Production Begins on Season 2 of CTV's Hit Cop Drama MOTIVE

- Kristin Lehman returns to lead ensemble cast including Gemini Award-winner Louis Ferreira, Brendan Penny, Lauren Holly, and Roger Cross -

- Warren Christie joins the MOTIVE cast for Season 2 as a new detective on the team -

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TORONTO, Sept. 4, 2013 /CNW/ - CTV announced today in association with Foundation Features and Lark Productions that production has begun on Season 2 of original Canadian cop drama MOTIVE. The #1 new Canadian scripted series of the 2012/2013 TV season*, MOTIVE wrapped its first season with an average audience of 1.1 million viewers. The 13-episode, one-hour drama starring Kristin Lehman as Detective Angie Flynn, shoots in and around Vancouver through January 2014, leading up to its mid-season debut on CTV.

**Media Note** Photography for MOTIVE is available online at BellMediaPR.ca

"MOTIVE emerged as a fan favourite last season and the producers have definitely intensified the pace for Season 2," said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. "The intelligent, twisting storylines that keep viewers guessing right along with the characters are back, but Season 2 will also bring some surprises."

When viewers last saw Angie (Kristin Lehman, THE KILLING) in the dramatic Season 1 finale, she was pushed to make an irreversible decision during a psychological murder investigation, while also coming to terms with her son Manny (Cameron Bright, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2) heading off to college. The gripping second season picks up four months later, with a new face at the station - one that Angie is not too pleased to see. A confident new detective (Warren Christie, ALPHAS, Apollo 18) joins the homicide department as Team Commander, revealing a mysterious link to Angie's past.

MOTIVE stars Kristin Lehman as spirited Detective Angie Flynn, Louis Ferreira (SGU STARGATE UNIVERSE) as her thoughtful and patient partner, Detective Oscar Vega, and Lauren Holly (NCIS) as the team's lead medical examiner, Dr. Betty Rogers. The series also stars Brendan Penny (THE ASSISTANTS) as the team's eager young Detective Brian Lucas; Roger Cross (ARROW) as Staff Sergeant Boyd Bloom; Cameron Bright as Angie's teenage son, Manny Flynn; and new to the series this season are Warren Christie as a Detective and Team Commander, and Valerie Tian (ARROW, 21 Jump Street) as a new rookie Officer.

MOTIVE is produced by Foundation Features and Lark Production in association with Bell Media. Executive Producers are Daniel Cerone (DEXTER, THE MENTALIST), Louise Clark (CORNER GAS, THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF VANCOUVER), Rob Merilees (Capote, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus), Erin Haskett (THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF VANCOUVER), Rob LaBelle (MENTAL), Lindsay Macadam (Battle in Seattle), James Thorpe (LOST GIRL), and Dennis Heaton (CALL ME FITZ, Fido). Showrunners for Season 2 are James Thorpe and Dennis Heaton. Daniel Cerone is the series creator. The series is distributed internationally by NBC Universal International and the first season has just completed airing on ABC in the U.S.

Trish Williams and Rebecca DiPasquale are Production Executives, Bell Media. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.

About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, THE LISTENER, and MOTIVE, the #1 new Canadian series of the 2012/13 season. Airing this summer are relationship comedy SATISFACTION and THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, a record-breaking Canadian-produced, complementary version of the hit international series. To premiere in the 2013/14 season are the drama series PLAYED, multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT, and hit international format MASTERCHEF CANADA. Among the scripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the two-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, the recently renewed ORPHAN BLACK, CSA-winning CALL ME FITZ, and upcoming dramas BITTEN and 19-2. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to reality series PANIC BUTTON and BRAVE NEW GIRL, game shows MATCH GAME and POP QUIZ, and factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL, and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others. So far in 2013, Bell Media has ordered 23 original Canadian series and put 52 projects into development.

About CTV
CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada's most-watched television network for the past 12 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network's website at ctv.ca.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter:
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television
@MotiveTV
@kristinlehman1 - Kristin Lehman
@TheLuigi_F - Louis Ferreira
@LaurenHolly - Lauren Holly
@BrendanJPenny - Brendan Penny
@therogercross - Roger Cross
@cameronbright - Cameron Bright
@HWarrenChristie - Warren Christie

Facebook:
facebook.com/ctv

- CTV -

Source: BBM Canada, 2012-13: 9/24/2012-8/18/2013
* Original episodes only

SOURCE: CTV

Tonia Addison, CTV, CTV Two, 416.384.2194 or [email protected]
Christy Sullivan, CTV, CTV Two, 416.384.3624 or [email protected]