Molly Parker, Stephen McHattie and Kevin Durand will star in the TV adaptation of the hit Essex County graphic novel
Molly Parker, Brian J. Smith, Stephen McHattie, Finlay Wojtak-Hissong and Kevin Durand will star in the television adaptation of Essex Countybased on the bestselling graphic novel by award-winning Canadian comic book artist and author Jeff Lemire.
Essex County follows the interconnected lives of two families in a rural Ontario community. The series explores how the effects of trauma, betrayal and loss can reverberate through generations.
Wojtak-Hissong, who is 11, plays young Lester, a boy who moved in with his uncle Ken, a farmer, after his mother died.
Wojtak-Hissong started his acting career at the age of eight and also appeared in The kindness of strangers, Blood, Dreamcatcher and Robin Wright’s feature debut Ground.
Smith, who is known for his roles on Netflix Sense8 and the Syfy series Stargate Universe, plays Ken.
Durand plays Jimmy, a family friend and father figure. Durand appeared in Locke & Key, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Ballers, Lost and the next movie, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Parker plays Annie, a nurse caring for her elderly uncle Lou, the role McHattie plays. Parker is an Emmy and SAG nominated actress and director known for her work on shows like House of Cards, Deadwood, Lost in Space and Dexter.
McHattie, a prolific Canadian actor with over 200 movies and TV shows, including Orphan Black, Emily from New Moon, Cold Squad and Seinfeld, will play Lou.
Lemire co-wrote the show alongside Eilis Kirwan, while also serving as showrunner and one of the executive producers. Essex County is directed by director Andrew Cividino, who won an Emmy for his work on Schitt’s Creek.
Shot on Essex County packed September 30 in North Bay, Ontario. Essex County will premiere in Canada on CBC TV and CBC Gem in winter 2023.
Essex County was the first graphic novel to appear on Canada reads. He was championed by musician Sara Quin in 2011.
Lemire’s other works include Sweet tooth: the returnwhich was adapted into a Netflix series, Thug, The underwater welder, royal city and by Gord Downie secret path and more. He is a three-time winner of the Eisner Prize; in 2022 for the best digital comic for his book, snow angelsin 2017, for the best new series for black hammer and again in 2019 for Gideon Falls.
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