After the massive success of Canadian romantic drama series “Sullivan’s Crossing” — which was recently renewed for a fifth season — Fremantle, Bell Media and Reel World Management knew they’d found a rare partnership.
“Within the first year of ‘Sullivan’s Crossing,’ you’re kind of dating,” Michela Di Mondo, Fremantle’s executive vice president of distribution for Canada, tells Variety. “And early on, we realized that we were in marriage territory, so we knew that there was a willingness to look at the next project.”
A follow-up was kind of a no-brainer, especially factoring in that “Sullivan’s” sold in over 180 territories for Fremantle and became CTV’s No. 1 original drama as well as The CW’s top-rated scripted series in the U.S. Plus, showrunner and executive producer Roma Roth — who had worked closely with New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr on adapting “Sullivan’s” and “Virgin River” for the screen — had already acquired the rights for her nine-novel “Thunder Point” saga.
“This will be my third collaboration with Robyn Carr,” Roth says, who will executive produce “Thunder Point” alongside Reel World’s Christopher E. Perry in association with Fremantle and CTV. “It’s been a wonderful relationship. She supports my creative vision and in return the success of my shows has helped expand her global audience. It’s a win/win scenario for both of us. I was equally as fortunate to partner with Bell Media and Fremantle — two companies that recognized my potential and offered me the support and freedom I needed to develop a hit series.”
