bell Fibe TV1, this gripping series stars acclaimed actors Matthew Sauvé, John Reardon, and Tommy James Murphy.
Disrepair takes a timely and poignant look at the essential conversations surrounding mental health and addiction. The series offers a raw and realistic portrayal of the struggles faced by individuals battling these issues and the profound impact they have on family dynamics. The creators aim to contribute to the ongoing dialogue about mental health awareness, emphasizing the importance of seeking support in challenging times.
At the heart of the story is Jake Thomas, portrayed by Matthew Sauvé, Greg Thomas portrayed by John Reardon, and James Thomas portrayed by Tommy James Murphy. After years of navigating the tumultuous waters of addiction, Jake finally finds himself sober but is determined to mend the broken relationships that his struggles have left in their wake. The series delves deep into themes of love, loss, and the intricate dynamics of addiction and recovery, offering viewers an emotional journey that resonates on multiple levels.
The four episodes of Disrepair are set to provide a powerful exploration of the complexities of addiction.
Here’s a brief breakdown of the episodes:
Episode 1 – “Home Sweet Home”: Jake returns to a family that has been waiting for his sobriety but is unsure of how to reconnect.
Episode 2 – “Why Do You Hate Me?”: Tensions rise as unresolved feelings and past grievances come to light.
Episode 3 – What Have I Done?: Jake confronts the consequences of his addiction and seeks forgiveness from those he has hurt.
Episode 4 – Brotherly Love: In the series finale, Jake strives to rebuild the familial bonds that were shattered, showcasing the resilience needed for recovery.
Under the brilliant direction of Andrew Ravindran, Disrepair benefits from a unique storytelling perspective that creates a heartfelt narrative, resonating deeply with audiences. Ravindran’s vision lends authenticity and emotional depth to a series that promises to leave a lasting impression.
Written by Tommy James Murphy, Disrepair boasts a talented production team, including Ray Hoang, David M. James, Robin Osmond, Dixon Productions, Nameless Films, and RavinMurph Pictures. The series also features an original song titled “Disrepair,” performed by WILHELM, written by Simon Wilcox and Scott Helman, alongside an evocative original score by Max White.
Police procedural drama Hudson & Rex is mourning the loss of a crucial cast member.
Diesel vom Burgimwald, the German shepherd who portrayed the titular K9 Rex in the series, “passed away” during the production of Season 7, according to Sherri Davis, the executive producer and dog master for Shaftesbury’s Hudson & Rex. Continue reading.
Mary Pedersen and I go way back. We first connected when she was a story editor on Murdoch Mysteries. After five seasons as a writer on Murdoch, Pedersen moved to Frankie Drake Mysteries where she was a writer and co-executive producer. These days, the Canadian Screen Award nominee can be found writing, co-executive producing (and directing her first-ever episode of TV) on Hudson & Rex.
Returning for Season 5 on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Citytv, Hudson & Rex has become not only a Canadian hit but an international one too. The tale of St. John’s Detective Charlie Hudson (John Reardon) and his capable canine partner Rex (Diesel vom Burgimwald) have resonated since it was adapted from the original German series.
In the season debut, “Lost in the Barrens,” Charlie, Rex, Dr. Sarah Truong (Mayko Nguyen), tech expert Jesse Mills (Justin Kelly), Superintendent Joe Donovan (Kevin Hanchard) and new forensic pathologist Karma Poole (Bridget Wareham) are on the case of a missing woman, and suspicion quickly falls on her boyfriend (played by Murdoch‘s Daniel Maslany).
We spoke to Mary Pedersen ahead of Sunday’s return.
We have a lot to talk about! One of the great things about Hudson & Rex is that you know you’re going to get a solid hour of entertainment. Mary Pedersen: Yes, and for all those dog lovers out there, there’s dog action. Anytime I see the dog on screen, I’m happy. So I’m one of those people.
Is there a major difference in writing for a TV series set in the modern day as opposed to a period drama like Murdoch Mysteries or Frankie Drake Mysteries or is story just story? MP: Story is story. [Co-executive producer and writer] Keri Ferencz and I both came from Frankie onto Hudson & Rex and the main thing we noticed that we were delighted about was, ‘Ooh, cell phone calls, ooh, Internet!’ You can get your clues from a different place and sometimes it speeds up the action a little bit so that people can make calls and things like that.
And [showrunner] Peter Mitchell wanted to try to show more police procedural than mystery, so that also was an adjustment for us. But I’m constantly harassing the writing room with my love of NYPD Blue, so it appeals to me, and that’s been really fun.
It’s still a mystery. We’re still often meeting all our suspects pretty early on in the story. It’s a bit of a tweak mentally in terms of more of the action and discovery feels like it’s happening in the present, as opposed to we’re unravelling something in the past. There’s also the focus on how our cops figure out what they figure out, which is also true in Murdoch Mysteries. William Murdoch has a very specific way of solving crimes and of course, Charlie has a specific way of solving crimes with his trusty dog.
