Corus Entertainment has unveiled its 2017/18 specialty lineup ahead of its Thursday upfront presentation, announcing new blockbuster series pickups – including two from Marvel – and returning critical hits.
Heading to Showcase in 2018 is Marvel’s Runaways, which follows six teens who seriously dislike each other but unite to wage a fight against their respective parents. The superhero series joins The Sinner in the lineup. From exec producer Jessica Biel, the new drama, which debuts in fall 2017, follows a young mother (Biel) who is inexplicably overcome by a fit of rage which leads her to commit a shocking act of violence. Showcase also picked up Absentia (pictured), starring Stana Katic (Castle) as an FBI agent who disappears and returns six years later with no memory of the years that have passed.
Meanwhile, Amazon Prime’s Transparent, which previously aired on the now defunct shomi, will move to Showcase for season four. Returning series include season two of Travelers, as well as seasons three of Mr. Robot and Supergirl.
As previously announced, History will bow new originals Bud Dynasty, as well as Hunting Nazi Treasure. Also picked up for a fall premiere is the Jeremy Renner-produced Knightfall, which tells the true stories of the Knights Templar. Vikings will also return to the network later this year for season five.
Meanwhile, on ABC Spark, Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger will premiere in 2018. The series stars Olivia Holt (Kickin’ It) and Aubrey Joseph (The Night Of) as teens from different backgrounds who are burdened by newly discovered superpowers. The millennial-focused net will also host the new series The Bold Type, inspired by the life of former Cosmopolitan editor Joanna Coles, as well as black-ish spin-off college-ish, following the characters’ eldest daughter Zoey (Yara Shahidi) as she heads to university.
W Network will premiere new scripted military series Valor, starring Matt Barr (Hatfields & McCoys) and Christina Ochoa (Animal Kingdom) as U.S. Army helicopter pilots, as well as the previously announced The Bachelor Canada, from Vancouver’s Good Human Productions. Returning series include Mozart in the Jungle, The Good Fight, Nashville and Imposters.
Corus’ lifestyle lineup includes several new series, including Food Network Canada’s The Baker Sisters, as well as one-hour special Bake It Possible!, which crowns the champion of Pillsbury and Betty Crocker’s baking contest. The net also picked up Guy’s Family Road Trip, starring Guy Fieri, Duff Goldman’s Dessert Games and Bakers vs. Fakers, which follows amateur bakers who compete against professional chefs. In spring 2018, Top Chef Canada will also return to the specialty for its sixth season.
Perennial favourites Mike Holmes and Scott McGillivray each have new series on HGTV Canada this year. Holmes: Buy It Right will debut in the fall, while McGillivray’s Buyers Bootcamp, which follows the host as he offers aspiring real estate investors the chance to partner with him, will debut in spring 2018. Designer Sarah Richardson also has a new series on HGTV Canada. Sarah Off the Grid follows Richardson as she builds a dream home for her family on a remote property. Also joining the lineup is Worst to First, which follows contractors Mickey Fabbiano and Sebastian Sevallo as they transform houses. Returning series include Property Brothers, Masters of Flip and Bryan Inc.
Lastly, on the kids programming front, Corus has added previously announced new originals Mysticons and ReBoot: The Guardian Code to YTV’s lineup, while Teletoon will premieres Hotel Transylvania: The Series and Disney Junior will be the home of new preschool series Vampirina.
