‘We Had All Hoped For That’: Murder In A Small Town EP Shares The Role Originally Intended For Donald Sutherland Before His Death

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As a gamer with a deep appreciation for television, particularly mystery procedurals, I must say that “Murder in a Small Town” has truly captivated me. The intertwining of real-life connections and on-screen performances makes this show stand out from others in its genre.

Titled “Murder in a Small Town,” this captivating murder mystery series made its way into the 2024 TV lineup, featuring Rossif Sutherland and Kristin Kreuk as the main characters. Despite Rossif’s extensive TV background, his role as Police Chief Karl Alberg on Fox marks his inaugural lead role in a U.S. network television show. Initially, the plan was for the star to share screen time with his late father, Donald Sutherland, but unfortunately, this iconic figure in film and television passed away before they could collaborate. However, the executive producer provided insights into what might have been an extraordinary on-screen partnership.

I had a chat with Jeff Wachtel during the final episode of Season 1 for Murder in a Small Town, discussing future possibilities like Season 2 within the 2025 TV lineup and the challenging aspect of writing for Kristin Kreuk’s character, Cassandra. I mentioned to him that I wasn’t very acquainted with Rossif Sutherland before the Fox series as most of his past projects aired in Canada, but I was impressed by his portrayal of Alberg. In response, Wachtel shared an interesting tale about how it turned out that Donald Sutherland had been involved with an adaptation before his son did.

It’s kind of you to acknowledge me on that. Frankly, I wasn’t overly familiar with the project either. The concept originated from the network, and since I’m part of their team, it’s always nice when I can credit them for their ideas. The casting department was the one who suggested I take a look at this actor. Interestingly enough, the script had Donald Sutherland attached to play the lead role thirty years ago when it was initially developed as a movie.

Back in the day, I stumbled upon an interesting tidbit: it seems that L.R. Wright’s books were once slated for a film adaptation, way before this TV show was even a twinkle in anyone’s eye. And here’s another fascinating bit – apparently, Rossif Sutherland, whose father was originally tied to the project, has been eyed as a possible main character! This new piece of information sheds some light on what I was told about being offered the role of Alberg.

Although L.R. Wright’s story was never adapted into a movie, Donald Sutherland’s son eventually got the opportunity to portray Karl Alberg on television instead. If he had been in good health, Donald Sutherland himself would have acted alongside Rossif, as Jeff Wachtel noted.

A couple of years back, I learned that Donald was set to portray George Wilcox in the initial episode. We all had high hopes for this casting. However, his health prevented him from doing so. When Rossif was chosen as the lead actor instead, it only fueled Donald’s desire to be part of it even more. Despite their closeness, it never came to fruition. Still, we managed to pay tribute to Donald’s involvement in the project, making it an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

It was initially planned for Donald Sutherland to portray George Wilcox, the central figure in the series premiere that Alberg and Cassandra had to scrutinize. However, James Cromwell took on the role instead, and the Murder in a Small Town production team made sure to pay tribute to Sutherland by displaying this message at the end of the first episode: “Special thanks to Donald Sutherland.” (You can catch the premiere with a Hulu subscription now.)

Although it’s impossible to imagine what Donald Sutherland might have delivered as George Wilcox, James Cromwell was an excellent choice and a skilled actor to fill the role. It’s heartening that Murder in a Small Town acknowledged this by including a tribute, honoring not only the roles Sutherland could have played but also Rossif Sutherland who lost his father. The series debuted just a few months following the senior Sutherland’s passing at the age of 88.

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2024-12-04 05:37