CTV Orders Six-Part Murder Mystery

TORONTO: The first novel in Giles Blunt's best-selling John Cardinal Mysteries book series serves as the basis for Cardinal (working title), a new murder-mystery drama ordered by CTV from Sienna Films and Entertainment One.

The serialized six-parter kicks off production in February for launch in the Canadian broadcaster's 2016-17 schedule. The show is developed for television and written by Aubrey Nealon, who also serves as an executive producer and showrunner. It is adapted from Forty Words for Sorrow, about the investigation into the death of a 13-year-old girl.

"We have been searching for an engaging serialized drama that would create a weekly must-see appointment for a mass audience," said Mike Cosentino, the senior VP of programming at CTV Networks and CraveTV. "We believe Cardinal will deliver on all fronts for CTV and become a must-watch title for CraveTV."

"We are thrilled to be producing CTV's first original serialized drama in partnership with eOne," said Jennifer Kawaja, co-president of Sienna Films. "We have a great team coming together to bring the Northern Ontario setting and this story with universal appeal to television."