Wild Cards (Canadian TV series)

Wild Cards is a police procedural comedy-drama television series co-produced by the Canadian CBC Television network and American network The CW. It premiered on January 10, 2024 in Canada, followed by its U.S. premiere on January 17, 2024.

On May 23, 2024, it was announced that the series was renewed for a second season.

Premise
Cole Ellis, a demoted water-cop, arrests Max Mitchell, a transient con woman. While in custody and being held at the station, she helps him solve another crime. The pair are offered an opportunity at redemption – Ellis a chance to get back his detective badge, and Max a chance to stay out of jail – they just have to pair up and work together.

Cast

 * Vanessa Morgan as Max Mitchell
 * Giacomo Gianniotti as Cole Ellis
 * Jason Priestley as George Graham
 * Terry Chen as Chief Li
 * Karin Konoval as Commissioner Russo

Development
In early June 2023, CBC announced its new dramas for the 2023–24 season would include a new show titled Wild Cards from showrunner Michael Konyves. Shawn Piller would serve as executive producer, with Noelle Carbone as head writer/executive producer, and James Genn as pilot director/executive producer. Later that same month it was confirmed that production and filming had begun. The series is produced Blink49 Studios, Front Street Pictures and Piller/Segan in association with CBC Television in Canada; in October 2023, it was announced that The CW in the U.S. would also produce the series.

Casting
In early October 2023, the first casting announcements were made for the two main roles with Giacomo Gianniotti to play the cop and Vanessa Morgan to play the con woman. In December 2023, it was announced that Jason Priestley had joined the cast.

Filming
Filming took place in Vancouver, British Columbia between July 24, 2023 and October 27, 2023, followed by a single day of filming in Toronto, Ontario.

Release
Wild Cards was ordered to series by both Canadian broadcaster CBC and U.S. network The CW. The 10 episode first season premiered on January 10, 2024 on CBC Television in Canada and its associated digital streaming platform CBC Gem, as well as on-demand and both platforms' respective websites in Canada, and on January 17, 2024 on The CW, and the following day its app, on-demand and its website in the United States.

Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has an approval rating of 100% based on 5 critic reviews.