Production is now underway in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Season 3 (8 x 60) of CBC original drama DIGGSTOWN, produced by Circle Blue Entertainment, Freddie Films Inc., and Waterstar Entertainment Inc. Created by Floyd Kane (Across the Line), who serves as showrunner and executive producer, DIGGSTOWN features the determinedly fierce Marcie Diggs and her colleagues at Halifax Legal Aid as they dive deep into battles against the complex criminal justice system. CBC renewed the series for a third season last year, with production pushed to spring 2021 due to COVID-19.
“We are extremely grateful to be back in ‘Diggstown’ with such talented cast and filmmakers, particularly given these challenging times. We know anxiety is high with respect to COVID-19 and we continue to be overwhelmed by the support and trust the local communities have shown us,” said Kane, creator, showrunner and executive producer. “We’re looking forward to sharing this new season with our audiences.”
In Season 3 of DIGGSTOWN, the world has changed. In this post-COVID society, our heroes’ lives have transformed, and perspectives and priorities have changed. Relationships have formed while others have fallen apart. As Marcie (Canadian Screen Award Nominee for Best Actress, VINESSA ANTOINE) tackles some of her most complex and personal cases to date, she finds herself bucking up against a system that refuses to change. Colleen (NATASHA HENSTRIDGE) struggles to manage Halifax Legal Aid amidst increasing interference from the board of directors. Reggie (C. DAVID JOHNSON) embraces life as a guest lecturer at the University, only to become tangled in the ethically charged world of academia. Doug (BRANDON OAKES) is confronted with his past and finds new romantic and job opportunities in the least likely of places. Iris’ (SHAILENE GARNETT) ability to help others as a social worker leads her to an unanticipated and exciting career opportunity. Meanwhile, after a year spent travelling, Avery (DWAIN MURPHY) returns to Halifax a changed man with a desire to live a better life.
Joining the cast of DIGGSTOWN this season are Antoinette Robertson (Dear White People), Crystle Lightning (Trickster) and Nicole Muñoz (Van Helsing). Robertson stars as Vivian, a young tech mogul with the deep pockets to make Marcie’s dreams a reality; Lightning is Doug’s fiercely independent ex-wife Michelle; while Muñoz plays Ellery, a sharp Crown attorney who plays for keeps.
Jully Black guest stars as Nina in the season’s premiere episode, playing a long-term Continuing Care Assistant charged with assault and criminal negligence. Michelle Hurst guests in a later episode as Marcie’s client Jojo, a Black woman who has spent most of her life in and out of prison.
Returning cast members also include Mpho Koaho as Percy Lincoln, Arlene Duncan as Velma Diggs, Maurice Dean Wint as Austin Diggs, Matthew Bennett as Steve Conway, Jenny Brizard as Emily Diggs, and Kim Roberts as Ona Reeves.
As Nova Scotia continues to struggle with the third wave of COVID-19, production is maintaining strict protocols based on the municipal, provincial and federal government and public health regulations currently in place.
Seasons 1 and 2 of DIGGSTOWN are currently available to stream in Canada on CBC Gem. The first two seasons of the series were acquired by FOX in the U.S. earlier this year.
A CBC original drama, DIGGSTOWN is co-produced by Circle Blue Entertainment, Freddie Films Inc. and Waterstar Entertainment Inc. Floyd Kane is creator, executive producer and showrunner and Amos Adetuyi (Jean of the Joneses) is executive producer along with Brenda Greenberg (Being Erica) and Karen Wentzell (Seed). Directors for the season are Cory Bowles (Black Cop), Lynne Stopkewich (The L Word), Juanita Peters (Hannah’s Story), Rob Adetuyi (Strike!, Beat the World), and Shamim Sarif (Murdoch Mysteries). John Calvert (X Company) is producer. Series writers are Kane, Lynn Coady (Burden of Truth), Ellen Vanstone (Departure), Lakna Edilama (Odd Squad), Amber-Sekowan Daniels (Trickster), Motion (Akila’s Escape), and JP LaRocque (Jann). Series cinematography by Celiana Cárdenas (Diggstown), production design by Jennifer Stewart (Pure) and costume design by Martha Curry (Mr. D.). For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual & Sports; Trish Williams is Executive Director, Scripted Content; Sarah Adams is Director, Current Production, Drama; and Nicola Makoway is Executive in Charge of Production, Drama.
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DIGGSTOWN
Twitter: @DiggstownCBC
Instagram: @DiggstownCBC
Facebook: Diggstown on CBC
Vinessa Antoine: @therealvinessaantoine
Natasha Henstridge: @natashahenstridge
Shailene Garnett: @shaileneg
Brandon Oakes: @bearnamedfire
Dwain Murphy: @murph13_13
About Circle Blue Entertainment:
Circle Blue Entertainment is an award-winning television and film production company based in Toronto and Los Angeles whose recent productions include: THE BOATHOUSE (Marvista), a psychological thriller directed by Hannah Cheesman; ANGELIQUE’S ISLE (Level Film/CBC), an Indigenous thriller set in the 1800’s; and the acclaimed comedy film, JEAN OF THE JONESES, which premiered at SXSW and TIFF. Circle Blue has also received a Best Dramatic Series Canadian Screen Awards (Gemini) nomination for JOZI-H, an internationally set medical drama.
About Freddie Films Inc.:
Freddie Films Inc. creates, develops, writes and produces one-hour drama and theatrical feature films. It was founded in 2010 by lawyer Floyd Kane who has won numerous awards and critical acclaim for his debut feature ACROSS THE LINE, about the destructive nature of racism. He has also served as Production Executive on numerous award-winning projects for both theatrical release and broadcast television and is currently the creator/showrunner of the upcoming dramatic series, DIGGSTOWN, for CBC.
About Waterstar Entertainment:
Waterstar Entertainment is a Nova Scotia-based television and film company with a focus on scripted comedy and female-driven drama. It’s helmed by Karen Wentzell, and its primary mandate is to influence thought-provoking positive societal change through media. Recent projects include partnering on the critically acclaimed comedy series SEED. SEED received eight Canadian Screen Award (CSA) nominations in 2014, including best comedy, and five CSA nominations in 2015, also for best comedy. Wentzell is also known for her work as producer of the successful hit television series TRAILER PARK BOYS, where she spent nine years.
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.
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CONTACTS:
DIGGSTOWN PR Contact
Lisa Ghione
416.520.8031
CBC PR Contact
Winston Ma
647.327.7408
