CBC has greenlit THE COUNCIL (working title), a compelling international thriller woven around a remote Canadian Arctic town from Emmy® Award-winning showrunner and writer René Balcer (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) with Lark Productions and Keston International Productions. THE COUNCIL is set against the unfolding drama of our changing planet and draws inspiration from the true-to-life fight over the vast and valuable resources of the Arctic. The series traces the journey of two cops who uncover a small-town murder that is at the heart of a global conspiracy. Production kicks off this summer, shooting in Resolute, Iqaluit, London, Copenhagen and Manitoba. THE COUNCIL will debut with 10 episodes on CBC-TV in fall 2016.
“We are delighted to be partnering with such a strong team to bring Canadian audiences this riveting and relevant drama series,” said Sally Catto, general manager, programming at CBC Television. “It is an honour to be working with the remarkably talented René Balcer, who brings his unique voice and passion for the subject matter to shine a light on the Canadian north.”
THE COUNCIL begins on the edge of the Arctic frontier during the endless days of the polar summer when a young woman, a renowned environmentalist, is found ritualistically murdered near the Canadian hamlet of Resolute. An investigation is mounted by the local RCMP inspector Mickey Behrens, an outsider and new-comer to the north who is running from a derailed personal and professional life, and her partner, officer Jo Ullulaq. A soulful counterpoint to Mickey, Jo is torn between the duty to his job and loyalty to his Inuit culture. The pair quickly discovers that the mystery extends far beyond the borders of the town and tothe backrooms of Canadian parliament in Ottawa, the dark corridors of U.S. intelligence in Washington, D.C., the halls of European parliament in Brussels, the airbases of world powers, and the migrant conflicts at the border of Norway and Russia. Yet it all traces back to the Arctic, as they gradually expose a complex international conspiracy to control the vast natural resources at the top of the world.
Known for his ability to weave complex mysteries with character-based drama, Balcer has had a lifelong interest in the Arctic and its indigenous culture. “The Arctic has engaged my imagination since I was a kid reading stories about the Inuit, and then as a college student working construction at the mouth of the Mackenzie River. The Council is a story where the stakes are as high as they come, about a land and a people who are the bellwether of our survival on this planet,” said Balcer. “It’s an exciting mystery and a political intrigue set against a wide canvas— climate change, indigenous extinction, competition for resources. As a story-teller, I couldn’t ask for more.”
Balcer is a 20-year veteran of the Law & Order franchise, beginning as a writer and rising to executive producer and showrunner. In 2001, he left the series to create the show’s spinoff Law & Order: Criminal Intent, which he developed with creator Dick Wolf. He is also the creator of the international drama JO. Balcer has been awarded with an Emmy® Award, Peabody Award, a Writers Guild of America Award and four Edgar Awards for his television work.
“René Balcer has created an intriguing mystery and dynamic characters stemming from his personal connection to the north and the Inuit culture. This story, emanating from a little known but much discussed part of our world, will resonate with Canadians and have world-wide appeal,” Louise Clark , executive producer of THE COUNCIL.
THE COUNCIL will be produced by Lark Productions (Motive), with executive producers Louise Clark and Erin Haskett, in partnership with Keston International Productions’ executive producers Trevor Walton and Denis Coyne. The series is a Canada/UK Co-Production, with Nick O’Hagan’s London-based Giant Films Ltd. NBCUniversal International Distribution retains all distribution rights.
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About Lark Productions
Vancouver based Lark Productions produces exceptional television that partners and travels internationally. Among its productions are CSA nominated MOTIVE (CTV, USA Network), CRASH GALLERY (CBC), EMERGENCY ROOM: LIFE + DEATH AT VGH (Knowledge Network, Discovery Fit), THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF VANCOUVER (SHAW/Slice), and HIGH MOON (SYFY).
About Keston International Productions
Keston International Productions is a trans-Atlantic producer with offices in Toronto and London and a first look deal with NBCUniversal International Studios. Partners Trevor Walton and Denis Coyne bring a combined 35 years experience to developing and producing quality, scripted programming for established and evolving platforms.
About Giant Films
Giant Films Ltd. is a UK production company founded by Producer Nick O’Hagan, with its first sole-produced film “Pandaemonium” (2000) premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival the same year. With a focus on developing independent film and television projects, Giant Films Ltd. also co-produces and acts as a production service company for foreign and UK-based partners, which has led to several global partnerships.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight aboriginal languages.
A space for us all is CBC/Radio-Canada’s new strategy to modernize the public broadcaster and ensure that it continues to fulfill its mandate for Canadians and for future generations. Through to 2020, it will increase its investment in prime time television programming, and continue to create radio programs of the highest quality, while promoting the development of digital and mobile platforms and content.
For more information including series synopses, press releases, hi-res images, video clips and bios, please visit the CBC Media Centre at cbc.ca/mediacentre.
For more information please contact:
Cathleen Saville, publicist, CBC Television
Cathleen.saville@cbc.ca
416.205.7976 (office)
