The CW is bulking up its roster of scripted series — and again looking north of the border for its two latest shows.
The Nexstar-owned broadcast network has ordered dramas titled Wild Cards and Sight Unseen, targeting both for premieres in 2024. Wild Cards, starring Riverdale alum Vanessa Morgan and Giacomo Gianniotti (Grey’s Anatomy, Reign), is a co-production between The CW and Canada’s CBC, while Sight Unseen is in partnership with Bell Media’s CTV. Both are produced by Blink49 Studios and Front Street Pictures; Sight Unseen is also produced by Sisters Troubetzkoy Productions.
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“Wild Cards and Sight Unseen are two unique, binge-worthy shows that reflect The CW’s commitment to compelling, top-tier storytelling that will appeal to our loyal fans and attract a wide range of new viewers,” said Liz Wise Lyall, head of scripted programming at the network. “We are thrilled to collaborate with our partners at Blink49 Studios, Front Street Pictures, Piller/Segan [Wild Cards] and Sisters Troubetzkoy Productions [Sight Unseen] to bring these dynamic series to life and highlight just how expansive The CW brand can be.”
The two shows join fellow Canadian dramas Sullivan’s Crossing and The Spencer Sisters on The CW’s slate. The network is looking for lower-cost entries into scripted programming and is boarding shows commissioned elsewhere as a co-producer as part of that strategy (2024 entries Joan and The Librarians: The Next Chapter fall under the co-production model, as well).
With negotiations between actors union SAG-AFTRA and media companies being suspended late Wednesday, the additions will also help keep the programming pipeline flowing should The CW’s homegrown series (All American and spinoff Homecoming, Walker and Superman & Lois) not return to production soon.
Wild Cards follows a demoted detective, Ellis (Gianniotti), and a con artist, Max (Morgan), who are each given a chance at redemption — provided they can work together on cases. Michael Konyves created the series and executive produces with pilot director James Genn, Shawn Piller, Lloyd Segan, and writers Alexandra Zarowny, James Thorpe, Noelle Carbone and Morwyn Brebner.
Sight Unseen centers on Tess Avery (Dolly Lewis), a homicide detective who’s forced to quit her job after nearly killing her partner and being declared clinically blind. She uses an assistance app and connects with Sunny Patel (Agam Darshi), a professional seeing-eye guide who’s agoraphobic and lives 3,000 miles away. Using a hidden camera and earpiece, Sunny remotely steers Tess through life’s obstacles — and crimes.
Karen Troubetzkoy and Nikolijne Troubetzkoy are co-showrunners. They executive produce with director John Fawcett; Blink49’s John Morayniss, Carolyn Newman and Virginia Rankin; Front Street Pictures’ Charles Cooper; and writer Derek Schreyer. Ryan Knighton is a co-EP.
