Five Things you Didn’t Know about “Shoot the Messenger”

Shoot The Messenger is a Canadian drama which is set in a murky world of political intrigue, fake news and gang related murder. The first episode in the series which features 8 episodes is scheduled to air on WGN America on the 26th February. Here are five things you didn’t know about shoot the messenger.

Shoot the Messenger features a strong female lead.

Shoot the messenger is a quintessential and timely thriller for the #timesup era. Rather than featuring a predictable male lead, the show is helmed by a female protagonist who is a wonderfully compelling and flawed character. Daisy Channing is a young novice reporter who witnesses a murder of a young Somali man which appears to be gang related. What follows is thrilling tale about political cover up and a complex web of criminal activity which touches the hallowed corridors of power. Daisy missteps in the first episode by including incorrect information in the story which sets off a series of reactions. Daisy is supported by her female editor played by Alex Kingston (known for her role in ER). Lyriq Bent plays the role of the lead homicide detective, who in an intriguing twist, is Daisy’s secret lover

It stars Canadian actress Elyse Levesque

Elyse plays the brave young reporter Daisy Channing at the centre of the drama. The gorgeous Canadian actress will be known to fans of the small screen for her roles in Orphan Black and Sci Fi series Stargate Universe. The actress prepared for her role by consulting with reporters from the Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, to better understand the world in which her character operated. The actress has had the opportunity to play a number of powerful female roles. She has said that she enjoys playing “all the complexities of what it is to be a woman and sometimes that can be vulnerable”. She has also admitted that she took inspiration from Claire Dane’s irrepressible character in the HBO series Homeland.

Shoot the messenger was filmed in Canada

The show was filmed on location in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario and features gorgeous shots of the Canadian city-scape. It was produced by Hungry Eyes Film and Television.

Shoot the Messenger is created by a husband and wife writing team

The show is the brainchild of husband and wife team Sudz Sutherland and Jennifer Holness. The two collaborated in writing all eight episodes together. Sutherland is also the Director of five of the episodes. The Canadian couple produced the drama together. They have three children.

It was inspired by the Rob Ford 2013 scandal

In 2013, the writers and producers of Shoot the Messenger Sutherland and Holness were involved in doing research for their upcoming drama series when the notorious Rob Ford drug scandal unfolded in the public eye. Former mayor of Toronto Rob Ford was reported to have been caught on video smoking crack cocaine. The scandal which ensued engulfed the city. While these real-life events helped to craft the drama series Sutherland and Holness are at pains to emphasize that the show was inspired by the scandal but it is not a simple retelling of the story which rocked the Canadian and International political worlds.

Viewers can catch the hot new show themselves when the premier is is broadcast on WGN America on Monday the 26th of February at 10 Pm eastern Tie.