New drama series, 'The Bridge' joins CTV production slate

CTV has announced the order of a new one-hour original Canadian drama series, The Bridge.

Based on the insights of veteran insider and outspoken former Toronto police union head Craig Bromell, CTV has ordered 11, one-hour episodes, following the production of a two-hour pilot shot in Toronto last summer. The Bridge provides an unflinching look at the struggle street cops face as they not only battle criminals - but also their own bosses - in order to protect society and, ultimately, themselves.

Produced by Barna-Alper Productions, an Entertainment One company, 990 Multi Media Entertainment Company and Jonsworth Productions, in association with CTV, production of The Bridge is scheduled to begin in 2009. The Bridge becomes the third, new original drama series to be ordered by CTV in the last year, joining last summer's breakout hit Flashpoint and The Listener, currently in production.

"Craig Bromell is one of the most galvanizing figures in the history of policing in Canada," said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc.

"We look forward to working with him on The Bridge, and bringing to Canadian audiences a distinct and authentic view of life behind the scenes of a modern police force."

"We set out to make the most realistic two-hour movie drama about cops ever seen on TV, and it has paid off," said Craig Bromell, Executive Producer, 990 Multi Media Entertainment Company.

"We expose the inner workings of a big city police force - the police, power and politics behind the blue line. It's something that hasn't been seen before on TV, and we're grateful to CTV for this opportunity. We're looking forward to collaborating with Alan Di Fiore to create even more compelling, hard-hitting storylines for the series."

"We are very excited to be able to bring to our new company this gritty, realistic series that is brought to life by Alan Di Fiore and produced by CTV," said Laszlo Barna, Executive Producer, Barna-Alper Productions, an Entertainment One company.

Written by five-time Gemini Award winner and six-time nominee Alan Di Fiore (Da Vinci's Inquest), The Bridge peels away the veneer of a big-city Canadian police force to reveal the political machinations underneath.

After the rank and file unanimously vote street cop Frank Leo (Aaron Douglas) into office as union head, he begins his quest to put street cops first and clean up the force from the ground up.

But the old boys' network running the police force and the city's self-serving politicians are not about to sit idly by while a former street cop makes up his own rules. Frank walks a thin blue line as he battles wiretaps and a concerted campaign to bring him down, letting nothing stop him from fulfilling his unwavering vow that when cops are in trouble, the union will be there.

The Bridge stars Aaron Douglas (Battlestar Galactica) as outspoken union head Frank Leo; Paul Popowich (Angela's Eyes) as Frank's partner and confidante Tommy Dunn; Gemini-Award nominee Inga Cadranel (Rent-a-Goalie) as Jill, the free-spirited cop on the force; Frank Cassini (Vice) as Staff Sergeant Bernie Kantor; Theresa Joy (Sixty Days) as feisty tomboy Police Constable Billy; Ona Grauer (Stargate SG-1) as beautiful, passionate prosecutor Abby St. James; Michael Murphy (Away from Her, X-Men: The Last Stand) as Chief of Police, and political animal, Ed Wycoff; and two-time Emmy Award winner Stuart Margolin (The Rockford Files) as Frank's father, Vic Leo.