As a die-hard fan of both Donald Sutherland and gripping crime dramas, I eagerly anticipate the premiere of Fox’s new series “Murder in a Small Town.” The fact that it is dedicated to the memory of the legendary actor who passed away earlier this year only adds to my excitement.
The upcoming Fox series titled “Murder in a Small Town” draws inspiration from detective novels penned by L.R. Wright, and serves as a tribute to the late, great actor Donald Sutherland, who passed away at the age of 88 in June. Interestingly, Donald’s son, renowned actor Rossif Sutherland, portrays the main character, Detective Karl Alberg. However, the Sutherland family’s association with this series extends beyond just casting. In a recent chat with Deadline, Rossif shared that the series represents the realization of his father’s 30-year dream to see these novels brought to life on screen.
Rossif found out that his father had long been fascinated with adapting the crime thriller book series into movies only when he landed the role in it. He shared the news about his part with his dad, and learned that this project had been a cherished endeavor of his since the 1990s. Additionally, Rossif discovered that the series creator, Ian Weir, had collaborated with his father on a screenplay for one of the books, which unfortunately never made it to production. In his own words:
Thirty years ago, he started his quest to make a movie based on those books, which is why he’s very knowledgeable about them now.
The first season will consist of nine episodes, starting with the initial two being based on Wright’s novel “The Suspect”. The rest of the episodes will be drawn from other books, and additional source material is available for a potential second season. The series focuses on Detective Alberg, portrayed by Sutherland, who is tasked with resolving a string of murders along the Sunshine Coast, situated southwest of Vancouver in Canada. Rossif characterizes Alberg as a detective who can coax the truth from individuals through his empathy, someone who openly displays his emotions, and he’s not haunted by inner demons.
Despite attempts by Donald Sutherland and Ian Weir to make The Suspect into a movie three decades ago failing, plans for a TV adaptation started years later. In this revival, Weir asked Sutherland to play George in the series. At the time, Sutherland was of perfect age, but due to his deteriorating health, he couldn’t accept the role. Instead, Oscar nominee James Cromwell (known for Babe and Star Trek: First Contact) stepped in. Filming for the first season concluded in May, and unfortunately, Sutherland passed away a month later without getting to see any footage from his long-awaited project. The series was dedicated to him at Rossif’s suggestion.
“Folks were curious about how to pay tribute to dad,” Rossif mentioned. “Since dad played a significant role in the initiation of this venture, I suggested they name it after him.”Murder in a Small Town features Kristin Kreuk as Cassandra Mitchell, Mya Lowe as Corporal Edwina Yen, Aaron Douglas as Sergeant Sid Sokolowski, and Savonna Spracklin as Isabella Harbud.
Donald Sutherland’s Legendary Career and the Family Business
Throughout his lifetime, Donald Sutherland built an astounding film career, spanning iconic movies, box-office hits, and award-winning performances. He kicked off his acting journey in the early 1960s with brief stints on TV shows and low-budget horror films. A significant turning point in his career was securing the role of Vernon Pinkley in the action masterpiece The Dirty Dozen, starring Lee Marvin, in 1967.
One of his significant roles on the big screen encompasses portraying Hawkeye in the initial film adaptation of M*A*S*H, Kelly’s Heroes, Klute, Ordinary People, Eye of the Needle, JFK, and Cold Mountain. Among his box-office hits are his performances as President Snow in The Hunger Games series, a firefighter in Ron Howard’s drama Backdraft, a frat brother in National Lampoon’s Animal House, and an alien invasion victim in Invasion of the Body Snatchers, which continues to inspire with its iconic scene more than 3 decades later. He was bestowed with an Oscar for Lifetime Achievement in 2018.
His television appearances span across shows such as “Commander in Chief”, “Swimming with Sharks”, “The Undoing”, “Crossing Lines”, and “The Pillars of the Earth”. His last role was a memorable one, portraying the gruff Judge Parker in “Lawmen: Bass Reeves”, a western series by Taylor Sheridan for Paramount+. He received a Primetime Emmy Award in 1995 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Special, for his role in Citizen X.
It’s clear that Rossif isn’t the only member of the Sutherland clan involved in show business; in fact, many of the Sutherlands have made their mark there. Most notably, Rossif’s half-brother Kiefer, who has an impressive career, has gained prominence in this field. His series “24” was a success on Fox, so the network is optimistic that another Sutherland could help them secure a ratings victory again.
Murder in a Small Town
premieres September 24 on Fox.
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2024-08-26 17:33