The CW Network has ordered two new original scripted series WILD CARDS and SIGHT UNSEEN, it was announced today by Liz Wise Lyall, Head of Scripted Programming, The CW. The crime-solving procedural WILD CARDS welcomes former CW stars Vanessa Morgan (“Riverdale“) and Giacomo Gianniotti (“Reign,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “From Scratch“) back to the network, while SIGHT UNSEEN features newcomer Dolly Lewis, Agam Darshi (“DMZ“) and Jarod Joseph (“The 100“) starring alongside “Virgin River” and “The Vampire Diaries” franchise star Daniel Gillies. WILD CARDS from Blink49 Studios, Front Street Pictures, Piller/Segan and commissioning broadcaster CBC and SIGHT UNSEEN from Blink49 Studios and Front Street Pictures in association with Sisters Troubetzkoy Productions and commissioning broadcaster Bell Media’s CTV are slated to premiere on The CW in 2024.
“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.”
WILD CARDS, in partnership with CBC, is a crime-solving procedural with a comedic twist that follows the unlikely duo of a gruff, sardonic cop and a spirited, clever con woman. Ellis (Giacomo Gianniotti, “Reign,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “From Scratch“), a demoted detective, has unfortunately spent the last year on the maritime unit, while Max (Vanessa Morgan, “Riverdale“) has been living a transient life elaborately scamming everyone she meets. But 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. The catch? They have to work together, with each using their unique skills to solve crimes. For Ellis, that means hard-boiled shoe leather police work; for Max, it means accents, schemes and generally befriending everyone in sight, while driving Ellis absolutely nuts. The two will have to learn what it means to trust another person and maybe actually become partners.
Produced by Blink49 Studios and Front Street Pictures for commissioning broadcaster CBC in Canada, WILD CARDS is created by Michael Konyves. Executive producers include Konyves, pilot director James Genn, Shawn Piller, Lloyd Segan, and writers Alexandra Zarowny, James Thorpe, Noelle Carbone, and Morwyn Brebner. WILD CARDS is produced by Charles Cooper and Virginia Rankin, and on behalf of Blink49 Studios, overseen by Executive Vice President of Global Scripted Carolyn Newman and Manager of Scripted Television Alix Steerman.
SIGHT UNSEEN, in partnership with Bell Media’s CTV, follows Tess Avery (Dolly Lewis, “The Dutchman’s Pipe“), a top homicide detective who is forced to quit the job she loves 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. After losing her vision, Tess is haunted by the unsolved cases she left behind. Using a hidden camera and earpiece, Sunny remotely steers Tess through life’s obstacles – and crimes – as the two challenge preconceptions about ability, trust, and where to draw the line. Inspired by one of the co-creators’ experiences with sight loss, viewers join Tess and Sunny as they bring a fresh perspective to solving crime. The series also stars Jarod Joseph (“The 100“), Daniel Gillies (“The Vampire Diaries” franchise, “Virgin River“), Alice Christina-Corrigan (“Doctors“) and Tony Giroux (“Motherland: Fort Salem“).
The creative and production teams for WILD CARDS and SIGHT UNSEEN are committed to incorporating the equity, diversity, and inclusion principles as a top priority both in front of and behind the camera. SIGHT UNSEEN was inspired by one of the co-creator’s ongoing experiences with vision loss, and it is essential for these stories as well as for the character portrayals to have authentic representation from the sight-impaired community.
SIGHT UNSEEN is produced by Blink49 Studios and Front Street Pictures in association with Sisters Troubetzkoy Productions for commissioning broadcaster Bell Media’s CTV in Canada. In addition to directing several episodes including the pilot, John Fawcett serves as executive producer 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 as well as Ryan Knighton serving as co-executive producer.
Both series 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 (outside of North America) is handled by FIFTH SEASON.
