''Essex County'' is a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

dramatic television limited series that premiered March 19, 2023 on

CBC Television CBC Television (also known as CBC TV) is a Canadian English-language broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster. The network began operations on September 6, 1952. Its French-l ...

Premise

An adaptation of

Jeff Lemire Jeff Lemire (; born March 21, 1976) is a Canadian comic book writer, artist, and television producer. He is the author of critically acclaimed titles including the '' Essex County Trilogy'', '' Sweet Tooth'', and '' The Nobody''. His written work ...

's graphic novel ''

Essex County Trilogy Essex County Trilogy is a collection of three graphic short stories set in Essex County, Ontario by Jeff Lemire published in 2011 by Top Shelf Productions. The three short stories are "Tales from the Farm" (2008), "Ghost Stories" (2008), and "The ...

'', the series centres on two interconnected families in the Essex County region of

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

.Ashly July
"Molly Parker, Stephen McHattie and Kevin Durand to star in TV adaptation of hit graphic novel Essex County"

CBC Books CBC Arts (french: Radio-Canada Arts) is the division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that creates and curates written articles, short documentaries, non-fiction series and interactive projects that represent the excellence of Canada's div ...

, October 13, 2022. Lester is a young boy who moves in with his uncle Ken after his mother's death, turning to Jimmy, his biological father who has returned to Essex County; Anne is a nurse who is caring for her ailing uncle Lou.K. J. Yossman
"‘Lost in Space’ Star Molly Parker, ‘Treadstone’s’ Brian J. Smith to Lead Canadian ITV Studios Drama ‘Essex County’"
''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'', October 13, 2022.

Cast

Molly Parker Molly Parker (born 30 June 1972) is a Canadian actress, writer, and director. She has had roles in independent films as well as television. Her accolades include two Genie Awards, one Canadian Screen Award, one Independent Spirit Awards nomina ...

as Anne, a nurse who takes care of her sick uncle, Lou, with whom she has a strained relationship. ** Jordyn Gillis plays a young Anne in the opening scene of Episode 3. *

Brian J. Smith Brian Jacob Smith (born October 12, 1981) is an American actor, known for his role as Will Gorski in the Netflix-produced series ''Sense8,'' Lieutenant Matthew Scott in the military science fiction television series ''Stargate Universe'', and h ...

as Ken, a closeted farmer who takes in his nephew, Lester following his sister's death. *

Stephen McHattie Stephen McHattie Smith (born February 3, 1946)Other sources cite 1945, 1947, and 1948. is a Canadian actor. Since beginning his professional career in 1970, he has amassed over 200 film and television credits. He won the Genie Award for Best Sup ...

as Lou, uncle of Anne, who has dementia. ** Stephen Kalyn plays a young Lou * Finlay Wojtak-Hissong as Lester, nephew of Ken and Anne whose mother died of cancer and is taken in by Ken. *

Kevin Durand Kevin Serge Durand (born January 14, 1974) is a Canadian actor. He is best known for portraying Vasiliy Fet in ''The Strain'', Joshua in '' Dark Angel'', Martin Keamy in ''Lost'', Fred J. Dukes / The Blob in '' X-Men Origins: Wolverine'', Barry ...

as Jimmy *

Tamara Podemski Tamara Podemski (born October 16, 1977) is a Canadian film and television actress and writer.Rick Garrick"Indigenous multidisciplinary artist to host 13th Annual Outside Looking In Gala in Toronto this Spring" ''Anishinabek News'', March 9, 2020. ...

as Joy *

Rossif Sutherland Rossif Sutherland (born September 25, 1978) is a Canadian actor. He, along with his brothers Angus and Roeg and half-brother Kiefer, are the sons of Donald Sutherland. Early life and education Sutherland was born in Vancouver, but lived in P ...

as Doug *

Jim Calarco Jim Calarco is an actor and a media and drama instructor. Early life Calarco's hometown is North Bay, Ontario. Career Teaching and stage He taught media and drama classes from 1969 to 2000. His career began when he was working as the Artistic ...

Daniel Maslany Daniel Joseph Maslany () is a Canadian actor, producer and composer. He is known for playing Bondurant Smit in CBC's offbeat and absurd comedy series '' Four in the Morning'', Llewelynn Watts in the series ''Murdoch Mysteries'' and Townes Linder ...

as Luke, a potential love interest of Ken. *

Martin Roach Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austral ...

as Officer Danny Laraque

Episodes

Development

The series was written by Jeff Lemire and Eilis Kirwan. It was shot principally in North Bay and

West Nipissing West Nipissing is a municipality in Northeastern Ontario, Canada, on Lake Nipissing in the Nipissing District. It was formed on January 1, 1999, with the amalgamation of seventeen and a half former town, villages, townships and unorganized communi ...

, in fall 2022.

Release

A first look trailer was released on February 21, 2023. The series premiered March 19, 2023 on CBC and

CBC Gem CBC Television (also known as CBC TV) is a Canadian English-language broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster. The network began operations on September 6, 1952. Its French-l ...

References

External links

* 2020s Canadian drama television series CBC Television original programming Television shows filmed in North Bay, Ontario 2023 Canadian television series debuts 2023 Canadian television series endings 2020s Canadian television miniseries {{Canada-drama-tv-prog-stub