Cast includes Kari Matchett (Covert Affairs), Darren Mann (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), and Stephen Moyer (True Blood)
In association with NBCUniversal International Studios
CALGARY, AB / TORONTO, ON – With production now underway in Calgary, SEVEN24 Films and Lark Productions today revealed casting for new CBC original drama FORTUNATE SON, set to premiere in winter 2020 on CBC and the free CBC Gem streaming service. NBCUniversal has international distribution rights. Inspired by a true story and created by showrunner Andrew Wreggitt (Pure, Borealis), FORTUNATE SON is a spy drama set in the social and political chaos of the late 1960s.
Kari Matchett (Covert Affairs, 2 Hearts) plays Ruby Howard, an American who fled to Canada as a fugitive from the law. Set in the chaos of the late 1960s, the Vietnam War and the anti-war protest movement, Ruby helps smuggle Vietnam War deserters and draft dodgers across the Canadian border. What she doesn't know is how these actions will unfold and who is watching her. Rising star Darren Mann plays Travis Hunter, a Vietnam war deserter whose troubled past follows him into Canada and the lives of the Howard family. Mann is known for the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina series and the critically acclaimed film Giant Little Ones. Stephen Moyer stars as Vern Lang, a CIA agent. Moyer is well-known for his roles in True Blood and most recently, The Gifted. Additional lead cast includes Kacey Rohl (Arrow, Hannibal), Rick Roberts (This Life, Designated Survivor), Patrick Gallagher (Night at the Museum, Glee), Ty Olsson (War for the Planet of the Apes, Supernatural), Alex Nachi (1991, Clash) and Zoé de Grand’Maison (Riverdale, Orphan Black).
**For cast headshots, please click here**
“FORTUNATE SON takes us back to a period in Canadian history that we haven’t yet seen reflected dramatically on CBC, and given today’s sense of political and social unrest, now is the time to tell this story,” said Sally Catto, General Manager, Programming, CBC. “The series feels relevant and relatable to Canadians, and we look forward to watching the cast bring this gripping drama to life.”
“FORTUNATE SON is about espionage, political activism and love, loyalty and healing. The world seemed on the brink of cataclysm in 1968. Divisions between races, generations and sexes seemed irreparable,” says showrunner Andrew Wreggitt. “But there was also a sense of optimism, a belief that change was possible and everyone had a role to play. The world is still plagued by many of the same issues of 1968, but we see that same growing activism and drive for change today.”
FORTUNATE SON is filming in Calgary and the surrounding areas including Drumheller, Tsuu T’ina First Nation Reserve, and High River in Alberta, Canada.
Executive Producers are Andrew Wreggitt, Tom Cox, Jordy Randall and Erin Haskett. The series is produced by Brian Dennis. Stefan Schwartz is Co-Executive Producer, while Jessalyn Dennis is a Consulting Producer. Stefan Schwartz (The Americans, Dexter) and Ken Girotti (Vikings, Orphan Black) are the show's directors.
A CBC original series, FORTUNATE SON is produced by SEVEN24 Films and Lark Productions in association with CBC and NBCUniversal International Studios with the financial participation of the Canada Media Fund, Government of Alberta - Alberta Media Fund, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit and the British Columbia Production Services Credit. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Programming; Trish Williams is Executive Director, Scripted Content; Helen Asimakis is Senior Director, Scripted Content; and Deborah Nathan is Executive in Charge of Production.
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ABOUT CBC/RADIO-CANADA:
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic and Chinese, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
ABOUT NBCUNIVERSAL INTERNATIONAL STUDIOS:
NBCUniversal International Studios delivers award-winning international content to millions across the globe. Based in London, the business’ in-house production labels include: Carnival Films, creator of worldwide phenomenon Downton Abbey and Sky 1’s most-watched drama, Stan Lee’s Lucky Man; Monkey, producer of BAFTA-winning Made in Chelsea and reality ITVBe hit, The Real Housewives of Cheshire; and Australian-based Matchbox Pictures, SPA’s Media Super Production Business of the Year and maker of critically-acclaimed drama series The Nowhere Boys, Glitch, The Slapand Seven Types of Ambiguity. International Studios has also produced a television remake of Hanna for Amazon Prime Video, which was recently recommissioned for season two.
Additionally, NBCUniversal International Studios operates a joint production venture with Working Title Television (London Spy and Birdsong) and Heyday Television (The InBetween, The Capture and The Long Song), owns an equity stake in LARK Productions Canada (First Responders and Motive), and has a first-look deal with Hardy Son & Baker. It also operates a prolific International Formats business, which licenses and produces content in over 70 territories worldwide, with key brands including World of Dance, Top Chef, Suits and House.
Complementing its content, in 2017, International Studios extended the legacy of award-winning title, Downton Abbey, by launching Downton Abbey: The Exhibition in New York. It recently completed a run in West Palm Beach, Florida and is currently in Boston.
ABOUT SEVEN24 FILMS:
SEVEN24 Films is an independent film and television production company whose work has spanned over two decades. Executive Producers Tom Cox and Jordy Randall have produced dramatic series, mini-series, television movies and feature films garnering over one hundred industry awards and nominations. In addition to the People’s Choice Award winning series, Wynonna Earp, current projects include Fortunate Son, a political thriller for CBC and NBCU International, Dark Cargo, a noir thriller for YouTube Premium, JANN, the #1 new Comedy on CTV, and the hit family series Heartland, the longest running one-hour series in Canadian history, now in production on its thirteenth season for CBC and UPtv. Previous projects include Young Drunk Punk for Rogers and CBC, the Canadian Screen Award winner Borealis, the Gemini Award winning movie Mayerthorpe and Gemini Award winning Mini-Series Burn Up.
Tom Cox and Jordy Randall were also co-producers on numerous high-profile feature films including the Academy Award nominated Brokeback Mountain, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Resurrecting the Champ.
ABOUT LARK PRODUCTIONS:
Lark Productions is an award-winning television production company that creates exceptional programming that partners and travels internationally. Lark develops and produces both scripted & unscripted content and enjoys a distribution and development deal with NBCUniversal International.
Established in Vancouver in 2010, Lark’s productions include Canadian Screen Award nominated Motive (CTV, USA Network), the hit formats The Real Housewives of Toronto (Slice) and The Real Housewives of Vancouver (Slice), Crash Gallery (CBC), Paramedics: Life on the Line (Knowledge Network), Emergency Room: Life + Death at VGH (Knowledge Network, Discovery Fit), and High Moon (SYFY).
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Tanya Koivusalo – CBC Publicist
416.205.8638
Tracey Jaques – NBCUniversal International Studios Publicist
Justine Gamez Huckabay - Fortunate Son Publicist
Justine.gamez@intercommunicate.co
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