When you’re writing a script and you’re referring to something that Rex is going to do, do you write, ‘Rex looks this way,’ or ‘Rex whimpers’? MP: We always feel his presence and all the directors on the show, most of our directors have been on the show before and they’ll know that you want to find Rex action as much as you can in every scene that he’s in, even if it is a matter of listening and reacting to the conversations that are happening.
So yes, we write it in to make sure we always feel his presence and that we, as writers, are thinking about him, [executive producer and dog master] Sherri Davis, and all of our cast. Our cast elevates what’s on the page and Sherri does the same thing. So she’s also so in tune with the dogs and knows what they can do and she will often look at the action we’ve written and suggest, ‘Oh, if we do it this way, that’ll be more exciting,’ or ‘This is something that we haven’t done on the show before and why don’t we?’ I think she also loves the stunt work as well as working with the dogs, so she’ll really elevate a lot of the Rex action as well.
What a place to be filming. The Murdoch Mysteries backlot is cool and everything, but man, St. John’s, Newfoundland, you can’t beat that. MP: I first went out there, a year ago in May for Season 4 and I had never been before. I am from Nova Scotia, but I’d never been to Newfoundland before and it is just spectacular. Even now when I go, you can’t look anywhere that’s not gorgeous.
I love it a lot and I’m really glad that we’re getting more and more of St. John’s and the landscape around it onto the show. I think that’s just such a wonderful world and I love that we can put it on the show.
In addition to the key cast of characters we’ve gotten to know over four seasons, we’ve got the new addition of Bridget Wareham playing forensic pathologist Karma Poole. MP: One of the main motivations for me, when we were talking at the beginning of the season about possibly bringing on another regular, semi-regular, was that Sarah—we saw this last season in one of the episodes, she goes on a retreat with some other professionals—and it really sort of drove home to both Mayko and I that Sarah doesn’t really get to talk to other women a whole lot. That was a big thing, to have somebody that Sarah could talk to besides the boys. She obviously fits in very well with the boys, but female relationships are really important in life, so that was a big part of the motivation for me in terms of getting another character onto our regular roster.
Hudson & Rex continues to welcome a whos who of Canadian talent to its episodes. Daniel Maslany kicks it off in Episode 1, but people stopping by include Paul Bronstein, Jake Epstein, Stuart Hughes, Matthew MacFadzean, Mary Walsh, K. Trevor Wilson, Steven Lund and Carlo Rota… how fun is it to write for guests of this calibre MP: We’re so lucky. I think people love to come to Newfoundland. People have just been really game to come out and play with us.
This is the third show that you’ve worked on that is not only a critical hit, but also done very well internationally. Obviously, as a professional writer, you’re happy to have a gig, but do you ever sit back and pinch yourself? MP: Every day. So much credit to Shaftesbury for making that happen and for making shows that appeal to so many people and Pete. Pete’s always, always, always had an eye on what is going to be entertaining. You don’t get a story past Pete if he thinks something is boring about it or too earnest. It’s all about having fun and entertaining people and yeah, I feel incredibly lucky to have stepped onto that boat.
Hudson & Rex airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Citytv.
First, its cast is top-rate. From John Reardon, Mayko Nguyen, Kevin Hanchard and Justin Kelly to Diesel vom Burgimwald on down, everyone on the call sheet is enjoyable to watch. Secondly, the writing team is truly gifted. Led by showrunner Peter Mitchell, they craft stories that are believable, have real dramatic stakes and a pinch of humour thrown in. And third, that stellar Newfoundland setting and the crew that works it. Every episode is a love letter to that part of Canada, no matter how dark the crime may be.
Returning Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern on Citytv, here’s the official synopsis for “Sid and Nancy,” written by Peter Mitchell and directed by Gary Harvey:
When two hikers are discovered murdered near a remote coastal trail, the team is on the hunt for a fugitive duo wanted in a series of grisly campsite murders.
And here are some non-spoilery notes from me after watching a screener of the episode.
A new setting… As I mentioned above, all the main players are back in Season 4. But, there is a big change within minutes of Episode 1. The Major Crimes team is on the road and reporting out of a mobile unit.
“It keeps all of us together and takes us out into the field more and in the office less,” Reardon says in the Season 4 press kit. “Having the team together adds a new element of storytelling and it showcases Newfoundland even more than we have in the past. I think it makes the show more dynamic because we’re all in communication with each other, we’re responding in real-time, and solving the case in real-time instead of regularly coming back to the office to regroup.â€
… and a new vibe I totally agree with Reardon’s statement. There is an energy, sometimes frantic, in Thursday’s return, that has been added to Hudson & Rex. It just feels like there is more at stake and more opportunity for conflict between local police forces that don’t appreciate the big-city unit rolling onto their turf.
A little spark? Over the past three seasons, Hudson & Rex has faintly hinted at an emotional connection between Charlie and Sarah. Judging by a scene on Thursday, the needle may be headed into “strongly hinting.”
Hudson & Rex airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on Citytv.
Images courtesy of Derm Carberry for Shaftesbury and Pope Productions.
