The CW has ordered two scripted series set to premiere in the fall of 2024: crime-solving dramas “Wild Cards” and “Sight Unseen.”
“Wild Cards” is a procedural starring two alumni of the CW: Vanessa Morgan (“Riverdale”) and Giacomo Gianniotti (“Reign”). Ellis (Giannioti) is a gruff, sardonic cop demoted from his role as a detective fown to the maritime unit, while Max (Morgan) is a spirited, clever con woman living a transient life and scamming everyone she meets. When Max gets arrested and ends up helping Ellis solve a local crime, the two are offered the opportunity to redeem themselves, with Ellis going back to detective and Max staying out of jail if they can learn to trust each other and work together.
Michael Konyves created “Wild Cards” and executive produces alongside pilot director James Genn, Shawn Piller, Lloyd Segan, and writers Alexandra Zarowny, James Thorpe, Noelle Carbone and Morwyn Brebner, with Charles Cooper and Virginia Rankin as producers. Blink49 Studios and Front Street Pictures produce “Wild Cards” for CBC in Canada, with Blink49’s executive vice president of global scripted content Carolyn Newman and manager of scripted television Alix Steerman overseeing.
“Sight Unseen” stars Dolly Lewis (“The Dutchman’s Pipe”) as Tess Avery, a top homicide detective who is forced to quit her job after nearly killing her partner and being diagnosed as clinically blind. Reluctant to accept help, Tess uses an assistance app and connects with Sunny Patel (Agam Darshi, “DMZ”), a professional seeing-eye guide and an agoraphobe living 3,000 miles away. Using a hidden camera and earpiece, Sunny remotely steers Tess through life’s obstacles and the unsolved cases she left behind. Jarod Joseph (“The 100”), Daniel Gillies (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Virgin River”), Alice Christina-Corrigan (“Doctors”) and Tony Giroux (“Motherland: Fort Salem”) also star. The series was inspired by one of the co-creator’s ongoing experience with vision loss.
Blink49 Studios and Front Street Pictures produce “Sight Unseen” in association with Sisters Troubetzkoy Productions for Bell Media’s CTV in Canada. John Fawcett directs and executive produces alongside co-showrunners Karen Troubetzkoy and Nikolijne Troubetzkoy, Blink49’s John Morayniss, Carolyn Newman and Virginia Rankin, Front Street Pictures’ Charles Cooper and writer Derek Schreyer. Ryan Knighton serves as co-executive producer.
“’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,” commented Wise Lyall. “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.”
Both “Wild Cards” and “Sight Unseen” are produced under the jurisdiction of ACTRA and the WGC in Canada. The licensing deal for both series was brokered by Blink49 Studios, which controls the distribution rights in the U.S. and Canada. International distribution is handled by Fifth Season.
