Global's Smash Hit Rookie Blue Starts Production on Season 5

Adrenaline-Fueled New Season Builds on Cliffhanger Finale

Premiering on Global and ABC in 2014 as 15 Division Braces for More Change: Two New Members!

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TORONTO, Jan. 22, 2014 /CNW/ - Principal photography has begun on the fifth season of Global's hit Canadian original series Rookie Blue. Hot on the heels of garnering nine Canadian Screen Awards nominations, Rookie Blue is currently filming in Toronto. The new season begins where the dramatic Season 4 finale left off, with two lives hanging in the balance. 

"With four hugely successful seasons and counting, Rookie Blue is an incredible force in the Canadian television industry, and is one of television's most anticipated series returns of 2014," said Barbara Williams, SVP, Content, Shaw Media. "The rollercoaster season finale opened the floodgates for an explosive new season that propels our beloved rookies into unchartered territory. Alongside our incredibly talented production company and star-studded ensemble cast, we can't wait to bring blue back with a bang this spring."

The chilling Season 4 finale saw Sam Swarek and Chloe Price shot in the line of duty and in critical care at Memorial Hospital. But life at 15 Division must go on - the officers have sworn an oath to serve and protect no matter the timing or consequences. As the shell-shocked officers of 15 Division struggle to put the pieces of their lives back together - and as Andy and Sam work to find their way back to each other - Andy is tasked with training a challenging new rookie under the watchful eye of a tough new Inspector. And while the officers will have to learn that life doesn't always have a fairy-tale ending that certainly doesn't mean there's no happily ever after.

In keeping with last season's theme of 'change', 15 Division welcomes two new characters who shake up the familiar dynamic. Inspector John Jarvis (Oliver Becker, Rent-A-Goalie) strolls into 15 Division with a serious agenda.  He wants the real story: is this a division full of heroes or a minefield full of screw-ups? Seamlessly flipping from pleasant to menacing, Inspector Jarvis is a political spin-master of epic proportions. He's out to shake things up and make his mark. Also new to the team is 15 Division's brand-new rookie, Duncan Moore aka "Selfie" (Matt Murray, Degrassi: The Next Generation). He is the very picture of a fresh-faced millennial: confident, eager to impress, and excellent at pointing out mistakes, particularly other people's. But when Duncan struggles to fit into the group at 15, the officers soon have their hands full with this challenging and well-connected new recruit.

Andy McNally (Missy Peregrym), Dov Epstein (Gregory Smith), Chris Diaz (Travis Milne), Traci Nash (Enuka Okuma), Gail Peck (Charlotte Sullivan), Nick Collins (Peter Mooney), Chloe Price (Priscilla Faia), Oliver Shaw (Matt Gordon), Marlo Cruz (Rachel Ancheril), Noelle Williams (Melanie Nicholls-King), Steve Peck (Adam MacDonald), and Holly Stewart (Aliyah O'Brien) all return for Season 5.

"We are all so excited to get started on Season 5," said Tassie Cameron, Executive Producer and Showrunner. "We get to pick up where we left off - gunshots, drama, mayhem, love - and we also get to launch a bunch of exciting new storylines and characters that will change everything, for everyone.  It's so great to work on this show, with these incredible actors and the chemistry they've created together - and to be heading into a fifth season together makes us all very joyful and very proud." 

Rookie Blue is executive produced by award-winning Tassie Cameron (Flashpoint), Russ Cochrane (The Listener), Ilana Frank (The Eleventh Hour, Would Be Kings), David Wellington (The Eleventh Hour, Would Be Kings) and John Morayniss (Klondike, Haven). Rookie Blue is a production of IFC Films and leading indie studio eOne, who also distributes the series internationally.

Global Television is a Shaw Media Network.

About Shaw Communications Inc.
Shaw is a diversified communications and media company, providing consumers with broadband cable television, High-Speed Internet, Home Phone, telecommunications services (through Shaw Business), satellite direct-to-home services (through Shaw Direct) and engaging programming content (through Shaw Media). Shaw serves 3.3 million customers, through a reliable and extensive fibre network. Shaw Media operates one of the largest conventional television networks in Canada, Global Television, and 19 specialty networks including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY® and Showcase. Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX - SJR.B, NYSE - SJR). For more information about Shaw, please visit www.shaw.ca.

SOURCE: Global Television

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