Show of the week: The Murders

Distributor: APC Studios
Producer: Muse Entertainment
Broadcaster: NBCUniversal International Networks (Europe, Africa), Citytv (Canada)
Logline: A female-led procedural starring Gotham’s Jessica Lucas

The Murders is Muse Entertainment’s latest procedural drama focusing on homicide detective Kate Jameson, played by Gotham’s Jessica Lucas, and detective Mike Huntley, as they navigate the case of a mysterious killer who uses music for destructive ends.

“The lead character, a young woman who needs to fight guilt and prove herself in a difficult environment, is a strong modern female figure,” says Emmanuelle Guilbart, joint CEO and co-founder at APC.

“She is constantly debating her choices and trying to conciliate her desire to succeed with her ethics. It’s these kinds of personal contradictions viewers often relate to.”

Lucas is joined on set with high-profile cast members including Riverdale’s Lochlyn Munroe (Huntley), Orphan Black’s Dylan Bruce, Jessica Jones’ Terry Chen, Ghost Wars’ Luvia Petersen and Arrow’s Venus Terzo.

She will also serve as executive producer, alongside Jesse Prupas and Michael Prupas of Muse Entertainment, Shawn Williamson of Brightlight Pictures and Jamie Goehring of Lighthouse Pictures.

Damon Vignale (Motive) is creator, showrunner and exec producer.

Muse Entertainment has produced the 8 x 60 -minute crime drama in association with Citytv, a division of Canada’s Rogers Media. The series premieres on Citytv this spring.

It turns out crime procedurals with a modern twist are just what broadcasters want. NBCUniversal International Networks has already pre-bought the rights to the series for a number of key European and African channels, proving that the genre remains evergreen in the international market.

“There’s currently a lot of serialised edgy shows, but The Murders stands out as a straight solid procedural, starring a diverse cast that reflects today’s society,” says Guilbart.