« I can’t ask for anything better »

By his own admission, Rossif Sutherland knew nothing of the world of Three Pines, created by novelist Louise Penny, before accepting a role in the series. But he didn’t hesitate for long when he learned that the shooting would take place in the Eastern Townships. “It’s my favorite place in the world,” he announces.

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It is in impeccable French that Rossif Sutherland welcomes the representative of the Log to discuss his involvement in the series Three Pines, launched Friday on the Prime Video platform. No, the actor is not strictly speaking a Quebecer. But it’s just like, as he has the province tattooed on his heart.

He spent many times here with his parents – actors Donald Sutherland and Francine Racette – throughout his youth to visit his maternal family, which is still very present in Quebec.

“I spent all my summers and all my Christmases in Georgeville in the Eastern Townships. My parents still live there, by the way,” says Rossif Sutherland.

From book to screen

We can therefore see him now lending his features to Sergeant Jean-Guy Beauvoir, one of the colleagues of the famous Inspector Armand Gamache (here played by Alfred Molina), hero of Louise Penny’s novels. Throughout the season, the two must team up to solve a handful of gruesome murders rocking the small community of Three Pines.

The plot is drawn from best-selling novels, all of which have been published regularly over the past 15 years. But Rossif Sutherland still promises several « surprises » for readers who will find this world that is familiar to them, this time on their screens.

There have been changes in adapting the books for the series; surprises for the spectators, but also the readers. And there have been changes with my character; it gave me the opportunity to not just play what was already [dans les romans]but to really make it my own,” he explains.

Towards a second season?

The first season of Three Pines will be available at the rate of two episodes per week, until December 23. Next ? If a second batch of episodes has not yet been confirmed, Rossif Sutherland does not hide his desire to put on the uniform of Jean-Guy Beauvoir again.

“Louise Penny has written so many books, so it’s not like we could run out of material for other possible seasons. If there is a second season, I will be there. Absolutely ! The opportunity to work here, in Quebec, and to be close to my parents… I couldn’t ask for anything better,” he concludes.

The first two episodes of the series Three Pines are available on Prime Video starting Friday.