Fox’s new seriesMurder in a Small Townis based on a series of detective novels by L.R. Wright, and is dedicated to the memory of legendary actorDonald Sutherland, whopassed away in June at the age of 88. Donald’s son, actorRossif Sutherland, plays the lead character of Detective Karl Alberg, but the Sutherland connection to the series is actually much deeper. In a new interview withDeadline, Rossif revealed the series is the culmination of a 30-year quest by his father to see the books adapted to the screen.
Rossif actually had no idea his father had been interested in adapting thecrime thriller book seriesuntil he read for the part. He mentioned the role to his father, and discovered it had been a passion project of his since the 1990s. He also discovered that series creator Ian Weir had worked with his father, writing a screenplay based on one of the books that was never produced. Rossif said:
I found out that he was all too familiar with those books because 30 years ago was when the journey began for him of trying to get a movie version off the ground.
Nine episodes will make up the first season, with the first two episodes adapting Wright’s bookThe Suspect. Other books will be adapted in the remaining episodes, and more books are available to adapt for a second season, if there is one. The series follows Sutherland’s Detective Alberg, who is faced with solving a series of murders on the Sunshine Coast, in southwestern Canada near Vancouver. Rossif describes Alberg as a detective who could “get the truth out of people with his humanity, he’s somebody who wears his heart on his sleeve, and he’s not possessed by demons.”
Although Donald Sutherland and Ian Weir were unable to turnThe Suspectinto a film three decades ago, when development on a TV adaptation began several years ago, Weir approached Sutherland to star as George, the titular character ofThe Suspect. Donald was just the right age, but because of his declining health, he was unable to take on the role. Oscar nominee James Cromwell (Babe, Star Trek: First Contact) took on the role instead, and production on the first season wrapped in May. Donald died a month later, and never saw footage from his dream project. At Rossif’s suggestion, the series was dedicated to him.
“People were asking what they could do to honor dad,“Rossif said.“Since dad had such an intimate relationship with the birth of this project, I proposed that they dedicate it to him.“Murder in a Small Townalso stars Kristin Kreuk as Cassandra Mitchell, Mya Lowe as Corporal Edwina Yen, Aaron Douglas as Sergeant Sid Sokolowski, and Savonna Spracklin as Isabella Harbud.
Donald Sutherland’s Best Movies, Ranked
A look into the best films of legendary Canadian actor.
Donald Sutherland’s Legendary Career and the Family Business
Over his life, Donald Sutherland amassed a film career that is staggering to consider, filled with classic films, blockbusters, and critically acclaimed performances. He got his start with acting in the early 1960s, with guest appearances in various television series and low budget horror films.His breakthrough role came in 1967, when he played Vernon Pinkley in the Lee Marvin action classicThe Dirty Dozen.
His major film roles include playingHawkeye in the original film version ofMAS*H,Kelly’s Heroes,Klute,Ordinary People,Eye of the Needle,JFK, andCold Mountain. His blockbuster film roles include playing President Snow inThe Hunger Gamesseries, Ron Howard’s firefighter dramaBackdraft,National Lampoon’s Animal House, andInvasion of the Body Snatchers, which made one memorable scene a meme nearly 40 years later.He was given a Lifetime Achievement Oscar in 2018.
His television work includesCommander in Chief,Swimming with Sharks,The Undoing,Crossing Lines, andThe Pillars of the Earth. His final role was a great one, as the grumpy Judge Parker inLawmen: Bass Reeves, the Taylor Sheridan western series for Paramount+.He won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1995 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Special, forCitizen X.
Obviously, Rossif isn’t the only Sutherland to carry on the family business of working in entertainment.All the Sutherland children work in the industry, most notably Rossif’s half-brother Kiefer, who has his own impressive career.His series24was a hit for Fox, so the network is hoping another Sutherland can bring them a ratings win once again.
